Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-17
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
Missile loked up with a frown as her
sister entered the room, but Alison took
no notice of her. She walked up straight
to Miss Hardwck, and held out her hand
with one of her pleasant smiles.
Il have just made acquaintance with
your sister," she said, with quiet tact;
I'VE are going in the garden, as the house
feels so close this lovely day. l shall
| be so glad, and l am sure Mabel will be,
too, if you will both stay with us to
| luncheon"
Il thought you knew better, Alison"
Missile interrupted, pettishly, before her
friend could speak. Dear papa is so
nervous and worried about business and
| Rogers wretched management that he is
not able to bear luncheon visitors Eva
understands this, don't you, dear?"
"Oh, yes, darling" returned Miss Hard
wick, with effusion but perhaps your
sister, being a stranger and not quite
| used to all the ways at The Holms, has
made a mistake. That is very natural"
"Oh, no." returned Alison, trying to
keep cool Il am making no mistake.
Papa will not be in to luncheon, or my
brother, either as they have business a
little way out of town. So | thought, as
we should be quite alone, that it would be
good opportunity, Mabel, for you to
have your friends"
Missiles pink cheeks became crimson
with vexation; it aggravated her to see
| Alison taking upon herself so quietly the
duties of the mistress of the house; and
she was still more injured that her faith
| L. IL
to herself. She took no notice of her sis
ter's remarks, and added no word, as Miss
! Hardwick accepted the invitation with
great alacrity. When Alison left them,
after a few more words, she listened re-
luctantly to Eva's criticism.
Il had no idea your sister was such a
stylish person." she said, when the door
| closed on Alison "she has fine eyes and q
| good figure, and she knows how to suit her
own style in dress. She is not as pretty
as you, darling, of course, but she has
some claims to good looks
Alison did not return these moderate
compliments; she was not at all attract
ed by Miss Hardwick. She was a large,
! heavy looking girl, rather handsome, but
her face had no play of expression, and
| her manner was decidedly artificial.
Alison spent a pleasant hour with her
new friend under the lime trees She
soou grew interested in Annals artless
talk. She was evidently very young for
! her age; though she was seventeen. she
was still childish in manners. Probably
! she had been reprcssed and kept in the
background by her sister.
1T is so good of you to let me talk to
| t,,, To nor
| | am such a chatterbox, when l begin
to ask them questions. l think l am
| fonder of talking than most people An
| thony says that makes me so trouble
some"
'Who is Anthony" queried Alison,
| little curiousy.
'Oh, he is our cousin; he is staying
with US now. Eva says it is so nice, be-
cause we have no brothers, and he can
take us about. Eva and he are great
| friends; she always calls him Tony. He
| is such handsome fellow, with a big
| black mustache like a cavalry officer. He
is in the army, you know. l am dread
| fully frightened of him. because he laughs
at me-, but it is only his way, he means
to be good-natured."
Alison prudently refrained from all
| comments, but said, lightly, Now we
| have talked all this time, and l wonder
| what has become of your sister and Ma
| bel? | propose that we have afternoon
tea under these trees, and that you and
| L. with Sarahs help, should prepare a
! little surprise for them. Will not Poppie
| be delighted?"
Anna might have been a child from
the way she clapped her hands; she had
never enjoyed herself so much in all her
life as during the next half hour, as she
and Alison dragged chairs across the
| lawn, and arranged the little tea table,
with the nice basket of hot cakes that
old Nanny had prepared. some fresh
strawberries. and little vase Of roses
in the center. Even Missile looked pleased
when, on returning from their hot walk.
! she caught sight of the snowy cloth under
the trees.
That is really a good idea she OBJ
served, in a grudging tone. however; but
Eva very nearly made her cross again by
saying:
How delicious of your sister! 1 really
| would hug her for this. What a pity we
never thought of this before, dear, and
then Tony might have joined u.s."
When Roger returned from his work,
an hour earlier than he expected, he stood
quite transfxed on the gravel walk; for
certainly such & pleasant little picture
had never been seen before in the garden
of The Holms.
You may have my chair by Miss
Leigh" exclaimed Poppie. eagerly. "Oh,
the cakes are so nice, Roger, and there
are two left"
u must make you some fresh tea, you
poor tired day laborer." observed Alison,
as Roger threw himself into the wicker
chair and removed his hat.
"Oh, let me do it y exclaimed Anna,
eagerly. Il know the way to the kitchen
quite WELL"
Yes. and I will go, too" added Pop
pie There are some more Strawberries,
I know"
Bring me a big plateful," called out
Roger, as Poppie frisked away; but he
looked after them both rather curiously.