Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Aunt Diana
The Sunshine
of the Family
CHAPTER ".


terton station. Alison gathered up her
numerous articles of travelling gear, and
looked out with some eagerness, but Rog-
er's tall figure was nowhere in sight, and,
much disappointed and perplexed, she
gave porter instructions about her traT-
cling boxes.
"Will you fetch me cab, please?" fall
tered Alison, feeling ready to cry again
at her loneliness, and wondering at Rog-
er's unkind desertion, and then all at
once she encountered pair of round blue
eyes, very wide open. She started; yes.
there was the wide mouth, the droll,
freckled face that she remembered so
well; of course it was Rudel, grown, but
not otherwise altered, grinning affably at
her.
why, Rudel," she exclaimed, reproach-
fully, why did you not speak to me?
was looking for Roger, and nearly passed
you by"
"Oh, but | should have hallooed all in
good time" he returned, with another
grin, shaking hands with her, but refrain
ing from any warmer fraternal greeting.
As soon as she was seated in the cab
he got in after her, and proceeded to put
down both windows You would not like
me to go outside, suppose" he said, in
q good-humored 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 coolness
"Oh, it does not NATTER was the con-
Trajectory response; I'VE have not far
to go, 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
be spared. Roger was awfully put about,
for he said l should be no help, and
have not been much, eh?" with another
grin that threatened to became a laugh
II wish dear old Roger could have
come, but l am glad to see you, too" was
Alison's police reply. Il thought you
would have kissed me after two years of
absence"
ooh, never kiss girls reddening Wis
IDLY.
Not your own sisters?" exclaimed
Alison, in a grieved voice ooh, Rudel
Il amt one or the other" rousing up
at this reproach. Il think it is first-rate
your coming, | mcan-and you are no
end Of a brick to do it, and" with a
sudden burst of confidence, Il shouldn't
mind giving you a kiss now and then
when YOU wanted it particularly, if you
would promise not TO tell Missile; l would
not give her one-no, not if she w2re to
ask me on her Bonded knees-a stuck-up
little mink y
'Oh, Rndel, for shame! Mabel is as
much your sister as | am"
mo, she isn't, and never shall be-"
growled the lad Il tell you what, Ali
son, you are an out-and-outer, and no
mistake and l 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"
Dear Rudel, l am sure you mean
kindly, though you have such q funny
way Of showing it; but l have no wish
10 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
ject. as they had reached The Holms. and
10 another moment were driving up the
gravelcd sweep between rows of dusty
evergrcens.
The IIoms was a singularly built house
square, stone hall. uncarpeted and
chilly looking, led to the kitchen and 9th
ed domestic offices, all on a large scale
and unusually roomy; n wide flight of
stone steps, differing from the modern
staircase by being also uncovered, led to
thr sitting rooms, dining room, drawing
room, school room, and study, all open
ing on to a narrow corridor, fitted from
Snd to end with bookS-books literalyl
lining it from floor to ceiling.
As Alison YEARLY assembled the steps.
a thin ladylike woman in a black gown,
with a depressed, gentle face, came to
the head of the staircase.
Il am so glad to see YOU. nv dear"
she said, kissing her afIectionately. "Why.
1 do believe you are grown, Alison; you
IRE taller than | expected to see YOU but
you are looking pale"
'Oh, that is nothing" returned Ali
son, hastily. Il am tired with the jour
ney." For just then she did not wish her
looks to be too kecnly criticised. where
are the others, Miss Leigh-father, Mabel
and Poppic?"
Il am so sorry, Alison, that | am the
only one to greet your Homecoming. Ma
bel and Poppie are out; they had an
invitation to an afternoon party at the
Brownlow's; it is little Stacy's birthday.
| wanted Mabel to stay at home and let
Poppie go without her, but she would
not hear of it,"
Never mind, returned Alison. quietly !:
out she was conscious of hurt, chilled
feeling as Miss Leigh brought out this
lame excuse. This was her return home
aftc: Two years absence, and yet Roger
could not be spared to meet her at the
station, and Mabel could not give up an
afternoons amusement to welcome her sis
ter. Her father was busy as usual prob
ably he had forgotten her existence at
this time.
You are very tired, my dear" con-
tinued Miss Leigh, disturbed at the young
girls sudden gravity and palencss. Shall
| take YOU to your ROOM and send you
up cup of tea? 1 daresay you would
like 10 be quiet little
AdAk YOU. TSplltu sAllSOu, STdlelui-
iy. Rudel skipped up after her, three
steps at time.
II suppose you do not want to see
Sulky now. Alison?"
NO no" interrupted Miss Leigh. your
sister is tired, Rudel you had better go
down and leave her to rest
"Oh. l was not talking to you, Mother
Leigh" was the boys rude retort; and
as Alison turned round to shake her head
at him, she discovered him in the act
of making one Of his favorite faces at the
back Of the unconscious goyerness.
Il say, miSSus," he observed when he
had sufficiently relieved his feelings, 'have
you told Alison about her room?''
NO, ret vet, Rudel,'' returned the
much-enduring Miss Leigh.
Then shall | call it mean trick
of MISSES; no one but girl would dc
such n thing here she has been and taker
your room. Alison, with mothers thing:
In it; and nothing the missus can say vii
get her to give il up. Missus is awfully
wild about it. AMT You, MISUSE"
AL J. l,, Ia e..