Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-01-20
HER HUSBANDS NIECE.

sGeorge, when did you get this let
tes2" asked Matte Henderson, as she
glanced into her husbands face.
"On Wednesday" he said, with
some hesitation.
Wand 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 tie 8 o'clock train this
morning, ano it is half-past Z now.
This is a nice state of affairs, isn't it?"
at was careless in me, Mattie," the
young farmer regretfully admitted.
He was a handsome, good-natured
fellow, sturdy in frame and pleasing
In speech. He lad a whip in his
hand, and his wagon, loaded with milk
cans, was standing at the gate.
"She Gays she'll get of 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.
al can't. i must have my milk at
she come over the road most conve-
nient to me-"
al 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 trunk of no mean
dimensions, I'll venture to predict. l
AIN 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 Law hand to anything, and will
spend her time reading, sleeping and
Telling in the hammock. She might
have waited to be asked"
al know it will prove an infiction," 7"
the husband consolingly said. "But |
guess there's nothing to do but to bear
II. Things may not turn out so bad as
you fancy they will"
He got into the wagon and drove off.
Srs. Henderson walked into the spring
house to churn the butter. She was
seldom peevish and rarely complained,
but tho visit really seemed inOpportune.
She was not very strong, and as she
worked early and late and took no re-
creation, 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 a sensible little woman, and
felt that 1t was her duty to second her
thrifty husbands efforts. Leisure, if
not competency, would come by and
by.
In descending the steps of the spring
house, she fell and sprained her ankle,
the pain so great that she almost
tainted.
THAT means a week of enforced
idleness," she despairingly thought.
Time so precious and that fashion
sbly-reared Niece of Georges more of
hindrance than a help. Oh, dear!
After much painful effort she sue
ceeded in reaching the sitting-rOom, and
threw herself upon the comfortable
lounge. She fell into 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, and her demeanor self-pos-
sessed. Her cheeks were dimpled, her
mouth indicated resolution, her soft
brown eyes offered confidence and in
vited 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, sup
poser" she said, in low, sweet voice,
q smile lurking among her dimples.
eyes," 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. l am
sorry you had TO walk"
al wasn't yexed about it," replied
the visitor. "Nor am 1 in a hurry
about my trunk"
al sprained my ankle" Mrs. Hen
derson said, al am afraid will not be
about for three or four days"
"That is too bad" comniseratingly
sejoined Miss Atwood. at seems
was just TO come. l can do ever SC
many things for you"
Yes" grimly aesented Mrs. Hen,
derson.
"Pll first look after that ankle" the
visitor said, briskly: cheerfully.
She removed her dainty-lookine
cuffs, and then took off her aunt's shoe
and stocking.
at ia considerably swollen" sh,
said.
al am not surprised" replied Mira
Henderson. "You'll find a bottle OF
liniment in the cupboard, yonder."
al wouldn't put liniment nn il ius
yet," advised Fanny. "Have you any
sugar of lesd?"
"Very likely. Look in that medl.
cine box in the cupboard. There's &
little of everything there, almost"
Fanny found the sugar of lead, and
then some linen suitable for a ban,
dsge. She put the sugar of lead in 8
basin, added cold water, soaked the
bandago in it and wrapped it around
the swollen ankle. She went about il
like . professional nurse.
THAT feels very cooling" Mrs.
Henderson gratefully said.
"There is nothing reduces swelling
Ike sugar of lead water" replied
Fanny. I wet the bandage every
now and then with it. Just you re,
main quiet, dearie, and don't bother
yourself about anything. You have
no girl3"
mo, child" Mrs. Henderson SKID
I've cannot afford to keep one"
Wll get Uncle his dinner" an,
bounced Fanny.
"You'll-get-George his dinner!'
repeated Mrs. Henderson.
Fanny noticed the incredulity In hei
tone, laughed prettily and said:
"Why shouldn't L? If you will al.
low me to skirnish around I'll manage
to find things. However, it isn't neal
dinns,. tina N-La.. L ..--... -,