The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-05-20
Aunt Diana
The Sunshine
of the Family
CHAPTER VII.

Alison's failures whispered Alison. In {
bunny little voice. as she encountered Rog
e. Ga her way downstairs on Monda.
n~srning. and she laughed merrily as sh'
shook her key basket e~xultantly in hi:
face. Roger opened his eyes very wideh
at this. then be stepped back a few pace:
and locked at her admiringly.
How ever did you get possession Of
that thingf- he exclaimed. do you
know. Allie. my dear. that shabby little
brown basket has been a bone Of conten-
Eion between Miss Leigh and Missile fol-
one last month. Miss Leigh clings to il
as her sole hope. and refuses to give il
up. 1t has ended by Missiles neatly sb
~stracting It at night She has done il
three OF four times"
~Yes I know. Poppie told me all about
e. Well" in an amused tone. Il have
oaly paid Missile in her " coin. Thanks
70 my good habits. 1 was dressed before
she thought Of waking. so I stole in. got
my key basket. and wished Missile good
morning at the same time. 1 am afraid
abe will come down dreadfully Cross"
A shough hat were anything new"
returned Roger. eontemptuously, as he
took up the paper and retired with il to
the window. while Alison busted herself
with the coffee pot. Shortly afterward
there was an unwonted sound on the
stairs
IF Ii were not perfectly incredible. 1
should say that was Rudel's footstep."
Roger observed. in a doubtful tone.
"Oh, yes. II is R1del." returned Ali
son. brightly. Il woke him. and made
him promise to get up. Miss Leigh says
he has got into sad ways Good boy"
as Rudel entered. looking very much pleas
ed at himself. and he bore without max
ing a very WY face his sisters kiss on
bis forehead. Poppie, who came in a
moment afterward with Miss Leigh. was
not quite so r~eticent-
What is hat for7' she asked. with
a child's innocency Of grammar. but in
much surprise. as Alison kissed her warm
". and said. Good morning, Poppie,
dear"
-Poppie means that we are not accus-
toned to these little civilities." put in
Roger. as Alison looked perplexed for a
moment. nobody says good morning to
anybody else at The HoIms except Miss
Leigh and l.: we always do, don't weg'
shaking hands with her as be spoke.
Ia-1cA JUST tANC ~ AA(A4oANC gu AAJ-A
ing at the door"
Il am afraid you are very much shock
ed, Alison" observed Miss Leigh. mourn
fully. mabel sets Rudel and Poppie
such a bad example In this no one thinks
Of such a thing except Mr.. Roger, and he
Is always 50 very thoughtful"
When Mr.. Merle came into the room a
few minutes later he seemed quite surpris-
ed at the unwonted cheerfulness- he
nodded to Alison. and then took up his
letters, but she was not satisfied.
you have not kissed me, papa" she
said. as she carried him round his cup
Of coffee
"Oh, / thought only Pussie cared for
kisses" he said, spontaneously: Pop
pie never comes to me for one"
Poppie redeemed. nd bent over her
plate In much confusion. Roger. who
was NEXT to her. saw the child's eyes were
full Of tears
Il expect Poppie Is afraid Of bothering
YOU he observed. you would like faith
er to kiss you sometimes, as he does
Missile" he said. kindly.
is that true, my little grip asked
Mr.. Merle, who had just caught sight Of
Poppie's quivering lip. The poor child,
who was very sensitive, was on the point
Of bursting into tears, but Alison happily
snterposed-
Papa is too busy to think much about
such things. You must go round to-mor-
row and ask him for one, as I did to-day;
he won't refuse either Of u.s." and she
looked l~aughingiy at him from behind her
urn-
The brightness seemed to rouse him ee-
.,ectuaIly. He had looked pale and weary
when he entered the room. but good-humor
% infectious
you look very nice, dear" he said, APP
,rovingIy. Il like to see you there, ALI
on"
81 Ike to see her there, too OBJ
,srved Roger. boldly: ~ft ID her proper
Missile, who had Just opened ths
ioor. caught both these remarks; they
I'D not evidently conduce to her amia-
iIity. She rave Alison a whitening gIancs
u abe passed By her, to greet her father,
nd. taking no notice Of her or the others,
desired Rudel rather Grossly to give her
more room, and began her breakfast rath-
r sulkily.
But for once her humors were disre-
srded. No one troubled themselves about
Isr, and the conversation was renewed I
nth scarcely a break Perhaps both 4
toxer and Alison were doing their best to {,
AIRY II on, but their sense Of effort was
1sf In the general good. I
When breakfast was over, n RudeI
ad rushed of to school, and MI. Merle 4
nd Roger bad gone over to the mill, ALI
asked her sister pleasantly how she
to spend the morning.
That In my affair" she answered, very 8
udeiy. II am not accustomed to give an c
ccount Of myself to crafty peoples curl Z
/ may as well tell you, once for Q
Il, that l dislike Interference" q
Alison felt inclined to laugh-there was 9
,mething comical In Missiles mode Of
her temper. but she knew nothing c
people more than to laugh at E
lem. 80 she prudently refrained from b
lowing her mirth- II am Just going b
,und the house with Miss Leigh while b
oppie prepares her lessons" she return
|, as coolly as though Missile had given n
" q fair answer. "In another hour / 5
be quite at your convenience, IL you Z
ouId like 10 practice with me" b