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

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IN moment Sister Martha iOas In ne
room.
The station hack stopped at Miss May
hew's door, thereby causing Q state Of
hutter and agitation in the breast Of
Miss Mayhem truly pathetic to contem.
plate. The idea Of company was always
present TO this lonely lady as 0 sweet,
sympathetic longing, but the reality
brought with 1t undisguised dismay.
Now she clasped her pale, chilly fin
gers together and leaned forward in her
invalid chair, craning her neck from be-
hind the curtain, a. a small, black,
shiny trunk was taken of from the back
Of the carriage, and Q short, stout wom-
IN In gray travelling dress, with . large
straw hat tied down over her ears, max
ing rather aggressive poke in front,
stepped briskly out Of the carriage and
pointing her parasol with businesslike
air directed the driver to take in her lug
gage.
Miss Mayhem gave q faint groan as
she fell back among her cushions with
an air Of passive injury. The evil was
upon her, and she had been warned and
had not needed the warning. Events
with Miss Mayhem generally cast their
shadows before, and she learned the fun
meaning Of the "signs" after they had
come to pass. That very night Miss
Mayhem had dreamed Of Q ship In full
sail, which always betokened misfortune,
and now Sister Martha had arrived bag
and baggage, and she felt griered that
the presentiment had not weighed with
greater force upon her mind.
Sister Martha was not own kin to Miss
Mayhem, only sister-in-law, having mar
ried her half brother. She was woman
thought to be rather hard on her "help,"
but an excellent manager and shrewd
in affairs. She owned a large farm in
another part Of the county and man.
aged TO make q good income out Of It
even in years Of drought and Of short
crops. Her habit was to command. It
was said that sister Martha rode around
her place on horseback man fashion, and
that nothing ever escaped her lynx eyes.
Two Of her hired men had come down
with typhoid fever one fall after being
driven nearly to death through harvest
time. and she had pursed them like o
mother. One Of the men died and she
had o nice tombstone put up to his mem
Dry in the graveyard. II as folks said
"MartAy Whitcumb, tho Wilder Whit
cumb, druv folks to death she still had
some kind Of q heart in her bosom"
Now Miss Mayhem, when she heard
Martha Whitcumb enter her front hall
like a strong northeaster, shivered,
turned paler, II 1t were possible. and
shrank into her shawls and wraps In
which she was enveloped like o butter
Hy in its chrysaliS She was afraid Of
Sister Martha; not afraid Of bodily in
Jury from her hands, but Of harsh judg-
ments and hard eye beams and skepti-
cal looks in return for her accustomed
plaintiveness over the facts Of life. In
Q moment Sister Martha was In the
room, and Miss Mayhew's face had gone
into eclipse under the poke and her deli.
cate cheek was rubbed against Mrs.
Whitcumb's bristles. Miss Mayhem had
o shrinking from the hairiness Of her
sister-in-law's lip that was quite pa
thetic. Il was q terrible trial to this
nervous invalid to kiss Sister Martha,
and she never did II she could help it,
merely allowing that energetic woman
to rub her brush against her sensitive
skin.
There was frightful frankness about
Sister Martha that Miss Mayhem dreaded
like Q cold douche. Now the first words
abe uttered were Characteristic:
81 know you amt glad to see me,
Vinie, didn't expect you would be, and
Ann Basket will be mad enough to tear
her hair because I've come. But harvest
was over. 'twixt corn and pig killing,
you know, and could get away as well
o. not, 20 took o notion to come. We
don't always know what's good for Us,
Vinie, and thought q squirt Of company
might liven you up . bit And as for
Ann, I've brought her . hnsey woolsey
piece for petticOat, 90 guess she won't
lite me-"
Miss Mayhem pulled herself together
and looked ct her sistsr-in-law with we.
terry eyes. She made no direct response
to this candid speech, nor was any ex-
pected from her. 81 s'pose you're hum
KIys 1uo blllu Uu1lOuS4ys OuE uAuuoE .
over and Ann has washed the dishes.
Shes maxim Q tea cake now. Would
you like u dropped egg on toast, Marthyr
"rve had my lunch, said Mrs. Whit
cumb. waving away the suggestion.
brought Il along with me from home.
Cold chicken and sandwiches and pickles
and cheese. Don't you bother your head
about me. Vinie."
Miss Mayhem heaved . sigh Of relief.
"You can go right up chamber, Marthy.
You know the spare room, Of course,
and its all ready except airin and fresh
water"
Mrs. Whitcumb took her bag, q shawl
and umbrella, stepped out Of the room
and closed the door behind her. MisS
Mayhew was quivering from this rude
contact Of her delicate being with force,
IN the form Of her sister-in-law. Every
nerve In her body, O. she expressed II,
was OF the hooks, each jumping it,
Own way" But her sense Of hearing
was more acute than ever. Sinceshe had
besn tied to her easy chair In hr pleas.
ant, old fashioned sitting room. she had
lived mainly through the ears There
was red spot on either thin cheek now,
- she listened 10 sister Marthas heavy
step and the receding creak Of her boots.
Mira Whitcumb did not go up the
sasira 10 the frnnt chamber. but without