The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-06-03
CHAPTER MI

CHAPTER Mi.
) Thank you. Mabel dear. for what YOU
have said to anna" said Alison, grateful
: ", as they LETT the grounds Of Maplewood
oh. Of course. l gave Eva a piece Of
my miDS. She is always so reasonable
and sweet-tempered that never have any
diihculty. Anna may come 10 The HOlms
as often as she likes" Then, with a
pereeptible effort to seem at her ease, she
continued hurriedly: Eva Is going to
bring her cousin TO afternoon tea to-mor-
row. l hope il viii 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
ingf returned Alison. "Oh. Mabel how
could you ask him? l 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. I think Captain
Harper charming. and l am sure papa
viii be pleased with him unless you set
him against the poor fellow" And here
Missile looked decidedly cross.
You may be sure that I shall say moth
ing to papa" replied Alison, with 30 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
emit at all risks
Perhaps | am wrong" she remarked.
candidlyi Il am always 50 ready with my
likes and dlslkes. 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 Maplswood. including |
Anna, had not long been gathered under /
the lime trees before Mr.. Merle made his /
appearance. greatly to her delight and i
Missiles discontinue. Alison never found i
out il Roger had betrayed her trust and
given bis father warning Of the expected
guest But there was no mistaking the
GOODNESS 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 10 repeat bis
visit.
As soon az the unwelcoms 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 foods
,f tears.
Papa Is never angry with me-" she
'obbed. this must be your fault. Alison.
fou have come home to stir up strife and
urn papa against me-"
Don't be absurd. Mabel" returned Ali
on, little Grossly: you have brought Il !
II on yourself Papa seems angry with
ne. too. and yet you know am not at
ii In fault. II you do wrong you must
ear to be scoIdsd. Papa says he IL o
ute shocked AZ our forwardness You
&c, he blames me, too He says no ons
ut himself or Roger ought to invite gen
lsmen 10 the house, and Miss Leigh says
be same He told me after you left the II
pom that he would take care that Cap
hin Harper should not repeat his visit, Il
> be was not the sort Of man whose &C n
uaintance he could approve for bis
auEhtsrs.y
Missile dissolved into fresh tears on
caring this Il am sure II Is not papa's
al opinion. she persisted In saying.
oyer had put him up to II to spite her !.
I'd Eva What would Eva say II she "
ere forbidden to bring her cousin to
be Holms? She wished Alison would ca
} back to Aunt Diana, and not stop
re to make her so wretchsd. She did "a
4 sec the use Of having a sister who
tied and thwarted her
"Oh. you silly child p exclaimed All
o. kissing tho wet, ill-tempered little
&c that still looked 50 pretty. What a II
orm In tsacupl don't hate you a q.
/ am very fond Of you, though Jon
u quarrel with me about every trias :,
{ IL takes two to quarrel properly, and
do not mean to take up the cudgsls to AZ
sass your And here she gave her ne
playful shake. that so astonishsd Mis-
that she speedily grew more amiabls,
her temper had never been 90 set
de before
Roger had been looking very worried
. careworn for some days, and Alison str
. afraid. from her fathers grave face
silence with bis son, that things had wa
70 wrong sgain at the mill, and that, oh,
usual, the blame had been laid on
ger. She was waiting for an opportu-
, to speak TO him, for his sngagsmsits
taken him out several nights, when -
evening she met him as she was re- -.
nfng from the town. l"'
is was walking along rather moodily,
h his eyes fixed on the ground, and
not see Alison until she called him hai
mars and then he looked up and his Z
. Frightened IN a moment.
Where have you been, Allis7v he ask ~
smiling at her and Rogers smile was a.
y pleasant The house felt dull with Goa
you. 50 came out for a solitary 70
wl" 600