The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-07-09
Aunt Diana
The Sunshine
of the Family
CHAPTER Xx.-(Continued. }
Seeeesssssssssssessssee

AAe ueAC lew weeks passed happily Tor
Alison: she had her dearest friend with
her, and what more could she ask for?
Aunt Diana had settled down quite
comfortably in her niche, as though she
were one Of the family. Without max
Ing herself unduly prominent, or in any
way trenching on the young housekeeper's
privilege, she vet contrived, with quiet
tact, to tighten Alison's burden and pro-
cure her the rest she so much needed.
Alison resumed her walks with Roger,
while Aunt Diana amused Missile or read
to Mr.. Merle. During the day Alison
was too much engaged to enjoy much of
Aunt Diana's company, but Miss Caring
ton insisted that she should resume her
painting lessons as soon as Missile was
able to be with her father; and she also
contrived that she and Alison should have
one OF their old refreshing talks as often
a. possible. Nothing rested Alison so
much as intercourse with Miss Caring
toms strong, vigorous mind.
Aunt Diana quickly found her way into
Missiles hayward little heart, and she
soon turned her influence to good account.
One afternoon, when Alison had been
spending some hours at Maplewood, she
found on her return that Missile had gone
back into her old room. All Alison's
books and pictures had been moved; Aunt
Diana's loving hands had evidently been
employed In her service-no one else
would have arranged the bowl Of dark
chrysanthemums on the little round table,
and tine pretty, fresh cretonne on the
couch and easy chair spoke of the same
taste.
Alison's voice trembled AZ ahe thanked
Missile.
You ought not to have done it, Mabel,
dear; 1t Is very good of you, but I would
rather have waited until you were really
WE'LL"
Il always meant to do IT," returned
Missile. solemnly. Il thought about it
every night, and then 1 made up my
mind to speak to Aunt Diana, and she
said she would help me. Have you seen
the beautiful illumination she has paint
Cd fer your"
Yes, Alison had seen 1t.
DO not weary in well-doing"-that
VA the text that Miss Darlington had
chosen-"for In due season we shall reap,
II We faint not" Well, was not Allison
reaping rich harvest? Would she ever
repent that she had come back to her
own people for loving service and minis
try, when she had won Missiles affection,
and found her way to her fathers heart ?
That he loved and trusted her, that she
was growing daily dearer to him, Alison,
with al her humility, could not doubt !;
but Missile was still his petted darling
the very suffering she had caused him
brought them nearer together.
1t was lovely sight, Miss Darlington
thought, to see Missile sitting for hours
patiently beside her fathers couch read
Ing or talking to him. But for her aunt's
visilant care her health would have been
permanently injured by her devotion to
him, before she left she made Missile
faithfully promise to take her daily walk
and to resume her singing.
you must leave something for Allie
to do" she said, with smile; II can
not sanction monopoly. We must watch
against selfishness, dear child, even in
our best actions; we must not be over
sxacting in our affection-love sometimes
compels one to efface ones self for loves
sake"
Anna was constant visitor to The
Holms during Miss Carrington's stay /;
they had taken great fancy to each
other. Anna told Alison privately that
she thought Miss Darlington was the
most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
II don't know about her features"
Alison had answered; 81 don't think peo-
pie consider her handsome, but 1t is a
dear face, and that is all care about"
II am never tired of looking at her."
returned Anna, with girlish enthusiasm
zone sees the thoughts coming before she
speaks; her eyes talk to one, even when
she is silent. There is something har-
monious, too, In her voice, and even in
her walk she never Jars on one; I am
sure there are no discords in her nature. u
Alison repeated this speech; she
thought It 50 prettily worded, and SO
true. But Miss Darlington shook her
head over 1t and let It pass; she knew
much better how the chords of her beins
had once been tangled roughly out OF
tune. mo discords in her nature !" when
every note had been dumb and tuneless
until the Divine Hand had brought the
Jared chords into harmony.
"When Gods will Is our will, then W,
shall know peace" she said to herself
II have learned that now" But sh,
spoke very kindly of Anna, and praised
Alison's discernment in the choice of q
friend. "She is a simple, lovabls littl,
SOUL" she said once; sit is quite a trea,
in this decided age to meet with 4 cir
who distrusts her own Judgment, and be
lieves other peoples experiences befor,
her own"
ANNA 10 really very clever, Aunt Di.
IT am sure Of that, my dear; and sh,
shows her cleverness by not advertiser,
her best wares. In talking to her on,
il not dropping over buckets into empt,
wells-thers Is good sense and a cleal
knowledge Of facts at the bottom. Liv
ing In an uncongenial atmosphere hai
make her shy and awkward; she is like ,
poor little plant brought too suddenly int,
the light; in another year or so she will
be less pallid and depressed; she will
have learned to believe in herself lit
tie"
Il am afraid you think her plain" OBJ
served Alison, anxiously; for her artist
taste made her lay rather an undue i'm
portnnce on beauty; ''but really, whel
she talks and brightens up she L. quit
pretty"
'She has lovely look sometimes. 70,