Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-11-05
CHAPTER XIV

Missile left off crying and stared at
Roger. He told Alison afterward that
those half-drowned blue eyes made him
feel quite bad-but then Roger was such
a soft-hearted fellow.
You do not understand" she said at
last, very slowly.
my Gear little sister," he said, TAX
ing her hand, II do understand, and so
does Alison, and we are both agreed on
this point. Repentance is apt to be trou-
blesome if it be carried beyond due bounds
and, in fact, it can degenerate into
sel6shness-and you are really very self
sh about this"
"Oh, Roger!" exclaimed Alison, a lit
tie shocked at this plain speaking But
Roger knew what he was about he was
determined, as he said quantity, ito seal
up the fountain of Missiles tears"
rs he not unkind?" returned poor
Missile, piteously. He calls me selfish,
just because | am so sorry about papa"
1--WE are all sorry, Mabel" returned
her brother, seriously, though we do
not go about the house wetting the floors
with our tears, like medieval sinners.
declare it makes one quite damp to come
near you-it is really bad for your health,
my dear"
Now you are laughing at me-" she
replied, pettishly.
True, and that is the unkindest cut
of all. is it not? But l am not laugh
ing when l talk about your selfishness a:
you see you are just going against the
wise old proverb, Never cry over spilled
milk The mischief is done, my dear,
but every one in the house has forgiven
you for being the cause of it, and now
you must forgive yourself"
''Oh, 1 can not" she said. 81 shall be
miserable until papa is WE'LL
There speaks selfshness," he return
ed, quickly. MY dear Mabel, why think
about yourself at al? why not think how
tired Alison looks, and how you may
spare her? l am sure cheerful word
from you would do her no end of good
Missile seemed struck by his words.
She looked at her sister rather scrutiniz-
ingly. Certainly Alison did look pale,
and there were dark rings round her
eyes. Roger saw his advantage, and
went on.
You have no idea how people in a
| house act and react on each other-a
depressing person is like a perpetual fog.
I think / shall coin that speech as a
proverb. You know l am a bit of a
philosopher-Rogert the sage-that sounds
we'll"
Missiles lips curved into a smile; a
| little dimple came into view.
Come, that's about the real article
| a little more, and we shall have rain
bow effect" observed Roger in a delighted
| tone. Now, we have the whole thing in
| working order. You have done wrong
| and been sorry for it-good with an
| impressive pause: now you are going to
| do better, and not think about yourself
| at all, but how you are to make us all
| happier. Good again. Thirdly and lastly,
| you are to turn over a new leaf and cul-
tivate cheerfulness and that sort OF
thing"
II will try" sighed Missile, raising her
| face to be kissed, "but it will be dread
| fully hard"
Most things are hard" was the philo-
sophical reply; ''but we shall never dc
much good in the world by sitting in the
dust and casting ashes on ourselves-thal
sort of thing doesn't seem to belong to
the present dispensation."
mo. it is Let the dead bury their
dead now" observed Alison, in moved
voice. Now, Roger, you may leave Mis-,
| sic to me; she is tired out, and l an
going to read her to Sleep
But 1 am not sleepy" replied Missile
reluctant to let Roger go, but it showed
her new submission to Alison that she
| made no further protest-only as Alison
read, Missile lay quiet, with a softened
look in her eyes. Yes, she would try
and bear it; they should not be any longer
| troubled.
Thank you. dear" she said presently
as she noticed how Alison's voice flag
ged ''the book is very pretty, but l want
you to leave off now and take a turn il
the garden. Do please, Alison, it is such