Evening journal., 1892-09-22

hew's door, thereby causing a state Ok
flutter 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 a sweet, |
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, as a small, black,
shiny trunk was taken off from tho back
Of tho 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 briszly out of tho carriage and
pointing her parasol with a businesslike
air directed the driver to take in her lug
gage.
Miss Mayhem gave 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 them
shadows before. and she learned the full
meaning Of the 'signs" after they had
come to pass That very night Miss
Mayhew had dreamed Of o ship IN full
sail, which always betokened misfortune,
and now Sister Martha had arrived bag
and baggage. and she felt grievod that
the presentiment had not weighed with
greater force upon her mind.
Sister Martha was not own kin 10 Miss
Mayhew, 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 a good income out Of it
even in years Of drought and Of short
crops. Her habit was To command. II
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 ono tall after being
driven nearly TO death through harvest
slime. and she had nursod them like q
mother. Ono Of the men died and she
had n nice tombstone pus up 70 his mem
ory In t.s graveyard X as folks satd
'AIarthy Whitcumb, the Widder Whit
camb. 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 strong northeastern, shivered,
turned paler, II it were possible, and
shrank into her shawls and wraps in
which she was envelopcd like a butter
ay in its chrysahs She was afraid Of
/ Sister Martini; not afraid of bodily in
jury from her hands. but of harsh judg-
ments and hard eye beams and skepa-
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
shrinking from the hairiness Of her
sisterin-law's lip that was quite pa
thetic. 1t was a terrible trial to this
nervous invalid to kiss Sister Martha
aud she never did il she could help it
merely allowing that energetic woman
70 rub her brush against her sensitive
skin.
There was a frightful franlSness about
Sister Martha that Miss Mayhem dreaded
like cold douche Now the first words
she uttered were Characteristic;
81 know you amt glad TO SEQ me
Vinie, | didn't expect you would be, anC
Ann Basket will be mad enough to teal
her hair because I've come. But harves
was over, 'twixt corn and pig killing
you know, and could get away as wei
as not. 80 took notion to come. W.
don't always know what's good for US
Vinie, and thought a squirt Of compan!
might iven you up bit. And as TO
Ann. I've brought her a linsey woolse,
piece for petticoat, so | guess she won
lite me-"
Miss Mayhem pulled herself togethe
md locked at her sister-in-law with wa
terry eyes She made no direct respons
10 this candid speech, nor was any ex
pected from her. Il spose you're hun
l,ry," she said anxiously. "OW dinner
over and Ann has washed the dishes
She's maxim a tea cake now, Woul
you like d dropped egg on toast, Marthy?
1--WE had my lunch" said Mrs. Whit
cumb. waying away the suggestion
Brought it along with me from home
Cold chicken and SANDWICHES and pickle
and cheese. Don't you bother your hea
about me, Vinie"
Miss Mayhem heaved n sigh Of relief
"You can go right up chamber, Marthy
You know tho spare room, Of course
and its all ready except airin and fires
water"
Mrs. Whitcumb took her bag, a shaw
3 aud umbrella, stepped out of the rooi
and closed the door behind her. Mi
Mayhem was qnivering FROM this rud
contact Of her delicate being with fore
il the form Of her sister-in-law. Ever
ucrve in her body. rs she expressed
e was off the hooks, each jumping j
(. cwn way" But her sense Of hearin
e was moro acute than ever. Since she Ia
been tied TO her easy chair in her plea
d ant, old fashioned sitting room, she ha
lived mainly through the ears. The