The Progress., 1892-08-20

IN moment Sister Martha tcGs Tn the
room.
The station hack stopped Mt Miss May
hew's door, thereby causing state Of
dutter and agitation in the breast of
Miss Mayhem truly pathetic to contem-
plate. The idea of company was always
present to this lonely lady rs sweet,
sympathetic longing, but the reality
brought with it 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, rs small, black,
shiny trunk was taken off from the back
of the carriage, and a short, stout wom-
an in gray travelling dress, with large
straw hat tied down over her ears, max
ing rather aggressive poke in front,
stepped briskly out of tho carriage and
pointing her parasol with businessliko
air directed tho driver to take in her lug
gage.
Miss Mayhew gave faint groan rs
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
shadow before. and she learned the full
meaning ii the signs" after they had
come 10 pass That very night Miss
Mayhem had dreamed of n ship in full
sail. which always betokened misfortune.
and now Sister Martha had arrived bag
and baggage, and she felt grieved that
tho 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 shrcwd
in affairs. She owned large farm in
another part of the county and man.
aged to make good income out of it
even in years Of drought and of short
{ -ops Her habit was to command. 1t
w: " said that sister Martha rode around
her place on horseback man fashion, and
that nothing ever escaped her lynx oycs !
Two her hired men had come down
with ty phoid fever one fall after being !
driven n early to death through harvest |
time. and she had pursed them like
mother. Nne of the men died and she |
rad n nice {, milestone put up Co his mem !
nv in The rra veyard. II as folks said |
'Marthy Whit r;umb, the Wilder Whit
.mnb. druv foll, y to death she still had I
ONE kind of he art in her bosom"
Now Miss May new when she heard
Martha Whitcumb enter her front ball
ike strong non \theaster, shivered,
urncd paler, if it zero possible ana
hrank into her shaw vs. ana wraps III
'hich she was envelope hKo butter
in its chrysalis. She \ was AFRAID OF
ister Martha: not afraid Oh oodiiy IN
Try from her hands, but o. harSh ]udS-
tents and hard eye beams ana skepu-
u looks IN return for her "A Vcustohie"
over the facts O. \ Ale. III
moment Sister Martha was \ III tne
'otn, and Miss Mayhew's face h. vi gone
to eclipse under tho poke and he e dell
re cheek was rubbed against Mrs.
nitcnmb's bristles Miss Mayhem bad
shrinking from the hairiness OF Ter
lip that was quito u W
etc. Ii was a terrible trial TO fhi v
rvous invalid to kiss Sister Martha "
@ she never did if she could HELM IL \
'rely allowing that energetic woman '
rub her brush against her sensitive a
in. ar
there was friShtful franlrness about ini
ter Martha that Miss Mayhem dreaded an
@ cold douche. Now tho first words TAI
uttered were characteristic: Tor
i know you amt glad to see me. To-,
1ie, didn't expect you would be. and OF
n B'Iskett viii be mad enough to tear 4
iiaIr because I've come. But harvest itol
over twixt corn and pig killing, fol-
know, aud could get away as well min
rot, so took o notion 10 coma W. | mir