The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-12-12


fly in the armchair. Sometimes aha
comes in to interfere with Poppie and find
fault with some of my arrangements. But
she has coaxed your father into giving
her French and singing lessons with her
friends, the Hardwicks, and for months
she has refused to open even a history
and yet you have no idea how ignorant
she is. Nothing but mischief has result
ed from her intimacy with Eva Hard
wick. l have spoken to your father over
and over again about it, but he listens to
Mabers version of her friends character,
and only the other day he told me l must
be mistaken, for Eva was a bright, high
spirited girl, and it was all nonsense what
Mr.. Roger and l said about her."
"Roger dislikes her, then?'
ooh, yes; he never speaks to her il
he can help it. She is 6ne-looking girl :;
older than Mabel, but vain and empty
headed, thinking of nothing but balls and
flirtations; and you know how dangerous
a friend of that sort is to girl of Ma
bells age. To do Mabel justice, she was
not half so vain and fond of dress and
finery until she went so much to the
Hardwicks. They have completely turn
ed her head, and, worst of all, Eva has
taken a dislike to Roger because he re-
fuses to pay her any attention and laughs
at all their nonsense; and that sets Ma
bel against her brother. Mabel always
had temper of her own" went on Miss
Leigh, feeling sort of relief in pouring
out her feelings into Alison's ear, ''but
she was never so aggravating as she is
now. You see, my dear, if girl does not
hold her own home as sacred if she
chooses a giddy young companion for her
confidante, and retails to her all that
passes in her own household, finding fault
with her own people, and listening to her
friends estimate of them, she may end
as Mabel does, in thinking her brothers
rough and unmannerly, and Poppie dis
agreeable little girl"
do you mean Missile is so dishonora-
BILE as to repeat to Miss Hardwick all
that passes at The Holms?" asked Ali
son, Indignantly.
'They do not think it dishonorable,"
returned Miss Leigh, with a quiet good
sense which Alison had never credited
her. "You see, Mabel calls Eva her
bosom friend. and refuses to have any
secrets from her. If Eva comes this af-
ternoon, all that passed at the luncheon
table between your father and Mr.. Roger
will be retailed, as matter of course
Even if Mabel were disposed to be
reticent for once, Eva, who is of an in
quisitive nature, and who completely
dominates her, would soon worm the
whole thing from her. She has grudge
against Mr.. Roger, and nothing would
please her more than to hear of this hui
initiation. I have reason to know, Ali
son, that it is by Eva's advice that Mabel
intends to keep your room. 1 have heard
her say myself that, of course, as your
home is with Miss Darlington, you have
resigned your privilege here as the eldest
daughter, and that there is no need for
Mabel to knock under completely. Those
were her very words"
Alison looked grave. "Is Miss Hard
wick often here?" she asked at last.
"They are together every day, either
here or at Broadlands- Hardwicks'
house. But as your father objects to
strangers, or, indeed, to visitors of any
kind, Eva very rarely spends the evenings
here. They were practicing in the draw
ing room this morning, and afterward
they went out together. There is anoth-
er sister, Anna, a nice little thing, rather
pale and delicate looking, but they both
snub her. suppose that makes Mr.. Rog-
er kind to her when she comes, for her
sister certainly sights her, and Mr.. Roger
always stands up for every one but him
SELF"
ut seems odd, my saying all this to
you, Alison" observed Miss Leigh, after
a pause; "for you are young yourself;
but you were never Eighty and easily
led, as Mabel is. I believe she has her
good points; she is really very much at
tached to your father, and will leave Eva
sometimes, if he wants her; and in her
own way she is fond of Poppie, though
she tyrannizes over her. There! Poppie
is crying as usual; that is generally the
end when she is long with Mabel. l sup
pose, by that. your father has gone back
to the mill. 1 had better go to her, Ali
son, if you will excuse me-"
Alison had plenty of food for medita-
ton when she was left alone; very
difficult problem was before her to solve.
How was she to gain an influence over
her faulty young sister?
ITO be continued.)