The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-12-05
Aunt Diana
The Sunshine
of the Family
CHAPTER ".

the train steamed slowly into the Ches-
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 a porter instructions about her trav-
cling boxes.
Twill 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, l suppose" he said, in
a good-humored, dawdling voice; these
cabs are so stuffy they make fellow
feel queer"
go outside if you like" returned Ali
son, willing to humor him, but rather dis
turbed at the boys GOODNESS.
"Oh, it does not matter" was the con-
Trajectory response; 1--WE 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 1 should be no help, and
have not been much, eh?" with another
grin that threatened to became a laugh.
Il wish dear old Roger could have
come, but I am glad to see you, too" was
Alison's police reply. Il thought you
would have kissed me after two years of
absence"
"Oh, 1 never kiss girls" reddening Wis.,
IDLY.
Not your own sisters?' exclaimed
Alison, in grieved voice. "Oh, Rudel,
you used not to be so stiff and unkind."
Il amt one or the other" rousing up
at this reproach. 81 think it is first-rate
your coming, I mean-and you are no
end of a brick to do it, and" with a
sudden burst of confidence, Il shouldn't
mind giving you 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 were to
ask me on her Bonded knees-a stuck-up
little mink! !"
ooh, Rudel, for shame! Mabel is as
much your sister as 1 am"
mo, she isn't, and never shall be-"
growled the lad. II tell you what, Ali
son, you are an out-and-outer, and no
mistake, and will help you fight all your
battles, that 1 will, as sure as my name
is Rudel, and that is better than ever so
many kisses"
kindly, though you have such a funny
way of showing it; but I have no wish
to fight any one."
ooh, 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
in another moment were driving up the
graveled sweep between rows of dusty
evergreens.
The Holms was singularly built house.
A square, stone hall, uncarpeted and
chilly looking, led to the kitchen and 9th
0I off oil 1oyr Ia
and unusually roomy; wide fight Of
stone steps, differing from the modern
staircase by being also uncovered, led to
the sitting rooms, dining room, drawing
room, school room, and study, all open
ing on to a narrow corridor, fitted from
end to end with books-books literally
lining it from floor to ceiling.
As Alison YEARLY assembled the steps,
thin ladylike woman in black gown,
with a depressed, gentle face, came to
the head of the staircase.
II am so glad to see you, my DEAR"
she said, kissing her affectionately. why,
I do believe you are grown, Alison; you
are taller than expected to see you, but
you are looking pale"
"Oh, that is nothing" returned Ali
son, HASTILY. L du IlIcu Will lie jour-
ney" For just then she did not wish her
looks to be too keenly criticised. "Where
are the others, Miss Leigh-father, Mabel
and Poppie?"
II 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.
I wanted Mabel to stay at home and let
Poppie go without her, but she would
not hear of it.
'Never mind, returned Alison, quietly !;
but she was conscious of hurt, chilled
feeling as Miss Leigh brought out this
lame excuse. This was her return home
after 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 al
this time.
"You are very tired, my DEAR" con-
tinued Miss Leigh, disturbed at the young
girls sudden gravity and paleness. "Shall
IL