Lincoln County leader., January 22, 1909, Image 7

: Aunt Diana :
The Sunshine
of t Ae Family
CHAPTER IV.
It was finally settled. Alison felt that
duty called her home, and goon the day
came when she had to part from Aunt
Diana. It was a sad leave-taking, and
the tears were in Alison's eyes long after
tlhe train steamed slowly into the Ches
terton station. Alison gathered up her
numerous articles of traveling gear, and
looked out with some eagerness, but Rog
er's tall figure was nowhere in sight, and,
much disappointed and perplexed, she
gave a porter instructions about her trav
eling boxes.
"Will you fetch me a cab, please?" fal
tered Alison, feeling ready to cry again
at her loneliness, and wondering at Rog
er's unkind- desertion, and Chen all at
once she encountered a pair of round blue
eyes, very wide open. She started ; yes,
there was the wide mouth, the droll,
freckled face that she remembered so
well ; of course it was Rudel, grown, but
rot otherwise altered, grinning affably at
her.
"Why, Rudel," she exclaimed, reproach
fully, "why did you not speak to me? I
was loohing for Rojor, nd nearly pnwed
yon by."
"Oh, but I should have hallooed all in
good time," he returned, with another
grin, shaking hands with her, but refrain
ing from any warmer fraternal greeting.
As soon as she was seated in the cab
he got in after her, and proceeded to put
down both windows. "You would not like
me to go outside, I supjiose." he said, in
a good-humored, dawdling voice; "these
-abs are so stuffy they make a fellow
feel queer."
"Go outside if you like," returned Ali
son, willing to humor him, but rather dis
turbed at the boy's coolness.
"Oh, it does not matter," was the con
tradictory response; "we have not far
to go, and cabby is so unusually stout
there would not be room for Otter. Oh,
by the bye, Roger told me to tell you
that father told him that somebody else
must come to the station, as he could not
be spared. Roger was awfully put about,
for he said I should be no help, and I
have not been mud), eh?" with another
grin that threatened to became a laugh.
"I wish dear old Roger could have
come, but I am glad to see you, too," was
Alison's police reply. "I thought you
would have kissed me after two years of
absence."
"Oh, I never kiss girls," reddening vis
ibly. "Not your own sisters?" exclaimed
Alison, in a grieved voice. "Oh, Rudel,
you used not to be so stiff and unkind."
"I ain't one or the other," rousing up
at this reproach. "I think it is first-rate
your coming, I mean and you are no
end of a bride to do it, and," with a
sudden burst of confidence, "I shouldn't
mind giving you a kiss now and then,
when you wanted it particularly, if you
would promise not to tell Missie; I would
not give her one no, not if she were to
ask me on her bended knees a stuck-up
little minx 1"
"Ob, Rudel, for shame! Mabel is as
nmch your sister as I am."
"No, she isn't, and never shall be,"
growled the lad. "I tell you what, All
son, you are an out-and-outer, and no
mistake, and I will help you fight all your
battles, that I will, as sure as my name
Is Rudel, and that is better than ever so
many kisses."
"Dear Rudel, I am sure you mean
kindly, though you have such a funny
way of showing it; but I have no wish
to fight any one."
"Oh, but you will be obliged to fight
Missie, whether you wish for It or not."
was the cool rejoinder; but Alison was
apnred any further argument on this sub:
Ject, as they had reached The Holms, and
in another moment were driving up the
graveled sweep between rows of dusty
evergreens.
The Holms was a singularly built house.
A square, stone hall, uncarpeted and
chilly looking, led to the kitchen and oth
ed domestic offices, all on a large scale
and unusually roomy ; a wide flight of
stone 'steps, differing from the modern
staircase by being also uncovered, led to
the sitting rooms, dining room, drawing
room, school room, and study, all open
ing on to a narrow corridor, fitted from
end to end with books books literalyl
lining it from floor to ceiling.
As Alison wearily ascended the steps,
a thin ladylike woman in a black gown,
with a depressed, gentle face, came to
the head of the staircase.
"I am so glad to see you, my dear,"
he said, kissing her affectionately. "Why,
I do believe you are grown, Alison ; you
are taller Chan I expected to see you, but
you are looking pale."
