The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-04-30

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he's 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, 90 that the huge crane might not
| fret her eyes by its hideous unsightliness.
| II she could only have shut out, too, its
incessant whir and grind! But that was
| impossible. Az she drank her tea she
looked round the shabby room with .
strange sinking Of heart and spirits II
must wake up every morning to this" she
thought. 'Aunless make an enemy Of
Missile from the beginning BY forcing her
to resign my room. Will 1t not be Bet
ter to endure any amount Of discomfort
than to do that3 / 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 . poor. helpless sort Of q thing II I
always want her a. 4 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 6rst letter to Moss-sde.
A sweet, brave little letter 1t was. ALI
son touched very little on her own feel
ings; she did not even speak Of her
changed room. Somehow, she had no.
ton that 1t would vex Aunt Diana. She
talked Of Rogers warm welcome and Miss
Leigh's kindness, and tried to make Aunt
Di interested In Rudel's 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 Di 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
Rudel's 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
few minutes later led to a most undig-
niied 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 60 on
with her dinner.
But this was not the only source Of
discomfort to Alison; her father was evil
IDENTIFY in one of his goomiest 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 tae 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-satisfied 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: 1t 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 1t only puts yen out. Come with
me: Il 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 the cellarette, and jingling her 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
| l WuSt speak 10 you, Alison 1 must IN
deed" And leading the way to the old
room Alison remembered so we'll, 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 sit, or whether one Ii
comfortable or not" she continued, i'm
patiently, As Miss Leigh stood hesitating
please rest yourself in that big chair
for you look quite tagged and tired, ane
have had q nice rest"
II think l am nearly always tired,
returned Miss Leigh, plaintively. lis Il
not dreadful, Alison-about poor Mr.
Roger. l mean7 II 1t were not for my
poor blind mother, whom l pretty nearly
support out Of my savings, do not thinl
could endure this much longer. Nj,
DEAR" with the tears starting to her gen
tie eyes, when one gets to my age on,
values peace and kind words above every
thing, and that Is just what one can NO
get at The Holms."
do you mean that this sort of thin,
goes on daily?" exclaimed Alison, turning
her flushed face to the governess. I'D,