Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-02-19
CHAPTER MI

Thank you, Mabel dear, for what you
have said to Anna" said Alison, grateful
ly, as they left the grounds of Maplewood.
"Oh, of course, | gave Eva a piece of
my mind. She is always so reasonable
and sweet-tempered that never have any
difficulty. Anna may come. to The Holms
as often as she likes" Then. with a
perceptible effort to seem at her ease, she
continued hurriedly: Eva is going to
bring her cousin to afternoon tea to-mor-
row. | hope it will be fine, and then we
can set the table under the lime trees
our drawing room is such an ugly room"
do you mean Captain Harper is com
ingE returned Alison. "Oh, Mabel how
could you ask him? am sure papa will
not be pleased. | do not like him at all ;
his manners are so artificial and dis
agreeable"
1T is pity you did not stop at River
ston," she returned, in an injured voice.
for none of our Chesterton folk. with
the exception of that stupid Anna. seem
good enough for you. l think Captain
Harper charming, and l am sure papa
will be pleased with him unless you set
him against the poor fellow" And here
Missie looked decidedly cross.
"You may be sure that l shall say moth
ing to papa" replied Alison, with so much
dignity that Missile was silenced. But
she was terribly annoyed all the same, and
took Roger into her confidence, exacting
from him promise that he would be pres
ent at all risks.
Perhaps | am wrong" she remarked.
candidly; 81 am always so ready with my
likes and dislikes. But l can not bear
Captain Harper, and it is odious to me
to pour out his tea for him.
Alison's anxiety was soon set at rest.
The party from Maplewood, including
Anna, had not long been gathered under
the lime trees before Mr.. Merle made his
appearance, greatly to her delight and
Missiles discontinue. Alison never found
out if Roger had betrayed her trust and
given his father warning of the expected
guest But there was no mistaking the
coolness of his manner to Captain Har-
per. That unlucky individual was clearly
not at his ease, and certainly no induce
ment was held out to him to repeat his
visit.
As soon as the unwelcome visitor had
departed Mr.. Merle expressed himself as
much displeased to find Captain Harper
there; indeed, his severity quite over
whelmed Missile, and she retired in floods
of tears.
Papa Is never angry with me-" she
sobbed this must be your fault, Alison.
Vnr, ha bor,a 70 et; .:e 4
turn papa against me-"
Don't be absurd, Mabel" returned Ali
son, little Grossly; ''you have brought it
all on yourself. Papa seems angry with
me, too, and yet you know l am not at
all In fault. If you do wrong you must
bear to be scolded. Papa says he is
quite shocked at our forwardness You
see, he blames me, too. He says no one
but himself or Roger ought to invite gen
temen to the house, and Miss Leigh says
the same. He told me after you left the
room that he would take care that Cap
tain Harper should not repeat his visit,
as he was not the sort Of man whose ac-
quaintance he could approve for his
daughters
Missie dissolved into fresh tears on
hearing this. II am sure it is not papa's
real opinion" she persisted In saying.
Roger had put him up to it to spite her
and Eva. What would Eva say If she
were forbidden to bring her cousin to
The Holms? She wished Alison would
go back to Aunt Diana, and not stop
here to make her so wretched. She did
not see the use of having a sister who
hated and thwarted her.
"Oh, you silly child!" exclaimed Ali
son, kissing the wet, ill-tempered little
face that still looked so pretty. what a
storm in . teacupl I don't hate you