The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-10
d, But why are you ironings Where's

Matties"
She is lying down, uncle. She fell and
sprained her ankle"
Mr.. Henderson stepped into the sitting
room, look of concern on his face.
"Why, dear, how did this happen:"
"Oh, how does anything happen" she re-
piled, a little ENORMOUSLY. Through my
own awkwardness, no doubt. 1 almost
| tainted, the pain was go great"
! docs it pain you now, dear?"
( 81 am glad to say that it doesn't"
"I'll bathe it in sugar of lead water" he
said. "There isn't anything better"
Fanny has already done that" replied
The wife. ''It was her own suggestion"
'Oh," calculated Mr. Henderson, with
increasing appreciation of his niece.
"And she insists upon ironing. A pretty
mess she'll make of it."
"Well, maybe not,'' Mr.. Henderson said
In quiet tone II watched her a little
while. Matte, you are good ironer. but
she is your equal"
"Oh, nonsense, Georger' exclaimed his
wife, Reared in the city, as she has
been"-
Didn't necessarily make her lazy,
silly, novel reading imbecile," interrupted
her husband perhaps we haven't been
just to Fanny. / think she is solid, en-
ergetic, capable sort of a girl, and it is
lucky that she came"
well, hope it may prove So" doubt
ingly rejoined his wife. George, there's
the butterp'
'I'll churn that" he said. "We'll get
along. just you keep your mind at ease.
You will get about much sooner if you
do"
Fanny Atwood prepared dinner, now
and then slipping into the sitting room to
wet the bandage and to chat in her CHEEKY
way with her patient.
On the third day Mrs. Henderson was
able to hobble to the kitchen, where she
found everything in most excellent order.
Look at my currant jelly" Fanny
proudly said, as she held up one of the
glass jars to the light. 1t was translucent
and bright as ruby tinted wine.
st is very NICE" Mrs Henderson said.
SLOW much sugar did you take?"
Pound for pound" replied Fanny. 81
wasn't extravagant, was II"
"You were wise" her aunt said with a
smile.
She opened the door leading into the eel
lar
Fanny, did you whitewash the stair
way?" she asked, in surprise.
eyes, auntie. 1t needed it. knew you
meant to do it, for saw you had Stacked
the lime. Isn't it nicely done3"
Every nicely" Mrs. Henderson said.
"But it wasn't right for you to do it.
Surely your hands,
Look at them," Fanny said, laughing.
"They are as white and soft as any lady's.
l put gloves on, and then have a sort Of
dainty way of working. l can do it well
without pitching into 1T all over. l have
knack as mother calls it. If it was right
for you to whitewash the cellar way, it
was right for me to whitewash it. l came
here to help you and to spare you; to ride
the horses, to go to the mill with Uncle
George, and to make myself useful and
welcome. If you are not going to let me
work, or have any fun, I'll go right back
to New York"
She spoke with voluable esrnestness, her
gestures rapid, her dimples dancing.
Mrs. Matte Henderson sat down in
chair aud cried.
"Why, aunt, what is the matter?" asked
Fanny, her brown eyes widening. 1 hope
didn't say anything toll
''No, dear, you didn't" replied Mrs. Hen
derson in broken voice. II am crying
because / am ashamed of myself-because
l have been so unkind to you in my
thoughts. supposed that you would an
noy me and hinder me; that you would
be helpless, selfish, fault finding; that
you"-
"But you think more kindly Of me now,
do you not?" interrupted Fanny, her hands
moving caressingly over her aunt's hair.
'Most certainly do" replied Mrs. Hen
derson explosively. 'That is why con-
fess my injustice-why 1 want to make
amends, why I"-
Don't mind it, aunty," said the sweet,
forgiving, sympathetic voice. Il don't
censure you, and its all right now. There
may be-and, in fact, there are-listless,
frivolous, helpless girls in citics-bu am
not one of them. If l was I am afraid
would despise myself"
II am glad you have come, Fanny, and I
will be sorry when you CO." Mrs. Hender-
son said, and she meant it. "My preju-
dices misled me, and have been taught
a lesson. Hereafter I'll not be SO hasty in
estimating people, especially before have
met them. detroit Free Press.