The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-02-11

ging her to lie still and rest herssif, -
her father and Roger had already gone TO
the mill. and she would send her up some
breakfast
Aunt Diana would call this a bad be-
ginning" thought Alison. Nevertheless,
as her head still ached, she yielded to the
temptation. The sun was shining into
her room. making her feel hot and rest
less, and she begged Poppie to lower the
blind, so that the huge crane might not
fret her eyes by its hdeons unsightliness
IL she could only have shut OUT, too, its
ineessant whir and grind But that was
impossible. As she drank her tea she
looked round the shabby room with a
strange sinking of heart and spirits. II
must wake up every morning to this she
thought, unless / make an enemy Of
Missie from the beginning by forcing her
TO resign my room. viii it not be bet
ter to endure any amount Of discomfort
than TO do that? | will ask Aunt Diana
what shall do about it. No, no." re-
calling herself. II must act now on my
own responsibility. Aunt Diana will think
me a poor, helpless sort of a thing if
always want her as a moral crutch to
support me"
And with this wise resolution. Alison
dressed herself quickly and finished her
unpacking after which she ensconced her
self in the deserted dining room and wrote
her FIRST letter to Moss-side
A sweet, brave little letter it was Ali
touched very little on her own feel
IS she did not even speak of her
anged room. Somehow, she had no.
]n that it would vex Aunt Diana. She
liked of Rogers warm welcome and Miss
high's kindness, and tried to make Aunt
interested in Rudels and Poppie's
Foil ways. Missile she barely mentioned,
tcept to say how pretty she had grown
I'D how nicely she sung. and then went
to speak of her fathers changed looks.
great many loving messages. a few
bnging expressions for Aunt Di herself,
ompleted tbe letter.
The early luncheon hour brought all the
Family together but Alison's sense of or
derliness and propriety was shocked by
Rudels rough appearance. He came in
straight from school with unbrushed hair
and unwashed hands, and sat down at the
table. until Missiles loudly uttered in
functions, and at last his fathers curt
command to make himself presentable be-
fore he ate his dinner, obliged him to
leave the room grumbling and his return
a few minutes later led to most undig
nifed scene of recrimination between him
and Missile, carried on below their breaths
with the utmost bitterness, with Poppie
listening with both her ears, in spite of
Miss Leigh's gentle reminders TO go on
with her dinner
But this was not the only source of
discomfort to Alison her father was evil
IDENTIFY in one of his gloomiest humors;
something had evidently gone wrong at
the mills, and, as usual, Roger was bear
ing the brunt Of the annoyance. Alison's
heart was full of pity as she heard the
angry words that were launched at his |
unlucky head in her own mind she was
secretly marveling at Rogers patience.
Alison-who was on tde verge of tears |
with suppressed pity, and longing to speak |
a word in his defense-was moved almost |
to anger by the unconcern on Missiles |
face. Evidently she was too used to hear
Roger found fault with on every occa-
sion to take any notice of it. She had |
finished her contest with Rudel, and now
sat with her usual self-satisfed look,
playing with her rings and humming a
little French air to herself.
Papa. dear" she said, at last, placid
ly, do let those stupid sawmills alone;
you are only exciting yourself and max
ing yourself i'll. Come out into the gar
den with me and Poppie; it is so cool
and shady there" And as Mr.. Merle
lid nor al opaa auSuar This apneal she |