The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-11-21

'.That Is what intended. You are
an intelligent child, Allie; both the man
and the sheep must be old; it is not for
young creatures to rest at noontide; my
old pensioner has already borne the bur
den and heat of the day."
"Of course, I see what you mean,
Aunt Dr."
"My parable is not hard to read" re-
piled Miss Darlington, with a smile, but
as Alison studied the picture with In
creased interest and admiration, pair
of shrewd, kindly eyes were studying the
girls face.
go and put yourself in that easy
chair opposite, and tell me all about It,"
she said at last, rousing her by good
humored little push. II must finish this
branch if 1 am to enjoy my nights rest,
but l can listen to any amount OF let
tered woes" with a suggestive glance at
Alison's hand.
"Oh, Aunt Di, how do you find out
| things SOP" stammered Alison; then, as
though used to obedience, she moved to
the chair that was always reserved for
Miss Carrington's visitors, whom she was
wont to entertain after a fashion OF her
| own.
Il wonder how long I am to have pa
tience," observed Miss Darlington, paint
| ing on industriously, as Alison sat with
dropping head, looking at her letters, with
| out Offering to read them. Il am quite
| sure those are Rudel's struggling charac-
| ters; that boys handwriting is disgrace
| to the family; it has put him out OF my
| will forever; fancy ones nephew being
| such a sorry SCRIBE"
"Rudel does write badly" returned ALI
son, with faint little smile, "but like
his letters better than Missiles; there is
one from Miss Leigh, too; do you admire
her handwriting, Aunt Di?"
"No; it is too thin and angular" re-
turned Miss Darlington, severely; 1T
wants freedom and breadth it reminds
me too much of Miss Leigh herself"
Il do not think we are any of us very
fond of her." interrupted Alison. II know
she fdgets father dreadfully, and Roger,
too, though he is SO good to her"
Roger is good to everyone but him
SELF" responded Miss Darlington; ''but
even he, with all his good nature, has
owned to me that Miss Leigh has very
| people make poor companions. Miss
Leigh has never leisure for anything but
her own worries; she is too overweighted
for cheerful conversation; if she could
forget Poppie's misdemeanOrs, and Mis-
sizes pertness, and Rudel's roughness,
and the servants failures for about half
an hour at a time, 1 could quite fancy
Miss Leigh a pleasing companion; but
now let me hear her letter.
ut is dreadfully long," sighed Alison,
as she reluctantly obeyed. It was evil
dent that she wished Miss Darlington to
read the letters for herself, but Aunt
Diana held different opinion.
"My dear Alison" it began, 81 am
afraid that my weekly account will be
little more cheering than the last; in
| deed, 1 am arriving slowly at the con-
viction that, unless some change be made
in the household arrangements, shall
be compelled, however reluctantly, to re-
sign my post"
"Humph! that looks bad" from Miss
Darlington.
II have done all can in representing
to your father the mischief that must
result from his injudicious treatment of
Mabel; she is becoming so thoroughly
spoiled, so entirely her own mistress, that
no amount of reasoning has any effect
upon her. I do not wish to lay any I'M
due stress on her behavior to myself !;
but her treatment of Mr.. Roger, and the
bad example that she sets to Poppie, not
to mention the constant pickering that is
always going on beween her and Rudel,
are quite destroying the harmony of the
household. You may imagine, my dear
Alison, how trying all this is to person
of my sensitive temperament.
81 always said it was a black day for
| us when Miss Darlington took you away
from The Holms. With all due Difference
to your aunt's benevolence and good feel
ings, 1 can not help thinking that a
daughters place is with her widowed
| father. OF course, you will talk the
you may be able to assist me to some So
| luton of our difficulties.
PATIENCE LEIGH"
patience has changed to impatience,"
| muttered Miss Darlington, grimly. "Sen-
sitive people never own to being out of
| temper, but I should have said myself
| that there was a spice of ill-temper in
that letter. Poor Miss Leigh is decided
| ly ruffled."
"She never could manage Missile; al
| ways knew that" returned Alison, sor-
rowfully.
"And how old is Mabel, or Missile, as
you call herr?
Sixteen last birthday, Aunt Diana"
"Humph! there is not a more trouble
some age"
"Aunt Di, have something very seri-
GUS to say. These letters came two or
three days ago, and l have been thinking
about them ever since. l do believe Miss
Leigh is right in what she says, and that
I am Sinking my duty"
| "Since when?' little dryly.
] ''Since I got quite well and strong and
happy, about year ago." returned Ali
son, answering most literally. II ought
| to have gone back then, and not have
stopped on here quietly, taking the good
of everything, and enjoying myself just
as though I had no duties. and no place
in life. 1t is all my fault if Missile is