The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-04-22


den and heat Of tina day"
"Of course. / see what you mean
Aunt d."
my parable L. not hard to read" re
piled Miss Darlington. with a smile. bu
as Alison studied the picture with In
creased interest and admiration. pair
OF shrswd. kindly eyes wsrs studying tbs
girls face.
go and put yourself In chat easy
chair opposite. and tell me all about IL. =
she said at last. rousing her by good
| humored little push II must finish this
branch If l am 10 enjoy my nights rest,
but | can listen 70 any amount OF let
tered woes" with suggestive glance at
Alison's hand.
'0h. Aunt Di. how do you and out
things so7" 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
won't to entertain after a fashion Of her
own.
II 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 Ruders struggling charac-
tiers; that boys handwriting is disgrace
to the family: il has put him out Of my
win forever: fancy ones nephew being
such sorry scribe"
"Rudel does write badly" returned All
son. with q faint little smile. .'but like
his letters better than MISSES: there Ia
one from Miss Leigh. too; do you admire
her handwriting. Aunt Dir"
No: It Ia too thin and angular" re-
turned Miss Darlington, severely; "it
wants freedom and breadth: II reminds
me too much of Miss Leigh herself"
II do not think we are any OF US very
fond Of her" interrupted Alison Il know
she Hdgets father dreadfuIly. and Roger.
too. though be Is SO good 10 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 overweishted
for cheerful conversation; il she could
forget Poppie's mlsdemeanors. and Mis-
sizes pertness. and RudeIs roughness.
and the servants failures for about half |
an hour at time. could quite fancy |
Miss Leigh e pleasing companion; but /
now let me hear her letter"
at Is dreadfully long" sighed Alison.
as she reluctantly obeyed- II was evil
dent that she wished Miss Darlington TO
read the letters for herself. but Aunt 4
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
Iced. / am arriving slowly at the con-
Tiction that. unless some change be made
n the household arrangements, shall
% compelled. however reluctantly. TO re-
'ign my post"
''Humphl that looks bad" from Miss
Darlington
II have done all can in representing
o your father the mischief that must
esuit from his injudicious treatment of
label; she Is becoming so thoroughly
poiled. so entirely her own mistress, that
10 amount of reasoning has any effect
pom her. Il do not wish 20 lay any I'M
ne stress on her behavior 10 myself
ut her treatment OF Mr. Roger. and the
ad example that she sets to Poppie. not
. mention the constant pickering that is
ways going on beween her and Rudel.
re quite destroying the harmony Of the
You may imagine. my dear
iison. how trying all this Is to person
my sensitive temperament.
81 always said Ii was a black day for
$ when Miss Darlington took you away
ON The Holms. With all due difference
your aunt's benevolence and good feel
lgs. I can not help thinking that a
aughfer's place Is with her widowed
lther. OF course. you will talk the
after over with your aunt. and perhaps
ou may be able to assist me to some so
ition Of our difficulties.
PATIENCE LEIGH
Patience has changed to fmpatience," |
uttered Miss Darlington. grimly. "sen- ,
tive people never own to being out Of .
mper, but I should have said myself
lat there was a spice Of fl-temper in
Iat letter. Poor Miss Leigh is decided
rufied"
"she never could manage Missile; al ,
avs knew that" returned Alison. sor-
wfully. e
and how old Is Mabel. or Missile. as v
n call herr q
Sixteen last birthday. Aunt Diana"-l
"Humph theirs Is not more trouble n
me age" ;
"Aunt Di. have something very seri- !.
10 to say. These letters came two or
res days ago, and I have been thinking I
out them ever since. I do believe Miss !.
Ugh is right in what she says. and that c
am shIrking my duty" L
"sincs whenT' q little dryly. a
"Since got quite well and strong and
ply, about a year ago" returned All :,
q, answering most literally. II ought :
have gone back then, and not have :"
,pped on here quietly, taking the good .
everything. and enjoying myself just
though had no duties, and no place
life. Il is all my fault II Missile Is
ting the upper hand. and making ev- II
? one uncomfortable. I ought to 40 NJ
me to father and Roger" n,
There was no immediate answer to 4,
Is, but In another moment Miss Car rs
gton had walked to her slowly, and !,
N, standing beside her, her hand strok- !.
the girls hair with a mute caressing :.
Iture. "Do not CRY about Il, Allie" ol