The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-12-02
~ THE N STORY ID
AUNT SARAH.
1sas. By y. wernsr,.

Nell was cross when she got out OF
bed. She had been cross the night
before when she went to bed. Cross.
In fact. eve since Harry came home
from the Office at s o'clock With q
letter and announced glumly that his
Aunt Sarah would be there some time
that week for the long promised--or
thrcatened-vis;t. 1t was not Harry's
fault thai she was coming. He dis
nephews and nleces. Nell had heard
all about her during two years OF
married life. She was-well. not a
visitor. but n visitation. so they said.
And Nell seemed to think that Harry
could have aNcrted her. which didn't
decrease his guinness. Perhaps out
OF resentment or contrariness he tool
Aunt Sarah's side.
She doesn't mean to be ieasree-
able and bossy." he declared. Its
just her way" y.
Don't tell me anything" flashed
Nell. Your sister Ethel told me that
whenever she came. And now. when
the baby is teething and I'm not feel
ing we'll. ] know Ill never keep my
temper. The things your Aunt Sarah
said to Ethel"
You see. Uncle Henry was par
alyzed for seventeen years. and I
think taking ARE Of him so long
soured her. He was entirely helpless.
Anyway. I can't write and tell her
not to come Now. Nell, Fan II" APP
pealingly. :
u suppose not" she said ungra-
ciously. Butt wish o would
And supper and breakfast were
eaten in constrained silence. except
for the baby's fretting. When Harry
left for work the next morning Nells
eyes were filled with a smouldering,
r%esentful light. For not only did this
visit lie behind her irritation. There
were other causes. She was growing
tired. Not exactly of Harry-she
tried to think that it wasn't Harry
but of the m%onotony and work Vt
married life that are inevitable when
the desires and fancies run ahead OF
the pocketbook. The small suburban
cottaEe had been lovely when they
work had been fun. Nov 1t was diff
ferent. Before her marriage Nell had
been a fairly successful illustrator
successful. that is. in a small way:
enough to satisfy her. She liked the
work for the works sake. But a
teething baby pulled the paper from
her longing fingers and she never had
time to pick 1t up. And Harry's sal.
airy wasn't large.
And now Aunt Sarah is coming"
she muttered. Just when I though,
l could finish cleaning house and then
have a few days rest. I wouldn't care
il it wer his Aunt Ellen" For Aunt
Ellen was a fat. comfortable soul who
laughed the days through and didn't
care If a cottage held dust or not,
Aunt Sarah. they said. got a hatpin
and poked the corners Of the wood
work. for dirt.
AT noon Harry telephoned out
Nell you're too tired to finish house
cleaning. SO I've sent a woman gu,
from an employment agency. Now,
YOU let her do the heavy work. She's
old. but they say she's strong as ar
ox. Oh. yes. ] can afford 1t. And SC
you can't object. I've paid her in ad-
vance" And while she was objectins
he hung up the receiver.
After the first qualm at the un-
necessary spending Of So she was
glad. She hadn't realized till then
how she had quailed at the rubbing,
polishing. sweeping and Furnishing.
She had been at the work three days
and wal tired. out. She hurrieily
finished her own and the baby's lunch
and washed the dishes. She was
emptying the dishwater when the