Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-01-29
HER HUSBANDS NIECE

HEX Ill USDAND > NIECE.
George, when did you get this let
terP' asked Matte Henderson, as she
glanced into her husbands face.
'On Wednesday," be said. with some
hesitation.
':And this is Friday" rebukingly re-
piled 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 8 o'clock train this
morning, and it is 7:30 now. This is a
nice state of affairs. isn't it?"
ut was careless of me, Matte" the
young farmer regretfully admitted.
He was a handsome, good-natured
fellow, sturdy in frame and pleasing in
speech. He had whip in his hand,
and his wagon, loaded with milk cans
was standing at the gate.
She says she'll get off at Forest
station, where you are to meet her,"
Mrs. Henderson said, her eyes once
more on the letter.
'Oh, pshaw," cried the husband
with an Impotence unusual with him.
II can't, l must have my milk at
Beaver station on time. Why didn't
she come over the road most con-
venient to me?"
Il suppose she'll have to walk here"
replied 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. I'll venture to predict. |
am a 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 10 lay
a hand to anything, and will spend her
time reading. sleeping and lolling in
the hammock. She might have waited
to be asked"
Il know it will prove an inhiction,"
the husband consolingly said, but l
guess there's nothing to 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
seldom peevish and rarely complained,
but the visit really seemed hooper
tune. 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 p'.id for,
and they were not able to keen a girl.
She was a sensible little wollan, and
felt that it was her duty to Sc cond her
thrifty husbands efforts. leisure. if
not competency, would cone by and
by.
In descending the steps o. the spring
house she fell and spraineu her ankle.
the pain being so great that she almost
tainted.
That means a week of enforced
idleness." she despairingly thought.
Time so precious, and that fashion,
ably reared niece of Georges more of
hinderance than help. Oh, dear!'
After much painful effort she sue
ceeded in reaching The sittingroOm
and threw herself upon the comfort
able lounge. She fell into a 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 COM
pact, her complexion healthy, her air
cheerful, her demeanor self-possessed.
Her cheeks were dimpled. her mouth
indicated resolution, her soft, brown
eyes offered confidence and invited il.
She had walked two miles through the
hot sun over a dusty road, but one
would hardly have thought so, she
looked so neat. clean and placid.
You are my Aunt Matte. | sup
pose?" she said, in low, sweet voice,
a smile lurking among her dimples.
Yes" 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 rail-
road at the hour you named. | am
sorry YOU had to walk
Il wasn't vexed about it, " replied the
visitor. Nor am in a hurry about
my trunk"
4 sprained my ankle Mrs. Hen
derson said. Il am afraid | will not
be about for three or four days"
That is too bad" commiseratingly
rejoined Miss Atwood. 1t seems
was just in time. | can do ever so
many things for YOU"
Yes, grimly assented Mrs. Hender-
son.
I'm first look after that ankle the
visitor said brisklv. cheerfully.
She removed her dainty looking cuffs
and then took off her aunt's shoe aud
stocking.
1T is considerably swollen" she
said.
I am not surprised" replied Mrs.
Henderson. You'll find a bottle of
lininent in the cupboard yonder."
Il wouldn't put liniment on it just
yet" advised Fanny. Have you any
sugar of lead?'
Very 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 a basin,
4 Al al ha 10