Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-10-15

room before l was dressed, and told me
to tell you she would not waat any
cakfast-she was going 10 have it at
Maplewood. She looked so smart. Alison,
in her new blue dress. 1t was rather
funny of her to put it on for breakfast"
Miss Leigh, will you come into the
school room a moment, If you have fin
ished?' said Alison, quietly; but the gov
erness noticed that she looked rather pale,
and rose at once. but she was even more
shocked than Alison when she heard the
whole story.
MY dear, your papa will never for
give us if we do not prevent it" she said,
very solemnly. You none Of you know
how particular he IS: and this will seem
dreadful to him. You must go to Maple
wood yourself, Alison, and speak to Mrs.
HaTdwick. She is the only one who can
DO anything. Anna can go in Mabel
place, but you must insist on bringing
Mabel home I will not answer for the
consequences if this affair comes to your
fathers ears" continued the governess,
moved to tears at this fresh instance o.
Missiles self-will.
Alison thought this such good advice
that she put on her hat at once and
walked over to Maplewood. 1t was not a
pleasant errand, she felt, and she hardly
knew what she would say to Mrs. Hard
wick. She only knew she would refuse
to return without Missile, even if she had
to brave the obnoxious Captain Harper
himself. But her face fell when she en-
tered the morning room and found Mrs.
Hardwick and Anna alone: the others
had just driven from the door. Seeing
that her visit was useless Alison returned
home. Roger met her at the gate with
the news that Mr.. Merle had returned.
Il have not seen him yet, Allie; l have
only just come across from the MILL" he
continued. Would you like me to tell
him, dear, or do you think you can do it
better?"
I'VE will go together" returned Ali
son, uneasily. Il am so afraid that he
will put himself out, and then you will
know what to say" And Roger acquiesc-
ed.
They found Mr.. Merle in his study.
looking somewhat tagged and weary, but
he held out his hand with smile, as
though he were pleased to see them after
his brief absence.
where is Pussie?' he asked 'she is
generally the first to welcome me-" And
he looked round as though he were disap-
pointed.
Dear papa returned Alison, bravely,
81 am afraid you will be vexed about
something. We have none of US seen
Mabel this morning; she breakfasted at
Maplewood Roger met Anna at the
Meredith's last night, and she told him
that Mabel had promised to join Eva and
her cousin in an excursion to Durbans.
| went over to speak to Mrs. Hardwick
and bring Mabel back, but they had al
ready started"
What" Numbered Mr.. Merle, and the
blackness of his brow was dreadful to
Alison, do you dare to tell me that Ma
bel has gone over to Durbaps in that
mans company, when | forbade any in
tercourse with him?
Captain Harper is driving them in his
dog-cart," rejoined Roger. coming to his
sisters relief. 1T seems a very silly af-
fair. and I begged her to stop it; it is no
fault of hers or of mine, father. Missile
slipped out of the house while they were
at breakfast. and though Alison started
off to Maplewood as soon as she could
she was just too late"
mo, it is not your fault" returned
Mr.. Merle, gloomily. Mabel must bear
the brunt of her own disobedience Miss
Hardwick shall never enter this house
again"
Would you like me to take an early
afternoon train to Durbans?" interrupt
ed Roger, who had already conceived this
plan, land when l could join them; there
Is a vacant seat in the dog cart"
Look out train in the time table,
he said, suddenly; Il will go myself, Rog-
er. Mabel shall not return in the dog
cart; l shall bring her back by train"