Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-09-18
CHAPTER ".


~ +oars we're in Alison's eyes long after
4so train steamed slowly into the Ches-
...+or station. Alison gathered up her
,,u,orons articles of travelling gear, and
I'.r,od ont with some eagerness, but Rog-
4ou fopre was nowhere in sight, and,
nob disappointed and perplexed, she
norter instructions about her trav-
cling boxes.
will YOU fetch re cab, please?" fall
..rod Alison, feeling ready to cry again
~ bor loneliness, and wondering at Rog-
sr's unkind desertion, and then all at
o,ca she encountered a pair of round blue
aros very wide open. She started; yes,
t5ore was the wide mouth, the droll,
tnootIod face that she remembered 80
,ou. of course it was Rudel, grown, but
49, n+ barwise altered, grinning affably at
ner.
,.Whv Rudel," she exclaimed, reproach-
t,nv why did you not speak to me? I
r.as looking for Roger, and nearly passed
you by"
oh but l should have hallooed all in
GOOD time" he returned, with another
grin. shaking hands with her, but refrain
inc from any warmer fraternal greeting.
As soon as she was seated in the cab
he rot in after her, and proceeded to put
down both windows. "You would not like
me- to go outside, suppose" he said, in
a yood-h,mored, dawdling voice; these
cabs are so stuffy they make a fellow
feel queer"
Go outside if you like" returned Ali
son. willing to humor him, but rather dis
turbed at the boys GOODNESS.
"Oh. it does not matter" was the con-
Trajectory response; 1--WE have not far
10 20. and cabby is so unusually stout
there would not be room for Otter. Oh,
\ by the bye, Roger told me to tell you
that father told him that somebody else
must come to the station, as he could not
4 be spared. Roger was awfully put about,
for he said l should be no help, and l
have not been much, eh?" with another
\ grin that thrt atened to became laugh.
~ wish dear old Roger could have
. come, but am glad to see you, toe" was
j Alison's police reply. II thought you
4 would have kissed me after two years of
q absence"
"Oh, I never kiss girls" reddening Wis
4 IDLY,
Not your own sisters?" exclaimed
4 Alison. in a grieved voice. ooh, Rudel,
8 you used not to be so stiff and unkind."
u amt one or the other" rousing up
4 at this reproach. Il think it is first-rate
your coming l mean-and you are no
y end of brick to do it, and" with a
d sudden burst Of confidence, II shouldn't
4 mind giving you a kiss now and then,
when you wanted it particularly, if you
4 would promise not to tell Missile; would
u not give her One-no, not if she were to
q ask me on her Bonded knees-a stuckup
u little MINK
"0h, Rudel, for shame Mabel is as
3 much your sister as | am"
s. mo, she isn't, and never shall be-"
q growled the lad. Il tell you what, Ali
"A son, you are an out-and-outer, and no
n mistake, and I will help you fight all your
battles, that | will, as sure as my name
is Rudel, and that is better than ever so
many kisses
al Dear Rudel, l am sure you mean
kindly, though you have such funny
way of showing it; but I have no wish
to fight any one"
"Oh, but you will be obliged to fight
Missile. whether you wish for it or not,
was the cool rejoinder; but Alison was
spared any further argument on this sub
lect, as they had reached The HOlms, and
IN another moment were driving up the
graveled sweep between rows of dusty
81 evergreens
81 The Holms was a singularly built house
a square, stone hall, uncarpeted and
chilly looking, led to the kitchen and 9th
ed domestic Offices all on a large scale
and unusually roomy; a wide flight of
stone steps, differing from the modern
staircase by being also uncovered, led to
The sitting rooms, dining room, drawing
room, school room, and study, all open
ing on to a narrow corridor, fitted from
END to end with books-books literally
Ilnlng It from floor to ceiling.
As Alison YEARLY assembled the steps,
thin ladylike woman in black gown,
M with depressed, gentle face, came to
the head of the staircase
am so glad to see you, my dear"
Sle SAID, kissing her affectionately. why,
l 90 believe you are grown, Alison; you
are taller than l expected to see you, but
You are looking pale"
Oh, that is nothing" returned Ali
SON. hastily. II am tired with the jour
Iey' For just then she did not wish her
LOOKS to be too keenly criticised. "Where
are the others, Miss Leigh-father, Mabel
and Poppie?"
am so sorry, Alison, that I am the
yuty one to greet your homecoming. Ma
oe' and Poppie are out; they had an
Ip'"aton to an afternoon party at the
1p'o"nIoW's; it is little Stacy's birthday.
wanted Mabel to stay at home and let
1Vppie go without her, but she would
not hear of it,"
Never mind, returned Alison, quietly :;
~, sic was conscious of hurt, chilled
1sSIns as Miss Leigh brought out this
tue excuse. This was her return home
,e ,, TWO years absence, and yet Roger
sVuIo not be spared to meet her at the
salon salon and Mabel could not give up an
=. 'n0oh amusement to welcome her sis
ah,. ner father was busy as usual; prob
A; ne had forgotten her existence at
ti, lou are very tired, my DEAR" con-
tuuN Miss Leigh, disturbed at the Young