Crawford avalanche., 1896-05-28

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| In the garden waiting for her aunt The
horse was harnessed, waiting to take
them to the village where Miss South
well did all her marketing. She had
been trying for some weeks to indoctri
nate Laura into Its mysteries, and the
young lady proved herself an apt
scholar.
The old-fashioned, pleasant house
which Miss Southwell and her brother
had occupied now some thirty years
stood on hill In the outskirts Of the
village. The grounds were tastefully
laid out, the mountain air delicious and
invigorating.
There could not be. more glorious
morning than this, yet the expression
Of trouble on Laura's pretty face
showed that her mood was not In har'
mony with the day.
$50 provoking" she muttered, "that
/ should have lost my temper that way
But 1t was bad enough to have my ball
croqueted way to the ends of the earth
without his looking so pleased over 1t.
Sophie Higley, too, Growing over
Mr.. Palmer and me like she did! 1t was
real unladylike. And to think Of her
whispering to Mary Shaw that was a
little stinging cockatrice'! l can never
get over that"
At that moment Maria, one of their
servants, came running down the pi-
azza steps. She looked so frightened
that Laura's heart leaped to her mouth.
"Oh, Miss Laura, your aunt's hurt her
ankle bad, and I'm most 'fraid it's
broke. She was halfway down the
stairs when she fell, and her whole
weight come on it."
But Laura was In the house by this
time. She found her aunt in her room,
front chamber opposite the stairs
down which she had fallen.
Miss Southwell lay on the lounge,
looking very pale, but composed, and
said, i'm a soothing tone to Laura,
Don't be frightened, child; my ankles
not broken, only badly sprained. Katy's
drawing me some hot water to shower
it with. And, now dear, as your uncle
is away, 1 feel that you and Alfred
must be my main dependence"
"You and Alfred" 1t seemed an odd
conjunction. But Laura only muir
INJURED, as she laid her cheek against
Miss Southwell's. "What can we do for
you, dearest aunty?'
Aunt Lefty kissed the girl affection
ately. "Our friends from New York
will be here this afternoon, as you
know, and / am sure they will spend
at least week with us. Judging from
past experience, fear l shall be laid
up some time with this sprain. Now,
Laura, you have proved yourself such
a capable little housekeeper on one or
two occasions that l feel that l can
trust you even with company in the
house. And then our girls are so capa-
ble"-with another smile at Katy, who
"Bless you, ma'am, We'll do beauti-
full" said Katy, though it's sorry
am to see you laid up"
"Well, Laura, want you to go to
market first. thing. Your cousin will
drive you over. know. Don't be afraid
to call upon him for anything. I've al
ways found him kind and pbliging.
And then he has such good Judgment.
is the list of things 1 want you to or
der"
Whatever misgivings Laura felt,
she did not make them known. iii
do just what you tell me, aunty," she
said, with unwonted docility. Now,
please attend to that poor ankle right
away. Shan't we stop at the doctors
and ask him to come round?"
''No, no; I'm an old hand at sprains,
and can treat it better myself"
swell, don't worry, precious aunty.
for we'll all do our very best" said
Laura.
But as she descended the stairs she
felt half afraid, half rebellious. II hate
to ask him." she murmured to herself.
"How did he treat me last night, and
this morning, too! Why, he would
scarcely look Mt me-"
Yet in her heart there was a secret
longing to be friends with her cousin.
She was too proud to apologize, but an
idea struck her just then. Her face
broke into n smile, as, taking out her
handkerchief, she tied it to the handle
of her parasOl.
"My flag of truce" she said, giving
1t a flourish. IL shall ask for suspen-
sion of hostilities till uncle gets back"
fastening her steps, she tripped off
in the direction of the arbor where her
cousin was wont to smoke his morn
ing cigar.
Yes. there he was, enjoying that mas
culine luxury and the newspaper to-
gether. Laura slackened her gait now,
as she approached, waving her white
flag" solemnly and slowly.
Alfred looked up and his face re-
laxed into a smile. "Well?" he asked,
glancing humorously at the handker-
chief.
"It's a flag of truce" said Laura,
solemnly. T've come to request Of my
honorable enemy suspension Of hostili-
ties for twenty-four hours"
agreed" said Alfred, rising and
speaking with such cordial good humor
that Laura felt her heart immensely
lightened. "But may 1 ask the reason
for this move on my fair enemys
partT'
"Oh, it's shame to joke when poor
aunty's hurt herself sol' said Laura,
with a sudden change of tone. "She's
sprained her ankle badly, just when
she's expecting company, too. Uncle
won't be back till tomorrow, and she
feels she must depend upOn Won and