Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-01-08


back toward her, painting at an easel.
"Well, child, what now" The voice
was nicely modulated, clear and musical,
but the manner slightly abrupt.
Alison came forward at once and in
spected the picture. "It is very pretty,
Aunt Dr. she said, forgetting her own
worries in a moment. 1T is one of your
best. | think l see what you mean, but
to me it is all beautiful; that old man
a pensioner, is he not? and that poor,
tired sheep, that seems to have dropped
down by the way, left behind by the
flock, is so suggestive of the title, Noon
tide Rest"
THAT is what l 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, l see what you mean
Aunt Di."
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 a good
humored little push. ~ must finish this
branch if | am to enjoy my nights rest
but | 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 soY" 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 fashion OF her
own.
Il wonder how long | 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 a disgrace
to the family; it has put him out of my
will forever fancy ones nephew being
such 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 Dip
"No; it is too thin and angular" re-
turned Miss Darlington, severely; sit
wants freedom and breadth; it reminds
me too much of Miss Leigh herself"
81 do not think we are any of us very
fond of her." interrupted Alison. ~ know
she 6dgets 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
trying manner. You see, Alison, fussy
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, l 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. 1t was evi-
dent that She wished Miss Darlington to
read the letters for herself, but Aunt
Diana held a different opinion.
"My dear Alison" it began. "I am
afraid that my weekly account will be
little more cheering than the last; in
deed, l 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.
81 have done all 1 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. | do not wish to lay any un-
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 black day for
us when Miss Darlington took you away
from The Homs. With all due Difference
to your aunt's benevolence and good feel
ings, l can not help thinking that
daughters place is with her widowed
father. OF course, you will talk the
matter over with your aunt, and perhaps
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-
silva nann1a nnvpr own IN hai,1 out 6