"Oh, that is nothing," returned Ali
son, hastily. "I am tired with the jour
ney." For just then she did not wish her
looks to be too keenly criticised. "Where
are the others, Miss Leigh father, Mabel
and Poppie?"
"I am so sorry, Alison, that I am the
only one to greet your homecoming. Ma
bel and Poppie are out; they had an
. Invitation to an afternoon party at the
Brownlow's; it is little Stacy's birthday.
I wanted Mabel to stay at home and let
Poppie go without hrr, but she would
not hear of it."
"Never mind, returned Alison, quietly;
but she was conscious of a hurt, chilled
feeling as Miss Leigh brought out this
' lame excuse. This was ber return borne
after two years' absence, and yet Roger
could not be spared to meet her at the
station, and Mabel could not give up an
afternoon's amusement to welcome her !
ter. Her father was busy as usual ; prob
ably he had forgotten her existence aJ
this time.
"You are very tired, my dear, con
tinued Miss Leigh, disturbed at the young
girl's sudden gravity and paleness. "Shall
I take you to your room, and send you
up a cup of tea? I daresay you would
like to be quiet a little."
"Thank you," replied AJison, grateful
ly. Rudel skipped up after her, three
steps at a time.
"I suppose you do not want to see
Sulky now, Alison?"
"No, n," interrupted Miss Leigh, "your
sister, is tired, Rudel; you had better go
down and leave her to rest."
"Oh, I was not talking to you, Mother
Leigh," was the boy's rude retort ; and
as Alison turned round to shake her head
at him, she discovered him In the act
of making one of his favorite faces at the
baok of the unconscious governess.
"I say, missus," he observed, when he
bad sufficiently relieved his feelings, "have
you told Alison about her room?"
"No, not yet, Rudel," returned the
much-enduring Miss Leigh.
"Then I shall. I call it a mean trick
of Missie's ; no one but a girl would .do
such a thing ; here she has been and taken
your room, Alison, with mother's things
in it; and nothing the missus can say will
get her to give it up. Missus is awfully
wild about it, ain't you, missus?"
"Oh, Rudel ! do be quiet," remonstrated
Miss Leigh, in the old worried voice Ali
son knew so well. "What a tiresome boy
you are ! and I wanted to tell your sister
quietly. Alison, my dear, I am very sor
ry, but Mabel has appropriated your
mom, snd most Improperly refuses to give
it up. I spoke to your father about it
last night, but he only said it did not
signify, that he expected you would not
mind, as your visit to us might not be a
very lengthy one. I think you had bet
ter spenk to him yourself."
"I will see about it," returned Alison,
quickly, anxious to stem the governess'
nervous flow of words. "Am I to sleep
here to-night?" as Miss Leigh opened the
door of a back room.
"I have made it as nice as I can," re
turned Miss Leigh, apologetically, "but I
am afraid you will think it an ugly room;
it wants repnpering, and the carpet is
dreadfully old."
"Oh, it will do very well," observed
Alison, quietly; but she looked round her
with a sinking heart nevertheless. It
was Mabel's old room and very shabbily
furnished, and looked over the kitchen
garden and the sawmills.
She listened with well assumed patience
as Miss Leigh pointed out the various
little improvements she had effected.
Though Alison did not know It, the easy
chair and little round table were taken
from Miss Leigh's own room; the fuch
sias and geraniums in the blue vase were
Roger's gift ; and even Rudel had con
tributed the big green fern that stood on
the window ledge.
"Now, I will send you up your tea,"
observed Miss Leigh at last, when the
boxes had arrived, and Rudel had assist
ed to unstrap them ; "there is no hurry,
my dear; you will have nearly two hours
to yourself to unpack and rest"
Alison tried to answer cheerfully, but
her head was aching in earnest now; the
tears were very near the surface again,
but she. battled with them bravely.
CHAPTER V.
A cup of excellent tea was very restora
tive in its effects, and when Alison had
freshened her tired face with cold water,
and brushed her disheveled locks, and
exchanged her traveling dress for a light,
cool-looking, zejiiyr cloth costume, she
felt less reluctance to present herself to
the critical eyes of her father and Mabel.
"May I come in?" questioned a voice
that she knew at once was Roger's, and
In a moment she had sprung joyfully to
the door.
