Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-01-29
CHAPTER vi.

moment after her head touched the pillow,
and she woke so late the next morning
that breakfast was already over, and Miss
Leigh sent up a message by Poppie, beg
ging her to lie still and rest herself, as
her father and Roger had already gone to
the mill, and she would send her up some
breakfast.
Aunt Diana would call this 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 hideous unsightliness
If she could only have shut out, too, its
incessant 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 81
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. Will it not be bet
ter to endure any amount of discomfort
than to do that? | will ask Aunt Dians
what l shall do about it. No, no." re-
| calling herself, 'I must act now on my
own responsibility. Aunt Diana will think
me 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-sde.
A sweet, brave little letter it was. Ali
son touched very little on her own feel
ings; she did not even speak of her
changed room. Somehow. she had a no.
ton that it would vex Aunt Diana. She
talked Of Rogers warm welcome and Miss
Leigh's kindness, and tried to make Aunt
Di interested in RudePs and Poppie's
droll ways. Missile she barely mentioned,
except to say how pretty she had grown
and how nicely she sung, and then went
on to speak of her fathers changed looks.
great many loving messages, few
longing expressions for Aunt D herself,
completed the letter.
| The early luncheon hour brought all the
family together, but Alison's sense Of or
derliness and propriety was shocked by
RudePs 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 a most undig-
| nj 6
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 evi-
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 the 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-satisied 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 ill., Come out into the gar
den with me and Poppie it is so cool
and shady there" And as Mr.. Merle
did not at once answer this appeal, she
came round to him and touched his arm.
Come, papa" she repeated still more
placidly; "you have scolded Roger enough,
and it only puts you out. Come with
me l want you" And actually Mr..
Merle suffered himself to be coaxed out
of the room and in another minute Ali
son saw them sitting together under the
lime trees, with Poppie playing on the
lawn.
Alison turned round to seek Roger,
but he had left the room, and Rudel had
followed him only Miss Leigh was lock-
ing up lue Celldrette, anu juggling uer KEY
basket.
what does this mean?" faltered Ali
son. "Why does papa speak to Roger in
this way? 1t is not right, is it?"
Come with me into the school room,"
was Miss Leigh's sensible answer to this
''as Sarah will be in directly to clear the
luncheon, and we can not talk before her.
must speak to you, Alison; must in
deed" And leading the way to the old
room Alison remembered so well, she clos
ed the door in her quick, nervous fashion,
and begged Alison to take the only easy
chair that the room boasted. mo, indeed"
returned Alison, quickly; "Poppie's lit
| tie stool will do for me. What does II
matter where l sit, or whether one is
comfortable or not?" she continued i'm
patiently, as Miss Leigh stood hesitating.