Evening journal., 1892-01-07
HER HUSBANDS NIECE.

into her husbands face.
''On Wednesday," he said, with some
hesitation.
"And this is Friday" rebukjngly replied
his wife. "You carried it about In youi
pocket for at least two days. It Is from
your niece, Fanny Atwood. She left New
York yesterday and will be here on the
o'clock train this morning, and it is 1880
now. This is nice state of affairs, isn't
itfm
ut was careless of me, Matte" the
young farmer regretfully admitted.
lie was a handsome, good natured fel-
low, 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. Hender
son said, her eyes once more on the letter
"Oh, 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?"
II 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
IA trunk OF no mean dimensions, I'll 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 Go
lay hand to anything and will spend her
time reading, sleeping and lolling in the
hammock. She might have waited to be
asked"
II know il will prove an infliotion," the
husband consolingly said. But / guess
there's nothingto do but to bear 10. 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 ehurn the butter. She was sell
dom peeyish 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, ifnot 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 thine
so precious, and that fashionably reared
niece Of Georges more Of hindrance than
a help. Oh. dearp
After much painful effort she succeeded
in reaching the sitting room and threw
herself upon the comfortable 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 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, / supposefr
she said in a low, sweet voice, smile Turk
ing among her dimples.
"Yes,n Mrs Henderson said, with an
effort. "Your uncle forgot to give me YOU
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. am sorry you had to walk >
II wasn't vexed about il" replied the
visitor. ''Nor am / in hurry about M
I trunk"
I 81 sprained my ankle" Mrs. Henderson
said. ~ am afraid viii not be about fo
three or four days.
"That is too bad commiseratingly re
Joined Miss Atwood. 1T seems was jus
TO come. can do ever so many things 70
YOU
YES" grimly assented Mrs. Henderson
"l'll first look after that ankle" the Wis
itor said briskly, oheerfully.
She removed her dainty looking cuffs
and then took of her aunt's shoe an
stocking.
ut is considerably swollen, she said.
81 am not surprised" replied Mrs. Her
derson, you'll find bottle Of linimeu
in the cupboard yonder.n
II wouldn't put liniment on it Just yet,
J advised Fanny. "Have you any sugar Q
} leadin
every likely. Look in that medicin
box in the cupboard. There's a little
everything there almost"
Fanny found the sugar Of lead, and the
some linen suitable for a bandage. 81
put the sugar Of lead in a basin, addC
} cold water, soaked the bandage in It, al
+ then wrapped IL around the swollen ankl
: She went about it like professional nurs
That feels very cooling,n Mrs. Hende
son gratefully said.
There is nothing reduces a swelliT
! like sugar Of lead water replied Fam
, "Pll wet the bandages every now and th,
! with it. just you remain quiet, dear
and don't bother yourself about anythin
You have no grip
mo, child,n Mrs. Henderson said. "Y
q cannot afford 70 keep one"
:, "pll get uncle his dinner announc
4 Fanny.
"You'll-get-George his dinners"
peated Mrs. Henderson.
Fanny noticed the incredulity In /
tone, laughed prettily and said:
% why shouldn't II II you viii allow
y to skirmish around I'll manage to q
things. However, It isn't near dinner Gil
~ yet. When went to the kitchen for {
. basin saw you had sprinkled the cloth
Shall iron them"
She saw the old smile that came 20 |
tired aunt's lips and correctly interprer
w. it.
se maybe You think l can't ironfn
ne pleasantly said. "Just You wait and Sc
u, "But the dress you have on, Miss
is. wood; it,
BE Was selected for Service" compile