Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-05-01

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as her head still ached, she yielded to the
temptation. The sun was shining into
her room. making her feel hot and rest
less, and she begged Poppie to lower the
blind, so that the huge crane might not
fret her eyes by its hideous unsightliness.
II she could only have shut out, too its
lncessant whir and grind But that was
impossible. AS she drank her tea she
looked round the shabby room with
strange sinking Of heart and spirits. 81
must wake up every morning to this" she
thought, unless | make an enemy OF
Missile from the beginning by forcing her
to resign my room. viii 1t not be bet
ter TO endure any amount Of discomfort
than to do that? | will ask Aunt Diana
what l shall do about 1t. No. no." re-
calling herself, 81 must act now on my
own responsibility. Aunt Diana will think
me a poor. helpless sort Of a thing II |
always want her as a moral crutcb to
support me
And with this wise resolution, Alison
dressed herself quickly and finished her
unpacking. after which she ensconced her
self in the deserted dining room and wrote
her first letter to Moss-sde
A sweet. brave little letter II was. ALI
son touched very little on her own feel
ings; she did not even speak of her
changed room. Somehow. she had no
ton that II would vex Aunt Diana. She
talked Of Rogers warm welcome and Miss
Leigh's kindness, and tried to make Aunt
Di interested In Rudel's and Poppie's
droil ways. Missile she barely mentioned.
except to say how pretty she had grown
and how nicely she sung, and then went
on to speak of her fathers changed looks.
A great many loving messages, few
longing expressions for Aunt hi herself.
completed the letter.
The early luncheon hour brought all the
family together. but Alison's sense Of or
| derliness and propriety was shocked by
Rudels rough appearance. He came In
straight from school with unbrushed hair
and unwashed hands, and sat down at the
table, until Missiles loudly uttered in
| functions, and at last his fathers curt
| command to make himself presentable be
fore he ate his dinner, obliged him to
leave the room grumbling; and his return
few minutes later led to a most undig-
nifed scene Of recrimination between him
and Missile. carried on below their breaths
with the utmost bitterness, with Poppie
listening with both her ears In spite OF
Miss Leigh's gentle reminders to 90 on
with her dinner.
But this was not the only source OF
discomfort to Alison her father was evil
IDENTIFY in one of his gloomiest humors
something had evidently gone wrong at
the mills, and. as usual, Roger was bear
ing the brunt Of the annoyance. Alson's
/ srt f,.If - III hnor II ha
angry words that were launched at his
unlucly head; in her own mind she was
secretly marveling at Rogers patience.
Alison-who was on tae verge Of tears
with suppressed pity, and longing to speak
word in his defense-was moved almost
to anger by the unconcern on Missiles
face. Evidently she was too used to hear
Roger found fault with on every occa-
sion to take any notice of il. She had
finished her contest with Rudel. and now
sat with her usual self-satisfed look
playing with her rings and humming q
little French air to herself.
Papa, dear" she said, at last, placid
ly, "do let those stupid sawmills alone
you are only exciting yourself and max
ing yourself Ill. Come out into the gar
den with me and Poppie; 1t is so COO
and shady there" And as Mr. Merle
did not at once answer this appeal, she
came round to him and touched his arm
Come. papa" she repeated still more
placidly you have scolded Roger enough
and II only puts you out. Come with
me; | want you" And actually Mr.
Merle suffered himself to be coaxed out
of the room; and in another minute Ali
son saw them sitting together under the
lime trees, with Poppie playing on the
lawn.
Alison turned round to seek Roger
but he had left the room, and Rudel had
followed him; only Miss Leigh was lock
ing up the cellarette, and juggling her key
basket.
"What does this mean?" faltered Ali
son. why does papa speak to Roger in
this way? Ii is not right, is it?"
"Come with me into the school room.
was Miss Leigh's sensible answer to this
"as Sarah will be in directly to clear the
luncheon, and we can not talk before her
must speak TO you, Alison | must In.
deed" And leading the way to the old
room Alison remembered so well. she clos.
ed the door in her quick, nervous fashion
and begged Alison TO take the only easy
chair that the room boosted. ''No indeed.
returned Alison, quickly; Peoples lit.
tie stool will do for me. What does II
matter where l sit. or whether one il
comfortable OF notr' she continued, i'm
patiently, as Miss Leigh stood sitating
Please rest yourself in that big chair
for you look quite tagged and tired, and
l have had a nice rest"
81 think l am nearly always tired.
returned Miss Leigh, paintively. lis il
not dreadful. Alison-about poor Mr.
Roger, | mean? II 1t were not for my
poor blind mother, whom | pretty nearly
support out Of my savings do not think
could endure this much longer. My
DEAR" with the tears starting to her gen
tie eyes, when one gets to my age one
values peace and kind words above every
thing. and that is just what one can moi
get at The Holms"
do you mean that this sort of thing
Coca on dailyr" exclaimed Alison. turning
her flushed face to the governess. "Dc
you mean," bringing out her words witt