The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-06-16

VI " tAAo 1Nllld VI 1bI uGllAtu NQI NAnAGu u
question as to how she found herself
She knew Sister Martha had no faith In
nervous diseases-laughed the whole
pack Of them 10 scorn. No intangible
form Of illness took my hold on SISTER
Martha's sympathies, and Miss Mayhem
could have sobbed AZ she sat there feel
ing like an unmAsked lmposter under
the lash Of her sister-in-law's harsh
Judgment. All the lectures Martha
would deliver about exerting herself and
taking exercise and living In the open
air and going to see the neighbors came
up before her. and she shudtlered in an
ticipation.
Mrs Whitcumb stepped on to AIMS
kitchen now, and opened the door with
more gentleness and consideration than
she had shown to her Sister-in-law. Ann
was u person to be conciliated. while
vinie Mayhem was Of but secondary i'm
por;ance in the household. Ann was
standing before her kitchen table
occurred TO the wilderness Of chalk. She
was Of middle height, q spare, bony,
angular person. with prominent shout
| der blades, sharp elbows, lean brown
arms and large knotted wrists and
hands Her hair was iron gray, smooth
ly brushed back from u narrow fore
bead, etched with hard straight lines -
IL done with the point Of an iron instru-
ment. Her blue print dress and white
apron were spOtlessly clean. and the
thick white cotton stockings showed
aOove her low shoes. Ann Basket had
little eyes, like gray pebbles. wide apart,
and her thin lips were generally puck
cred close us if unwilling TO let out the
hoard Of important Secrets that lay just
behind them.
Ann claimed the supreme merit Of
minding her own business and Of ruling
her own domain with rod Of iron that
brooked no power behind the throne
the summer kitchen, the winter kitch-
en-, the cellar, woOdshed. garden and
orchard. Over tho remainder Of the
house she claimed only to exercise the
rights Of suzerainty and partial con-
troll. 1t was barbarian territory to be
tidied daily and swept every week. but
still outside her absolute sway.
In one respect 1t was an advantage to
Ann that she served an invalid mis-
tress: there was no ''snOoping' around
in her kitchen and asking Of vain and
irrelevant questions. Ann was making
cup cake, studded with large raisins.
and to DO baked in little tin patty pans.
There was clear fire in the stove. and
the butter and sugar, -four and eggs
were all ranged on the spotless table.
From side window in her palace Queen
Ann had seen Mrs. Martha Whitcumb
arrive; had seen 10 Spaulding. the hack.
man. bring IN Mrs. Whitcumb's trunk
and deposit il in the hall Ann had not
taken her hands away from the cake,
for she WAS person to DO sought. not
to seek: besides. she was not In the best
Of humOr.
Ann divided all Miss Mayhew's Wis
itors into "satchel folks" and trunk
folks" Tho satchel folks she did not
mind 70 much. They only staid one
night, or ut longest two. and when they
were well out Of the house Ann could
easily slip the company sheets and pill.
low cases of the bed and press them
over with hot iron. and nobody would
Us tLle Wl6tEs Dul UNA lOAhh lAlCtblk III
extra bout Of washing and cooking and
cleaning. and Ann. who was u method
ical soul. objected to them w. painful
element Of dislocation in her daily life.
Mrs. Martha was VIGOROUSLY trunk
folks. She never staid under u week.
and Ann had reason to dread her pres
ence in the house rs u person who was
maSterful enough to dispute sway with
her. even ON her own domain.
AIMS back therefore was aggressive
when Sister Martha entered the sunny
kitchen. But Mrs. Martha was much
more cOnciliatory toward the maid than
she ever was toward the mistress. and at
times even coudescended to Hattery.
well, Ana" said she. bustling in. II
never did see anything stand wear like
this yellow paint on your floor, 1t looks
clean enough to eat of And that stovel
why. you can just see your face in it
What kind Of polish do you user I
should just like to get some Of that
kind"
Elbows" said Ann grinly, who know
soft sawder as well rs the next one. She
had not as yet condescendod to turn
around. and was just now spooning out
the rich yellow paste into the patty pans,
measuring the quantity accurately with
her eye
Elbows, indeedr laughed Mrs. Mar
tina "Yes. that's the best kind, as
keep a-tellin Jane Steel. trying to ding
It into her head. should just like to
have Jane see that stove and them tins.
so bright you can see your facein them.
| guess 1t would put q notion or two
into her head of how work ought to be
done"
AIMS bony back quivered a sign to
Mrs. Martha's sharp eyes that the ice
had begun to thaw. You've been get
tin in your pears. see. Ann" she went
on. turning to big basket Of fruit
standing on kitchen chair. They're
Duchess Dangleinens. amt they2 Mel
Ter enough to melt In your mouth"
She took one and proceeded deliber-
ately to put her teeth into the soft, juicy
pulp.
my tree bore uncommon well this
year" said Ann. after depOsiting the
patty pans in the oven. "Ma'le jelly last
week" and abe opened cupboard door
and displayed neat row OF jelly glasses
pasted up carefully and marked in
AIMS peculiar handwriting. Mrs.
Martha looked at them for a moment in
mute admiration. still munching away
at the pear.
"Well. | never saw such jelly as that,
Ann; clear az window glass and stiff rs
I-A..N---sA. s'NA2n e,,0 a.