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

l. lou HuSI HOI stay ehe whispered,
not daring to raise her voice; your feet
are bare, and you look as bad as possible.
Come, my dear, let me carry you back to
your room; it will scare your father to
see you standing there"
"No, no." returned Missie, shrinking
still more; 81 must stay with papa. Why
does he look so pale, and lie 50 still? Is he
dead? No one told me he was dead.
Papa !" she cried out, for she was be-
wildered by the dim light and her own
feverish fancies. Speak to me only one
word, just to tell me you are alive
"Oh, hush ~ exclaimed the Nurse but
she was too late Mr.. Merle woke up;
but in his weak condition his daughters
presence did not seem to startle him.
my DEAR" he said, feebly they ought
not to have allowed this. You will make
yourself i'll leaving your warm bed"
"But 1 could not Sleep" she sobbed; 81
could not rest / thought they were hid
ing things from me. If you had died, and
had never told you was sorry, should
have died, too. Oh, papa, it must have
killed me-"
He smiled family, and gathered the hot
| little hand in his.
you were sorry all the time, my pet,
were you notY
"Yes, l am sorry now," creeping still
closer. 81 could not ask God to forgive
me until you had forgiven me- Oh, papa
why do you look so kindly at me, when
you know it is all through my wickedness
that you are lying here? OF course, no one
can love me any MORE"
mot love you, Pussie! Come, come my
child, fathers are not like that. / forgive
you freely; everything is right between
us. But, my poor darling, you are ill and
suffering, and if you care to please me
let nurse carry you back to bed"
"Will you let me kiss you firstT
His only answer was to stretch out his
arms to her but he wondered to see how
slowly she came to him. How could he
guess each movement was agony to the
poor child? How she had ever managed
to crawl from her bed and across the pas
sage only she herelf knew.
81 have only one arm to put around
your neck" she whispered, as her long hair
fell over his face. Dear, dear papa, il
could only bear it all !" And as he felt
her tears upon his cheek he understood
how her young heart was wrung with re-
morse and sorrow, and holding her
moment tried to comfort her. and be-
sought God to bless his pet.
Alison was just sitting up in alright,
looking around the empty room, when
Nurse Meyrick appeared, carrying Mis-
sic in her arms.
"Oh, Mabel, where have you been?
You have frightened me so"
go to sleep, Alison" returned Missile,
in happy voice. 81 have only been to
see papa, and he has forgiven me, and
now l can rest"
"She will be quiet now,' whispered the
nurse. 81 have covered her up warm, and
she will rest until morning." And she
was right. Though Missile lay awake,
feverish and full of pain, she gave no
more trouble, and poor Alison was allow
ed to sleep undisturbed until morning.
For the next few days Missie was very
i'll. Her agitation of mind brought on a
slight feverish attack, and when this had
yielded to the DOCTORS remedies her weak
ness was excessive. Her nerves had been
|
the least noise, the slamming of a door,
or even a louder voice than usual, made
her change color and burst into tears 1t
was impossible for her in her shattered
state always to repress irritability.
Again the old sharp tones and words re-
called Missiles faulty temper. But there
was this improvements struggled
bravely against her besetting sin, and
would ask pardon quite humbly of Alison.
Il have been so cross to-day" she would
say, with tears in her eyes 81 wish you
would not be so sweet and patient with
me-"
Il will promise to scold when you are
well enough" Alison would say, in her
most cheerful manner for she knew Mis-
sic must not be encouraged to be morbid.
Just now, darling, | can only remember
you are i'll, and that your poor arm is
giving you trouble. | know I should be
cross if had so much to bear"
But in spite of Alisons assumed cheer
fulness she was growing pale and thin.
Her close confinement in Missiles room
tried her; no one but Alison suited the
sick girls fancy-no one else seemed to
understand her little ways. Miss Leigh's
gentle imournfulness irritated her; she
had never cared much for Anna, and she
had lost all desire for Eva's companion.
ship, and though her father had generous
ly withdrawn his prohibition, Eva had
only once been admitted to her room. The
interview had been a little embarrassing.
Eva had cried and begged Missile to for
give her, and Missile had been kind and
magnanimous in her answer; but after
the first few agitating minutes their talk
had drifted into silence; Missile was Ian
guild and out of spirits, and Eva did not
! possess the art of soothng-the bond of
sympathy between them seemed broken
Both Of them had yet to learn that SINH
larity of tastes and the boisterous spirits