Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-03-26

be here directly; may 1 read to you a
little until she comes?"
Mr.. Merle shook his head sadly.
My dear, should like it of all things.
but you know DIR. Greenwood has for
bidden any kind of study for the next
few weeks, and / never cared much for
works of fiction, except Sir Walter Scott"
Il meant a chapter or two out of the
Bible before you went to Sleep" re-
turned Alison blushing with timidity.
A sudden shadow passed over Mr..
Merle's face.
Il did not understand you. my dear"
he said, with a little effort. "Well, child,
do as you like-that sort of reading can
not hurt one"
Alison felt the permission was accord
ed rather ungraciously, but still she dared
not refuse to avail herself of it. She
brought the Bible-Aunt Dana's gift
and sat down quietly by her fathers side.
The voice trembled little as she read.
but she did not know how sweet it sound
ed in her fathers ear. Once when she
looked up she found his eyes fixed on her
face, and stopped involuntariy.
iohah ledNe on, papa!
"Yes, that will do for tonight; you
may read to me tomorrow. You are so
like your mother, Alison; she was fond
of her Bible, too. You are a good girl,
and take after her."
Poor dear mamma, How hard it must
be for you, papa, to lie there missing
her."
All! he said, averting his face. 'it
is lifelong loss. | think / never knew
any one so good-not even Diana could
compare with her. Do you know YOU
reminded me so much of her that day
when you wanted me to go to church.
Child, your reproachful eyes quite haunt
ed me. All, well if ever l get we'll"
lie paused with a sigh.
you will come with us then. mana /"
she said, softly.
i hope so, Alison, but l fear it will
be long time before l have the chance
!. When man has looked death in the face
as | have, who might have been hurried
into eternity without a moments prepara-
ton, he thinks a little more seriously
about things. l hope l am grateful for
being spared-I think l am. You shall
come and read to me every night if you
like, my dear; it is a grand book, the
Bible"
Alison's heart was too full to answer
him, but as Nurse Meyrick came into
the room at that moment she leaned over
and kissed his forehead.
Goodnight, dear papa; l hope you
will sleep we'll"
Goodnight he answered, cheerfully,
and give my love to Missile"
Alison felt strangely happy as she left
her fathers room; it seemed to her as
though they were coming closer to each
other. There had been a look in her
fathers eyes and caressing tone in his
voice that told her that she was becom-
ing very dear to him. She said to herself
in her young gladness that Providence
had accepted her sacrifce-her fathers
heart was no longer closed to her, and
Mabel was beginning to love her. "Ask
and it shall be given to you," was abun-
dantly realized in her case--so true it is
that love begets love, that the Divine seed
of charity sown broadcast even over bar
rem hearts, will still yield some thirty
fold some sixty-fold, some hundred-fod
Alisons tranquil rest that night was
only a preparation for most trying day.
Missile had left her bed for the couch
that afternoon When Alison had placed
her comfortably, she had gone down
stairs for few minutes to speak to
Anna, leaving Miss Leigh in charge. Anna
detained her longer than usual-she had
so much to say on the subject of Eva s
approaching marriage, and while Alison
was still talking and listening, Miss Leigh
hurried down stairs with a very pale face.
IL wish you would come" she said, in
much agitation; mabel is so very hys-
terical | can do nothing with her. Per-
haps have been incautious but she ques-
toned me so closely as to what the ply
sicians said about her father that | could
not avoid telling her.
"Oh, dear, what a pity. l meant to
have told her myself when she was bet
ter" observed Alison, somewhat reproach-
fully.
Miss Leigh's tact was often at fault,
and she had chosen an unlucky moment
| for breaking the news to Missie-just
when she was weary with the fatigue of
dressing
Alison found her in sad state-sob-
bing bitterly, with her head hidden in
the pilows-and for long time she re-
| fused to allow Alison to raise her into
more comfortable position. To her re-
lief, Roger entered the room and asked
Immediately, in his downright manner,
what was the matter, and why Missile
was making herself i'll.
This brought on a fresh burst.
"Oh Roger what shall l do? Poor
patxw
at is poor Mabel, I think" observed
Roger kindly, and he raised the sobbing
little figure in his arms and brought the