Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-11-19
Aunt Diana
The Sunshine
of the Family
49, Ep9v----
CHAPTER XX.-(Continued.)

were one OF the family. Without max
ing herself unduly prominent, or in any
way trenching on the young housekeeper's
privilege, she yet contrived, with quiet
tact, to tighten Alison's burden and pro-
cure her the rest she so much needed.
Alison resumed her walks with Roger,
while Aunt Diana amused Missile or read
10 MT. Merle. During the day Alison
was too much engaged to enjoy much of
Aunt Diana's company, but Miss Caring
ton insisted that she should resume her
painting lessons as soon as Missile was
able to be with her father and she also
contrived that she and Alison should have
one of their old refreshing talks as often
as possible. Nothing rested Alison so
much as intercourse with Miss Caring
tons strong, vigorous mind.
Aunt Diana quickly found her way into
Missiles hayward little heart, and she
soon turned her influence to good account
One afternoon, when Alison had cen
spending some hours at Maplewood, she
found on her return that Missile had gone
back into her old ROOM All Alison's
books and pictures had been moved Aunt
Diana's loving hands had evidently been
employed in her service-no one else
would have arranged the bowl of dark
chrysanthemums on the little round table,
and the pretty, fresh cretonne on the
couch and easy chair spoke of the same
taste.
Alison's voice trembled as she thanked
Missile
You ought not to have done it, Mabel.
dear; 1t is very good of you, but l would
rather have waited until you were really
we'll"
always meant to do it," returned
Missile, solemnly. Il thought about it
every night, and then | made up my
mind to speak to Aunt Diana, and she
said she would help me. Have you seen
the beautiful illumination she has paint
ed for your"
es, Alison had seen it
BE not weary in well-doing''-that
vas the text that Miss Darlington had
chOsen-"fOr in due season we shall reap.
Il We faint not" Well, was not Alison
reaping a rich harvest? Would she ever
repent that she had come back to her
own people for loving service and minis
try, when she had won Missiles affection,
and found her way to her fathers heart?
That he loved and trusted her, that she
was growing daily dearer to him, Alison,
with all her humility, could not doubt
but Missile was still his petted darling
the very suffering she had caused him
brought them nearer together.
1t was a lovely sight, Miss Darlington
thought, to see Missile sitting for hours
patiently beside her fathers couch read
ing or talking to him. But for her aunt's
l.. I.
permanently injured by her devotion to
him; before she left she made Missile
faithfully promise to take her daily walk
and to resume her singing
You must leave something for Allie
TO do" she said, with a smile 81 can
not sanction monopoly. We must watch
against selfshness, dear child, even in
our best actions: we must not be over
exacting in our affection-love sometimes
compels one to efface ones self for loves
sake"
Anna was q constant visitor to The
Holms during Miss Carrington's stay
they had taken a great fancy to each
other. Anna told Alison privately that
she thought Miss Darlington was the
most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
uOu hllON dbOuL ueE features,
Alison had answered. II don't think peo-
pie consider her handsome, but it is a
dear face and that is all | care about"
Il am never tired of looking at her."
returned Anna, with girlish enthusiasm;
tone sees the thoughts coming before she
speaks her eyes talk to one, even when
she is silent. There is something har-
monious, too in her voice, and even in
her walk she never jars on one; l am
sure there are no discords in her nature"
Alison repeated this speech; she
thought it so prettily worded, and so
true. But Miss Darlington shook her
head over it and let it pass; she knew
ynuch better how the chords of her being
had once been tangled roughly out of
tune. mo discords in her nature ~ when
every note had been dumb ard tuneless
until the Divine Hand had brought the
Jared chords into harmony.
when Gods will is our WILL then we
shall know peace" she said to herself
Il have learned that now" But she
spoke very kindly of Anna, and praised
Alison's discernment in the choice of
friend. "She is a simple, lovable little
soul" she said once; ''it is quite a treat
In this decided age to meet with a girl
who distrusts her own judgment, and be-
iieves other peoples experiences before
her own"
anna is really very clever, Aunt Di"
Il am sure of that, my dear: and she
shows her ceverness by not advertising
her best wares. In talking to her one
is not dropping over buckets into empty
wells-there is good sense and a clear
ing in an uncongenial atmosphere has
make her shy and awkward ; she is like
poor little plant brought too suddenly into
the light; in another year or so she will
be less pallid and depressed: she will
have learned to believe in herself lit
tie"
Il am afraid you think her plain" OBJ
served Alison. anxiously; for her artistic
taste made her lay rather an undue i'm
pertnnce on beauty; but really, when
she talks and brightens up she is quite
pretty"
She has lovely look sometimes. You
are wrong, Allie, | do not think her
plain Missiles apple blossom face makes
her little colorless, but there is deli
cate white rose bloom about her that is
not without beauty. | like her face, my
lear
10 you know, Aunt Di"-hesitating a
little az though she feared how her
words might be received, for Miss Car
rington had a horror of gossip-"I am
half afraid that there is a new trouble
IN store for poor Anna"
You mean Eva's marriage. l think
that will be good thing for her; there
is no real sympathy between the sisters"
NO l meant something quite different.
have been at Maplewood a great deal
this week, and DIR. Forbes is always there.
am afraid, from what l see, that Anna
s will soon have step-father, and, Aunt
D,''-in a voice of strong disgust-'Dr.
Forbes is such an ugly, disagreeable man,
must say l do wonder at Mrs. Hard
wick
'.Do you, Allie? Well, wonder sits
we'll on young people. l hate TO see them
taking everything as matter of course.