Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-11-26
by's farm. with the strawberries and this

Roger. as he carved for the ladies. No
wonder she was spoiled, Aunt Diana, and
did not take kindly TO the sooty ivy and
the music of the crane"
Roger, L shall impose a forfeit if eth
er you or Allie mention the mill" OBJ
served Miss Darlington, as she handed
him cup of coffee enriched with Bar
by's yellow cream. Il want you two
young things to forget everything but
how you are to amuse yourselves. Allie,
shall we have our breakfast here, as we
did last year, while the blackbirds and
thrushes take theirs? Roger looks as
if he wanted to live in the open air. Do
you know you have got thin, dear boy?"
Never mind that, Aunt Diana; there
is no fear of rusting, that is one bless
ing-work never hurt man or woman
yet
NO" she said, thoughtfully, but mod
Grafton in all things was an apostles
maxim; but you are right in principle,
Roger. Now for the home news. What
is really your fathers condition? Let
tiers are SO unsatisfactory, and they never
say half enough
"Dr. Greenwood is delighted with the
progress he has made, Aunt Diana he
gets across the room quite nicely on
crutches, though he is not to do more at
present. OF course, the long confinement
has made him look pale and delicate, but
his spirits are first rate. DR.. Greenwood
told me the other day that in another year
or so he might hope to be as we'll as
ever. He says he is an excellent pa
tent"
And how does the book go on?'
VERY well. I believe; he manages to
write without difficulty with the help of
a sloping board"
THAT was Rogers clever contrivance,"
interrupted Alison.
Aunt Diana does not want to know
that; you have broken the thread of my
discourse. Father does seem happier ly-
ing there with all his books round him
than he did at the mill"
And very good idea, too" observed
Miss Darlington, looking at her nephew
with decided appreciation. "How does
Murdoch fulfill his duties?''
Admirably; he is a very steady fell
low"
Then Allies plan will answer" she re-
turned in her practical way. There is
no reason, Roger, why you should not car
ny on the business, and leave your father
free for his literary pursuits. He was
never fitted for business man; he is too
dreamy and impractical. Believe me, he
will be far happier and less irritable il
circumstances allow him to follow his
own particular bent"
II am quite sure of it. Aunt Diana,'
returned Roger, quietly; land now have
worked alone all these months, l feel
more competent to carry on the business
single handed. 1t has been a hard pull
Ferguson had done so much mischief, but
things are righting themselves now, and
with Murdock's help we shall get on
capitally."
THAT is WE'LL" replied Miss Caring
ton, heartily, land now, how does Missile
go on"
This time Alison answered.
Her arm is quite right, but she still
looks rather thin and delicate. Mrs
Hardwicz-Mrs. Forbes, l mean-wants
to take her to Torquay, in October, for
two months; she says she will be such
a nice companion for Anna. Papa insists
that she is to go"
"And how does my little friend Anna
get on with her stepfather?"
He is very kind to her, Aunt Di.
Roger is rather pleased with him on the
whole"
DR. Forbes is one of those men whose
bark is worse than their bite" observed
Roger; The rather prides himself on be-
ing a bear, but | think Miss Anna has
proved there is a soft spot in his heart"
Il am glad to hear this. Then the
poor little girl is happy on the whole?"
Il don't think Anna is to be pitied,
| Aunt Di," returned Alison, in rather a
peculiar tone; "she looks extremely hap
| py" And something in Alison's manner
made Miss Darlington change the sub
| ject; it certainly did not appear to in
| terest Roger, for he seemed absorbed in
| his strawberries all at once, and his crit
| icism on DR.. Forbes was given in rather
constrained voice.
Miss Leigh tells me that Missile is
| wonderfully improved since her Illness
| observed Aunt Diana, after a pause,
which no one seemed anxious to break
Indeed she is" returned Alison, with
quick enthusiasm. Il have never seen
any one so changed she is so much
| quieter in dress and manners, and so
much more tolerant of Rudel. Poppie
likes to be with her now, and Miss Leigh
can not say enough in her praise. 1t is
easy to see how she tries to break her
self of her faults, and it is so much hard
err for her than for us, as she has not
| naturally a good temper"
Neither had 1, Allie. Many a girl has
a sore fight to go through life as well as
Missile; it is so easy to contract bad
habits, and so difficult to subdue them.
believe nothing but grace can enable one
to overcome really bad temper"
And so saying. Miss Darlington rose
from the table. and proposed that Roger
should go down to the river while she
and Alison disposed of the unpacking.