Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-06-04
Aunt Diana
The Sunshine
of the Family
CHAPTER XIV.
SOOSOsSsSOSSOOSOOSOSOOO

ths whole story of the previous night.
Alison was a little surprised by the
attention she received. Her pale cheeks
and heavy eyes secured a good deal of
petting. Mr.. Merle questioned her anx-
Iously whether she had caught cold Miss
Leigh fairly overfowed with tender in
Quiries, Roger waited on her zealously,
and Rudel sat staring at her, to the OBJ
vious neglect of his breakfast. Missile
shrugged her shoulders a little over the
whole affair. Alison had done very little
after all, but they were all making such
fuss over 1t. She was doubly vexed
when Miss Hardwick came in, full of en-
thusiasm for that dear, clever Alison. She
had met Roger, and he had stopped and
given her and Anna a full account. Mis-
sic had to listen to more eulogiums,
though Alison modestly disclaimed all
praise. Miss Hardwick quite frightened
her when she assured her the whole thing
would be soon all over the town.
you will be a nine days wonder, my
dear" she said, graciously. people will
stare at you when you walk through the
streets. Fancy locking the wretch in
1t was quite horrible and romantic.
must run home and tell mamma and An
thony all about It,"
All this was rather a trial to Alison.
Perhaps the greatest pleasure the day
afforded was when Roger showed her q
letter he had written to Aunt Diana.
"Oh, you foolish boy" she said, coloring
with qualification as she read the glow
ing sentences, written straight from Ro-
gers warm heart. But the tears were
very near tho surface too. There was q
little space left, and she wrote hurriedly
across it, when Roger had left the room
q moment: Don't believe all Roger
says, dear Aunt Di. l never felt more
frightened In my life; heroines are not
made Of such cowardly stuff; they do not
act In a panic. They all make q great
deal too much of It,"
Alison would have been quite happy
during the next few days except for the
depressing effect Of Missiles ill-humor.
Missile was plainly suffering from a bad
attack Of jealousy. Missile sought con-
ISOLATION In Eva's batteries. Her visits
TO Maplewood were now Of daily occur
renee. Alison once vsntured to remon-
Gtrate.
Il do not think papa would be quite
pleased, Mabel, If he knew you were so
much In Captain Harpsrs company" she
said, very gently.
Captain Harper indeed p returned
Missile, haughtily. "You need not trouble
yourself, Alison. My visits are not to
him"
mo, dear, Of course not" replied All
son, in a pleading tone. But, all the
same, You are going every day to Maple
wood, and that throws you necessarily
into his company. Miss Hardwick can
not well Danish her cousin from the
room; and, Mabel, l do feel that 1t IL not
quite honorable to papa. He trusts us to
carry out his expressed wishes, and In
this you are setting them aside"
II wish you would mind your own bust
ness. Alison" she said, angrily "You
have no right to lecture me because you
are the eldest. Eva says 1 am quite justi-
hed in asserting myself. l hope l know
my duty without your always pointing
1t out to me, and you may leave papa to
me. We have always understood each
other perfectly and there Is never any
thing wrong between us unless you choose
to go and tell tales"
Mabel how can you be so disagree
ablef" began Alison hotly. But she
cooled down on remembering Aunt Diana's
advice-"Never get warm over an arru-
ment, Allie. When you begin to feel angry
1t is time to hold your tongue" And Ali
son held hers.
She would have been a little comforted
II she had known how Ill at ease Missile
really was. Her high complexion and
cross speech only proved that the arrow
had gone home She knew in her secreet
heart that she was behaving dlshonor-
ably. Her father trusted her, and she
was betraying his trust. The very next
day she had planned to join Eva and her
cousin In a pleasure excursion, though
she knew 1t was an act of tacit disobedI.
ence, but self-will only gains strength by
Indulgence.
Alison's vague uneasiness that led TO
her speaking was changed into positive
alarm when Roger came into her room
that night. He was In evening dress.
having just returned from an early par.
ty. Alison was waiting up for him. She
had put off her dress, changing 1t for
dainty pink dressing gown. She looked
mp brightly at him as he entered
Allie" he said, sitting down by her.
II am 30 bothered about something I
have heard tonight. Did you know that
Mabel was going down to Durbans with
Miss Hardwick and Captain Harper to-
morrow"
why, mol" she said starting a little.
'What place did you say, dear?"
"Durbans. 1t Is about twenty miles
from here. There are woods there where
people go for picnics. 1 meant to have
taken you and Mabel one day, only we
should have gone by train. Miss Anna
was at the Merediths', and she told me
all about 1t quite innocently. 1t seems
that Captain Harper has sent for his dog
cart and he means to drive them over,
They are to have dinner and tea at the
Castle Inn; so they mean to be away the
whole day."
"Oh, Roger what shall we do?" ex-
claimed Alison. IF papa were only here
1 would go to him at once. Mabel has
no right to deceive him in this way, and
should certainly get him to put a stop
to it at once, but now he will not be home
until tomorrow"
HE may possibly come by an earlier
train, he told me so as we walked to the
station. 1t will depend on how long bust
ness will detaln him. OF course we should