Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-03-12


no right to deceive him in this way, and
should certainly get him to put a stop
10 It at once, but now he will not be home
until tomorrow"
lie may possibly come by an earlier
train, he told me so as we walked to the
station. 1t will depend on how long busi-
ness will detain him. OF course we should
tell him, Allie; the thing is beyond
joke. Fancy that fellow having the au-
dacity to propose such thing. wish 1
knew what l could do about 1t, Allie,
but fathers absence obliges me to be in
the Office. / must be in the yard early,
too. / shall not even be able to speak
to Missile"
Il will tell her what you say, and
then, of course, she will be obliged to give
1t up" returned Alison, not relishing her
task at all, but counting, nevertheless, on
an easy victory. Missile had put herself
so completely in the wrong that no choice
but submission was left to her. Roger,
who knew Missile perfectly, was not SO
sanguine.
Tell her that If she goes l shall GER
tainly inform father, and then he will
put stop to her visits to Maplewood
and tell her, too, that l am perfectly
disgusted at her conduct. l am afraid
you must do it, Allie"
"Very well,' she sighed. But she lay
awake a long time revolving what words
she would USE
Alison awoke with a strange oppres-
sion upon her-a sense of difficulty, that
made the daylight seem less bright She
became nervously conscious that she might
fail. What if her severity were of no
avail, and Missie should persist in going?
She was little later than usual in going
down. Roger had already had his break
fast and had gone to the mill, and the
meal was half over before she suggested
that Poppie should knock at Mabel's door.
"Oh, | forgot" returned Poppie, in a
stricken voice, laying down her slice of
bread and jam; "Missie came into my
room before l was dressed, and told me
to tell you she would not want any
breakfast-she was going to have it at
Maplewood She looked so smart, Alison,
in her new blue dress. 1t was rather
funny of her to put it on for breakfast"
Miss Leigh, will you come into the
school room a moment, if you have fin
ished?" said Alison, quietly; but the gov
erness noticed that she looked rather pale,
and rose at once, but she was even more
shocked than Alison when she heard the
whole story.
MY dear, your papa will never for
give us if we do not prevent it," she said,
very solemnly. "You none of you know
how particular he is and this will seem
dreadful to him. You must go to Maple
wood yourself, Alison, and speak to Mrs.
Hardwick. She is the only one who can
do anything. Anna can go in Mabel's
place, but you must insist on bringing
Mabel home. | will not answer for the
consequences If this affair comes to your
fathers ears" continued the governess.
moved to tears at this fresh instance OF
Missiles self-will.
Alison thought this such good advice
that she put on her hat at once and
walked over to Maplewood. 1t was not a
pleasant errand, she felt, and she hardly
knew what she would say to Mrs. Hard
wick. She only knew she would refuse
to return without Missie, even if she had
to brave the obnoxious Captain Harper
himself But her face fell when she en-
tered the morning room and found Mrs.
Hardwick and Anna alone; the others
had just driven from the door. Seeing
that her visit was useless Alison returned
home. Roger met her at the gate with
Il have not seen him yet, Allie; have
only just come across from the MILL" he
continued. Would you like me to tell
him, dear, or do you think you can do it
better?"
I'VE will go together" returned Ali
son, uneasily. 81 am so afraid that he
will put himself out, and then you will
know what 10 say" And Roger acquiesc-
ed.
They found Mr.. Merle in his study,
looking somewhat tagged and weary, but
he held out his hand with smile, as
though he were pleased to see them after
his brief absence.
"Where is Pussie?" he asked "she is
generally the first to welcome me-" And
he looked round as though he were disap-
pointed.
Dear papa returned Alison, bravely,
II am afraid you will be vexed about
something. We have none of us seen
Mabel this morning; she breakfasted at
Maplewood. Roger met Anna at the
Meredith's last night, and she told him
that Mabel had promised to join Eva and
her cousin in an excursion to Durbans
I went over to speak to Mrs. Hardwick
and bring Mabel back, but they had al
ready started"
"What = tbundered Mr.. Merle, and the
blackness of his brow was dreadful to
Alison, do you dare to tell me that Ma
bel has gone over to Durbans in that
mans company, when l forbade any in
tercourse with him?
Captain Harper is driving them in his
dog-cart," rejoined Roger, coming to his
sisters relief. ut seems very silly af-
fair and I hepped her t0 sion II N is No