Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-03-12
Aunt Diana
The Sunshine
of the Family
.~-W-"
CHAPTER XIV

'iiSSiS AecihBS were ueclueQly mixed
when Roger related at the breakfast table
the 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 overhowed with tender in
Quiries Roger waited on her zealously,
and Rudel sat staring at her, to the OBJ
vious neglect of his breakfast. Missie
shrugged her shoulders a little over the
whole affair. Alison had done very little
after all, but they were all making such
a fuss over it. She was douby 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 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 a
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. Bnt the tears were
very near the surface too. There was a
little space left, and she wrote hurriedly
across it, when Roger had left the room
a 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 panic. They all make a 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
Missie was plainly suffering from a bad
attack of jealousy. Missie sought con-
ISOLATION in Eva's batteries. Her visits
to Maplewood were now of daily occur
renee. Allison once ventured to remon-
strate.
Il do not think papa would be quite
pleased, Mabel, if he knew you were so
much in Captain Harpers company" she
said. very gently.
Captain Harper, indeed" returned
Missile, haughtily. you need not trouble
yourself Alison. My visits are not to
him"
NO, dear, of course not" replied Ali
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
room; and, Mabel, do feel that it is 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 am quite justi-
fed in asserting myself. l hope | know
my duty without your always pointing
It nut 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
able?" began Alison. hotly. But she
cooled down on remembering Aunt Diana's
advice-"Never get warm over an argu-
ment, Allie. When you begin to feel angry
it is time to hold your tongue" And Ali
son held hers.
She would have been little comforted
II she had known how i'll 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 dishonor-
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.
AllSOH NdHut untusihtoS that iVu ~
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 it for
dainty pink dressing gown. She looked
up brightly at him as he entered
allie" he said, sitting down by her,
az am so bothered about something /
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 little.
"What place did you say, dearT
"Durbans. 1t is about twenty miles
from here. There are woods there where
people go for picnics. l 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 it quite innocently. 1t seems