The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-10-17
AN INTERIUDE

AN INTERLUDE.
Aunt Abbie had one Of her headaches. and the
household was demoralized if the word can be ap-
piled to anything staid and simple The suf-
1erer, provided by her niece with hot soapstone
Tor her feet and various concoctions of herbs to
drink, had withdrawn to the chamber above the lv-
ing room Meanwhile hush settled over the house
Miss Fanny checked the exultant spring song that
rose to her lips, and the chickens seemed to tread
more softly.
Il do hope nobodyll come in" said Miss Fanny.
"for it's too cold to sit outdoors. and Aunt Abbie
could never stand to hear talking"
But Mrs. Currier, her nearest neighbor. was at
that moment lifting the latch There were two
grades of callers in Hilltop If you went in with
out knocking, you were on terms if intimacy;
warning rap indicated more formal relations.
Miss Fanny held up warning finger
aunt Abbie's dreadful bad with one of her
headaches" she said, "and maybe she's asleep"
And so they conversed in whispers But pres
emily the auring themes of housekeeping and gar
den planting tempted them. They raised their
voices, and Aunt Abbie awoke. She was better;
the headache In full flight She even felt equal
to taking silent part in the conversation going
on downstairs, and stepped softly to the aperture
through which in winter the stovepipe came from
below TO supply her bed chamber with warmth.
"She must be an awful sight of trouble" were
the first words she heard.
"She is" said Miss Fanny's well-known voice.
her. declare it seems sometimes if l couldn't
stand to have her around another minute"
Aunt Abbie had heard enough. She crawled into
bed again, and shook with sobs that racked her old
frame. Her own niece planning to get rid of herl
Tired of heri Thinking her trouble! Why had she
never suspected this before? Fanny had always
seemed so kind. Her own sisters daughter, and
such hypocrite!
"Oh-oh!" wept the injured woman.
care you worse, Aunt Abbe?" whispered Miss
Fanny, putting her head in the door. Il thought
l heard you groaning"
'CNo, amt" answered Aunt Abbie. "The head
aches just about gone, but there's worse things
than headaches"
II know that" responded Miss Fanny, cheer
fully; "but Pm awful glad you're better. Don't you
think you could drink tea? You did not
sEaller of dinner"
81 don't want any tea or anything else. I've just
been eating you out of house and home this long
while"
"Why. Aunt AbbieT"
eyes. I have. and Pm an awful lot of trouble
and expense, and you'd like to get rid of me-"
q don't know what you mean," said her niece.
"Tm sure Pm just as glad as can be to have you
here. You amt hardly mite of expense either.
and if you was [ wouldn't care"
"That's do to talk" said Aunt Abbie, getting
out Of bed and planting her feet on the floor with
decision; "but know you're sick and tired having
me round"
Gentle Miss Fanny was perplexed. Had those
awful headaches ended by affecting her aunts
brain? She tried a diverting theme.
you'll feel different after you get downstairs.
Mrs Currier Just left; she brought me some tomato
plants.
No answer.
"And. Aunt Abbie, I've concluded not to go and
help Cousin Hannah with the house-cleaning.
don't believe you're bit well"
Pm well enough for a tiresome old critter that's
in folks way" answered Aunt Abbie; land l won't
have you staying at home for me-"
The mystery grew darker. What had clouded
and ernbittered hat old mind. Miss Fanny, puzzled
and apprehensive left for her cousins the next
morning.
off I hadn't promised, wouldn't go STEP" she
said as she went away. "Those headaches are surely
wearing you"
"They amt" said Aunt Abbie "I'm just well
as ever / was"
"Well, be sure and take that liver medicine
teaspoonfu before each meal; and take things easy
You can pile up the dishes and leave them for me
to wash and I'll be home in couple of days. And
Aunt Abbie" she came back to say "you get that
notion out of your mind that you're trouble to
me. Why, l wouldn't know what to do without
you"
Then she hurried on, fearing, like true New
Highlander, to betray unwonted emotion
81 heard her with my own ears" said Aunt Abb
bic to herself. GIVE planned every way to get rid
of her It seems as if [ couldn't stand it." Those
were her very words, and Pm going right straight
away"
dShe had thought it all out in the night. She