The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-10
HER HUSBANDS NIECE.

HkshGu Aldbllc I1SuQCLSOAs do GAC 6IdANCu
into her husbands face.
''On Wednesday," he said, with some
hesitation.
''And this is Friday" rebukingly replied
his wife. "You carried it about in your
pocket for at least two days. 1t is from
your niece, Fanny Atwood. She left New
York yesterday and will be here on the s
o'clock train this morning, and it is 7:S0
now. This is nice state of affairs, isn't
iti'
"It was careless of me, Matte" the
young farmer regretfully admitted.
He was a handsome, good natured fell
low, sturdy in frame and pleasing in
speech. He had a whip in his hand and
his wagon loaded with milk cans was
standing at the gate.
''She says she'll get of at Forest station,
where you are to meet her." Mrs. Hender-
son said, her eyes once more on the letter.
ooh, pshaw," cried the husband with an
Impotence unusual with him. 81 can't.
Must have my milk at Beaver station on
time. Why didn't she come over the road
most convenient to me?
81 suppose she'll have to walk here" re-
piled the young wife. 'And as she says
that she intends to stay three weeks, no
doubt she has brought her trunk with her
"a trunk of no mean dimensions, Pll ven
ture to predict. l am good deal more
put out about it than you are. There's the
butter to churn, the clothes to iron, the
currant jelly to make and goodness only
knows what else. She'll be too dainty to
lay hand to anything and will spend her
time reading, sleeping and lolling in the
I'd L.
asked"
81 know it will prove an infliction," the
husband consolingly said. But 1 guess
there's nothingto do but to bear it. Things
may not turn out so bad as you fancy they
will"
He got into the wagon and drove off.
Mrs. Henderson walked into the spring
house to churn the butter. She was sell
dom peevish and rarely complained, but
the visit really seemed inopportune. She
was not very strong, and as she worked
early and late and took no recreation it
was beginning to tell on her nerves.
The farm was not entirely paid for, and
they were not able to keep girl. She was
sensible little woman, and felt that it
was her duty to second her thrifty hus-
bands efforts. Leisure, if not competency,
would come by and by.
In descending the steps of the spring
house she fell and sprained her ankle, the
pain being so great that she almost tainted.
''That means a week of enforced idle
ness" she despairingly thought. "Time
so precious, and that fashionably reared
niece of Georges more of hindrance than
a help. Oh. dear!"
After much painful effort she succeeded
In reaching the sitting room and threw
herself upon the comfortable lounge. She
fell into doze, and when she opened her
eyes there stood Fanny Atwood looking
down into her face.
She had on a plain, sensible looking
travelling dress. Her figure was compact,
her complexion healthy, her air cheerful,
her demeanor self possessed. Her cheeks
were dimpled, her mouth indicated resolu-
ton, her soft brown eyes offered confidence
and invited it. She had walked two miles
through the hot sun over dusty road, but
one would hardly have thought so, she
looked SO neat, clean and placid.
you are my Aunt Matte, l suppose2"
she said in a low, sweet voice, a smile lurl-
ing among her dimples.
eyes," Mrs. Henderson said, with an
effort. ''Your uncle forgot to give me your
letter until this morning. He could not
meet you because he had to deliver the
milk over at the other railroad at the hour
you named. 1 am sorry you had to walk"
~ wasn't vexed about it," replied the
visitor. "Nor am l in hurry about my
trunk"
81 sprained my ankle" Mrs. Henderson
enid fET T vii I>o oh e..
three or four days"
''That is too bad," commiseratingly re-
Joined Miss Atwood. SIT seems was Just
to come. l can do ever so many things for
you"
YES" grimly assented Mrs. Henderson.
"Ill first look after that ankle" the Wis
itor said briskly, cheerfully.
She removed her dainty looking cuffs.
and then took off her aunt's shoe and
stocking.
st is considerably swollen" she said.
81 am not surprised" replied Mrs. Hen
derson, you'll find bottle of liniment
in the cupboard yonder"
81 wouldn't put liniment on it just yet"
advised Fanny. Have you any sugar of
leadg"
Every likely. Look in that medicine
box in the cupboard. There's a little of
everything there almost"
Fanny found the sugar of Lead, and then
some linen suitable for bandage. She
put the sugar of lead in basin, added
cold water, soaked the bapdage in it, and
then wrapped it around the swollen ankle
She went about il like a professional nurse
THAT feels very COOLING" Mrs. Hender-
son gratefully said.
There is nothing reduces a swelling
like sugar of lead water" replied Fanny.
''Fll wet the bsndages every now and then
with it. Just you remain quiet, dearie,
and don't bother yourself about anything
You have no girls"
mo, child" Mrs. Henderson said. eve
cannot afford to keep one"
I'm get uncle his dinner" announced
Fanny.
You 'll-get-George his dinners" re-
peated Mrs. Henderson.
Fanny noticed the incredulity in her
tone. laughed prettily and said:
why shouldn't /? If you viii allow me
to skirmish around I'll manage to find
things. However, IL isn't near dinner time
yet. When went 10 the kitchen for the
basin l saw you had sprin killed. the clothes.
Shall iron them:"
She saw the old smile that came TO her
tired aunt's lips and correctly Interpreted
it,
Maybe you think / can't iron;" she
pleasantly said. Just you wait and see"
But the dress you have on, Miss At
wood; it,
Was selected for service" completed
amy. "Of course. III pur on one o.
our aprons"
When George Henderson returned from
lis errzud he heard some one singing
.i.eerily in the kitchen. He stepped IN and
aw his niece ironing away a. deity a. L
he had spent the best part OF her HE 81