The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-12-19
Aunt Diana
The Sunshine
of the Family
CHAPTER VII.

er on her way downstairs on Monday
morning, and she laughed merrily as she
shook her key basket exultantly in his
face. Roger opened his eyes very widely
at this, then he stepped back few PAGES
and looked at her admiringly.
"How ever did you get possession of
that thing?" he exclaimed. do you
know, Allie, my dear, that shabby little
brown basket has been bone of conten-
ton between Miss Leigh and Missile for
the last month. Miss Leigh clings to it
as her sole hope, and refuses to give it
up. 1t has ended by Missiles neatly alb
stracting it at night. She has done it
three or four times"
"Yes, know. Poppie told me all about
it. WE'LL" in an amused tone, Il have
only paid Missile in her own coin. Thanks
to my good habits, was dressed before
she thought of waking so I stole in, got
my key basket, and wished Missile good
morning at the same time. l am afraid
she will come down dreadfully cross"
GAS though that were anything new"
returned Roger, contemptuously, as he
took up the paper and retired with it to
the window, while Alison busted herself
with the coffee pot. Shortly afterward
there was an unwonted sound on the
stairs.
eff it were not perfectly incredible,
should say that was Rudel's footstep,"
Roger observed, in doubtful tone.
ooh, yes, it is Rudel," returned Ali
son, brightly. Il woke him, and made
him promise to get up. Miss Leigh says
he has got into sad ways. Good boy"
as Rudel entered, looking very much pleas
ed at himself, and he bore without max
| ing a very wry face his sisters kiss on
his forehead. Poppie, who came in a
moment afterward with Miss Leigh, was
not quite so reticent.
"What is that for?'' she asked, with
child's innocency of grammar, but in
much surprise, as Alison kissed her warm
ly, and said, "Good morning, Poppie,
dear"
''Poppie means that we are not accus-
toned to these little civilities," put in
Roger, as Alison looked perplexed for
moment, nobody says good morning to
anybody else at The Holms except Miss
Leigh and I we always do, don't we?"
shaking hands with her as he spoke.
Father just gives an inclusive good morn
1
ing at the door,"
II am afraid you are very much shock
ed, Alison" observed Miss Leigh, mourn
fully. mabel sets Rudel and Poppie
such bad example in this; no one thinks
of such thing except Mr.. Roger, and he
is always so very thoughtful"
| When Mr.. Merle came into the room a
few minutes later he seemed quite surpris-
ed at the unwonted cheerfulness. He
nodded to Alison, and then took up his
letters, but she was not satisfied.
"You have not kissed me, papa" she
said, as she carried him round his cup
of coffee.
ooh, I thought only Pussie cared for
Kisses" he said, spontaneously; "Pop-
pie never comes to me for one."
Poppie Redeemed, and bent over her
plate in much confusion. Roger, who
was next to her, saw the child's eyes were
full of tears.
Il expect Poppie is afraid of bothering
you," he observed. "You would like faith
er to kiss you sometimes, as he does
Missile" he said, kindly.
'Is that true, my little girl?'' asked
Mr.. Merle, who had just caught sight of
Poppie's quivering lip. The poor child,
who was very sensitive, was on the point
of bursting into tears, but Alison happily
interposed.
Papa is too busy to think much about
such things. You must go round to-mor-
row and ask him for one, as did to-day !;
he won't refuse either of u.s." and she
looked laughingly at him from behind her
urn.
The brightness seemed to rouse him eff
fectually. He had looked pale and weary
when he entered the room, but good-humor
is infectious.
"You look very nice, DEAR" he said, APP
provingly. Il like to see you there, Ali
son.
81 like to see her there, too," OBJ
served Roger, boldly; ut is her proper
place." Missile, who had just opened the
door, caught both these remarks; they
did not evidently conduce tor~her amia-
bility. She gave Alison a whitening glance
as she passed by her, to greet her father,
and, taking no notice of her or the others,
desired Rudel rather GROSSLY to give her
more room, and began her breakfast rath-
er sulkily.
/ But for once her humcrs were disre-
garded. No one troubled themselves about
her, and the conversation was renewed
with scarcely a break. Perhaps both
Roger and Alison were doing their best to
carry it on, but their sense Of effort was
lost in the general good.
When breakfast was over, and Rudel
had rushed off to school, and Mr.. Merle
and Roger had gone over to the mill, Ali
SON asked her sister pleasantly how she
proposed to spend the morning.
''That is my affair."" she answered, very
rudely. II am not accustomed to give an
account Of myself to crafty peoples curl
osity I may as well tell you, once for
all, that I dislike interference"
Alison felt inclined to laugh-there was
something comical in Missiles mode of
showing her temper, but she knew nothing
provokes people more than to laugh at
them, SO she prudently refrained from
-showing her mirth 81 am just going
round the house with Miss Leigh while
Poppie prepares her lessons" she return
| ed, as coolly as though Missile had given