Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-03-19

VIII be easy about him, ana win try 70
slespT
There is no sleep in my eyes," she re-
turned, with little of her old excitement.
"Oh, Roger, you don't know what it is to
be bruised and battered all over, and not
/ to be able to turn without pain. IL it
were not for that | would go to him."
Perhaps you will be able to go to NOR
row." he returned, humoring her. for her
flushed face and excited look made him
anxious. 'You will try to lie patiently un-
til the morning, Mabel dear, will you not
Alison is so worn out, she must sleep to-
night, and, indeed, we are all overtired
and harassed."
YES, and am the cause" she return
ed, restlessly. "Oh, Roger, will not ask
you to forgive me; Alison has, but then
she is different. But you, of course, you
can never care for me again !"
Indeed, you are wrong, my dear little
sister," he said, soothingly; 81 do care
for you very much, all the more that you
are so unhappy. When you get well again
you shall see how proud / shall be of my
two sisters, and what nice times we shall
| have"
"Oh, no." she returned, bursting into
tears, 81 never expected any one to be
| fond of me again. l have made your life
miserable, Roger l have tormented you
just for love of teasing. If l were not so
wicked l should like to die, and then per-
haps you would be sorry for me. If any
thing happens to papa, l could not live
| Oh, il I could only see him, and ask him
to forgive met
my dear, he has forgiven you over and
over again." returned Roger, in rather a
husky voice, for he found all this very
| trying: "that is the best of it. One need
never be afraid of losing fathers love,
it is not to be lost, Mabel; the thing is
against nature. II sinned against faith
er ever so, l know he must forgive me,
just because l am his son"
" 4 will arise and go to my father !"
murmured Alison, half to herself, but
Missie heard it.
"Yes, read that to me; l have been re-
peating fragments of the verses all day :;
that is, if you are not too tired Alison"
with renewed thoughtfulness.
Roger will read it," returned Alison,
feeling the task would be good for her
brother and distrusting her own voice !;
and though Roger looked little shy over
it, he did not refuse.
Missile lay with closed eyes anl listen
ed, and he harassed expression passed
from her face.
Thank you; that was beautiful" she
said, when he had finished. "How nicely
| I will tru tn ha
good and not wake Alison. Perhaps
when the light is shaded, may drop off
to sleep"
Alison was in sore need of rest by this
time; her head ached as well as her
limbs but she had one more duty to per-
form before she laid down in the little bed
that had been prepared for her in MISSES
room. and that was to bid her father
goodnight
He welcomed her with a smile. 81
feel easier tonight" he said and his
voice was stronger. "My good nurse has
made me very comfortable, and dare say
we shall both be able to sleep little
How is Pussie?" the old name escaping
from his unawares
Il do not think she is any worse" she
replied, cautiously; "but she still suffers
great deal, and she is making herself
so unhappy about you"
Tell her not to do that" he replied
with little effort; "he need not take
the blame of the accident on herself she
has enough to bear without that
May give her your love, papa?"
"Oh, yes" he said, as though Jsurpris-
ed by the question, for he knew nothing
of the child's misery. Tell her | hope
she will have a good night" And then,
as he seemed weary, she left him.
Missie received the message in silence
and, as the light was dim, Alison could
not see her face. She fancied that Just
as she was dropping off to sleep there
was a sound as though some one was
crying; but her senses were too drowsy
to take in the fact that it might be Missile
sobbing in the darkness. Her last recol-
lected thought was about Aunt Diana
Roger had promised to write a few lines
from the office, and she had wondered il
he had done It,
How shocked Aunt Di will be-" she
thought "and how sorry for us all" The
half-fnished sentence was completed in
her dream for she dreamed that Greville
was rowing them both among the water
lilies, and Aunt Di was gathering roses
and throwing them into her lap.
do not cry, child, it will all come
right in time" Alison heard her say
there is a silver lining behind every
cloud, you may be sure of that" And
she did not know what, had disturbed
her; she sat up and looked round in be
wilderment. The moon was shining full
into the room, and Missiles bed was
empty.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Nurse Meyrick was sleeping on a couch
in the dressing room. 1t had been placed