The Carlisle independent., 1907-11-28
The End of Her Visit
 By Violet Etynge Mitchell
(Copyright.)

Phoebe! ain't it about time we had mother here on visit?''
 Mrs Penny paused in her washing and looked back at him over her shoul- der, timidly.
 q suppose it is, Josiah" she spoke hesitatingly, and her face clouded. II you say the word I'll send her an inyi- tation at once"
 MT. Penny was driving a nail into one of the kitchen chairs which had for some time needed repairing. seems to me, Phoebe" said he, as if there never was time when it's real convenient for mother to come.
 Mrs. Penny sighed T know it, Josh," she replied; I've been awful mean about that visit, but soon's the milk's attended to I'll set right down and ask her to come; and-and-fli give her the best room and golfer the piller cases purpose. l can't do no more?"
 No" Mir Penny stammered, run ming his fingers through his long, red dish hair in dazed kind of way. Mothers little peculiar. likes pow erful we'll to have her own way. You'll humor her, Phoebe?"
 Mrs. Penny was hidden from sight behind the door as she answered, ..Yes, Josh.''
 Josiah, with his hands buried deep in his pockets, went slowly down the lane leading to the barn.
 Phoebe watched him, shading her eyes with one hand from the setting sun, and then reentering the house be- gan to prepare their early supper.
 A knock at the door caused her to start, and, as if caught in a sin, she wiped away from her flushed cheeks the last traces of tears, then called out cheerfully: Come in."
 Why, Mrs. Wigger." exclaimed she, brightening as the door opened to ad- init an elderly woman. Her shrewd black eyes were full of keen intelli gence.
 If I ain't glad to see you!" cried Phoebe "A talk with you always chirks me up when I'm blue. It seems to me as if you was kind of mother to me-
 What pears to be the matter with you, my dear?"
 Mrs. Penny hesitated. Mothers comin' to pay us visit" said she at last little irrelevantly, as it might appear
 You don't mean Josiah's mother, ole Mis- Penny?"
 "Yes, I do,' replied Phoebe Imply
 The elder woman relaxed her hold on the arms of the chair and, throwing her head back against the padded pill low, began to rock violently.
 My lands!" she exclaimed You let me know when she's gone home, and I'll come along and take up what's left of you on a dustpan. know Ann Eliza Penny we'll; there ain't one thing about her I ain't pizen we'll acquaint- ed with, and she's one of the cantan- keringest, interferingest, all round, all fireddest old woman I ever"
 "Hush!" exclaimed Phoebe, with her finger on her lips. The sound of her husbands approaching footsteps upon the gravel path had reached her ears
 Mrs. Wigger made long visit She took tea with MT. Penny and his wife, but no further opportunity for conf dential talk occurred between the two women until, as she bade Phoebe goodnight at the door, she managed, in squeezing her hand, to whisper:
 T dunno as you'll set any great store by my tellin' you of it, Phoebe, but caraway seeds in cake always brings on a sick spell in Mis- Penny. I know it, because I've heard her say them was the only times she ever had a bilious attack, and when she had one of them she's very partiklar about bein' home"
 It was the end of the second week of Mrs Penny's visit, and the effects of it were already visible upon the face of her daughter-in-law, whose worst fears were verified. Things might easily have been better, but they could not have been much worse without an open declaration of war be- tween the two women.
 Ungracious in manner, angular in appearance, she sat bolt upright in the cane rocker from early morning till bedtime criticising and interfering with Phoebe, or nagging at Josiah, who was showing wonderful agility in disappearing immediately after meals.
 On this particular morning Mrs. Pehny had tasted everything on the nsatly-spread breakfast table with az gressive disapproval.
 Tbe1ed woman took up her knit tius<z>sat down by the dining room window Phoebe saw that she was