The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-04-22
cHAPrER l.

There are conflicts In most hves-real
haud-to-hand combats. that have TO be
fought, not with any feshly weapons. but
with the inner forces Of the being-bat-
kIes wherein the victory Is not always to
3hs strong, where the young and the
weak and the little ones may be found
abiding nearest to the standards.
Such q conflict had come to Alison
Merle. breaking up the surface Of her
smooth outer life. and revealing possible
shoals and quicksands. in which many OF
Ger brightest hopes might be wrecked.
at Is hard. do not know that even
If Aunt Di think ii right l shall ever
have the heart to do It." murmured ALI
@on. taking TO herself In her agitation.
after the manner OF older folk. Il have
5ust rooted myself La this dear place, and
&he soil suits me- could not flourish
anywhere else: and" finished Alison.
are worth nothing"
To any ordinary spectator the Interior
Of that little room would have presented
o picture OF perfect serenity and ALSO
1ute comfort Even the young creature
comfortably seated in chair by the win
dow, with an open letter and q cluster
OF deep red roses lying among the folds
Of her white gown. presented no disturb
ing image, though the cheek had lost It's
wonted fresh color. and the dark. dreamy
ayes had a look OF doubt that was al
nost pain In them
Two years ago-she had been sixteen
chen. and. oh. how discontinued and Ill
and unhappy she had been. 1t was not
only the loss of her mother. 1t was her
own incapaciry for responsibility, her
norbId dislike to her surroundings, that
lad fretted all her fine color away
Change of air would do her good, and
then Aunt Diana had come down upon
them with the freshness Of moorlard
Areeze
You must give your eldest girl to ine,
AinsIie," she had said to Alison's father
ssshe wants care and cherishing more than |
sfiss Leigh has time to give her" And. |
of course, Aunt Diana had her way.
Instead Of the whir Of machinery-for
Ser fathers sawmills were just behind /
eheir house-Alison bad now only to
listen to the soft flow of the river that
gilded below the green lawns and shrub
berries Of Aoss-side; instead Of waking
mp In the morning to look across the dusty
shrubs and trees to the vast wood piles
and masses of unsawn timber, that seem
ed endlessly between her and the blue
sky. Alison's eyes had now the finest
prospect. one shaded garden seemed to
run into another, and when the willows
were thinned or bare in winter time, what
q view of the river and green meadows on
khe opposite side
The moral surroundings were almost as
snuch changed. Instead Of Miss Leizh's
dry method OF instruction, Aunt Diana
had placed within her reach many a
pleasant short cut TO knowledge. had sug-
gested ell sorts Of enviable accomplish
ments: money was not stinted where Ali
cons talents could be turned to account
In this pleasant but bracing atmos-
phere Alison had thriyen and grown She
evas still tall. slim girl.,somewhat youth
9uI In look. but with plenty Of warm life
and energy about her: and though the
dark eyes had still their old trick OF
Area ming, they seemed to dream more
happily, and the shadow did not lie so
deep In them-not, at least, until the
June afternoon, when Alison sat signing
and visibly disturbed with her lap full OF
woses. re was evident at last that abe
found her thoughts too painful, for after /
smother half hours intense brooding she
suddenly Jumped up from her seat, scat
&ering the flowers where they lay unheed- |
cd on the Indian mating, and walked
abruptly to the door. She had dropped
her letters. too: but she went back and
picked them up. not replacing them In
&heir envelopes. and then she went out
6nto the passage.
A dark oak staircase led into q little 3
square hall, fitted up with bookcases like /
D library, with harmonium on one side 0
q glass door opened into q conservatory, G
through which ons passed into the gar 9
Sen. 4
Alison turned the handle Of a door lust 3
opposite the staircase. and stood for a 9
moment hesitating on the threshold.
What q pleasant room that was, half
studio and half drawing room, full Of I
gross lights, and artistically Uttered vita r
IN odd tumble OF medieval and modern {
chairs and cabinets, bas- e
network ionges. tiny tea tables, at for g
Edllputian princesses, and hanging cup o
boards Of quaiHt old china that gave warm v
soloring to the whole. Alison's eyes were n
Btill fixed on a lady who stood with her n
back toward her, painting at an easel. n
swell, child, what nowT The voice o
was nicely modulated. clear and musical, a
put the manner slightly abrupt "a
ALISON came forward at once and In
Ipected tine picture. SIT Ia very pretty, "
aunt Dr. she said, forgetting her own
worries In a moment cit Ia one Of your 81
'est. / think I see what you mean, bat q
y me II L. all beautiful that old man
pensIoner, Ia he mott and that poor, Il
fred sheep, that seems to have dropped c,
own by the way, left behind by the N
ock, Ia 80 suggestive of the title, Noon b
lds Rest