"Oh, Roger, you dear old fellow, I am
so glad to see you again !" she exclaim
ed, forgetting all her troubles in the sight
of his familiar face. Evidently her pleas
ure was reciprocated ; a pair of strong
arms almost lifted her off her feet, and
bore her across ,the room toward the win
dow, and, after a hasty kiss or two, Rog
er put his hand under her chin and grave
ly inspected her.
"1 suppose you are glad to see me," he
observed at length, "as you have been
crying evidently at the pleasurable anti
cipation. So you are sorry to cfime home,
Alison, eh? and yet" rather reproach
fully "you are wanted very badly here."
Alison's only answer was to lay her
face down on his arm1; this was a little
too much for her jaded spirits, a few
more tears would come. Roger had found
ber out, as she knew he would.
"Come now, this won't do, Allie," he
said, with a sort of soothing roughness;
"we shall pack you back again to Aunt
Diana,' if you are going to fret. I looked
for rather a different greeting after two
years' absence."
"I can't help it," she said, trying to
dismiss her tears; "I am "tired, and ev
erything seems strange to-night, and I
do miss Aunt Diana."
"Yes, she has spoiled you for us; you
have grown a dainty little lady, Allie."
"Oh, no; I am nbt spoiled in that
way," she Interrupted him breathlessly.
"You can not quite understand, Roger;
but there is such a mixed feeling. I
have wanted you all these two years ; you
have never been out of my mind a single
day."
"Well, I am glad to have you back to
scold you properly. What color are your
eyes generally, Alison? They are as
pink as an Albino's to-night"
"It is my turn to look at you," she
returned, trying to pluck up a little
spirit. "Why, you have grown a mus
tache, Roger. Hoto well It suits you !"
but Roger only broke into a merry laugh.
"Did you ever see such a handsome
fellow? Really, Rudel and I are marvel
ous specimens of manly beauty. He beats
me in freckles, though, ha, ha I" And
Roger quit rocked himself In merriment.
"I like the look of you very nmch,"
returned Alison. "Your hair is a littli '
rough and, oh ! your boots are muddy.
lou bav wanted me to keep yon In
order."
"I don't um to match vaii umalimB M
U l j un. t . . ' '
uuserveu. uo jou always look as
though you were just turned out of a
bandbox? I wish you would take Missie
and Popple in band; they drive Miss
Leigh crazy with their untidiness. Oh,
we are a happy family, Allie nothing
but billing and cooing, and that sort of
thing going on from morning to night.
You might take Rudel and Missie for a
couple of love birds, the sweet young
creatures are so fond of each other, and
as for Popple and Missie look, there is
a specimen of the home music dulcet
strains floating up the staircase. There
goes Missie."
Alison's brow knitted with some per
plexity as she listened. "Flora, will you
go Into your own room? I Insist on it
yon are not fit to be seen in that torn
frock," in a sharp, girlish voice.
"What does It matter? She won't
mind," in a shrill, childish treble; "you
are so cross, Mabel. Do let me come in
with you and see Alison."
"No, no ; do as I tell you ; you shall
come In presently. There ! you have tram
pled on my dress and torn some of the
trimming, you horrid little thing! I will
tell papa if you are so naughty, and
then he will not let you come down to
tea." Here an expressive roar on Pop
pie's part interrupted the discussion. All
son, who could bear no more, moved
quickly to the door and opened It. A
pretty looking, fair-hatred girl, dressed
somewhat untidily and in bnd style, with
rather a vixenish expression on her flush
ed face, was standing ju&l uuUide Alison's
room, and behind her a somewhat plain
little girl between eight and nine years of
age, rather small in stature, and with a
droll, freckled face like Rudel's, only it
was just now puckered up with crying
a red. Inflamed spot on one cheek was
evidently the result of a smart blow on
her sister's part in payment for the torn
trimming.
"How do you do, Mabel?" she said,
with a somewhat cold salute of Missie's
cheek. "Please do not prevent Poppie
coming to me. I could not help hearing,
yon spoke so loud, and I do not mind one
bit how she looks. vCome here, Poppie,
dear;" but the child, evidently shy and
upset by the late fracas, held bad in an
embarrassed manner, until Missie gave
her a rough push. "Why don't you go
to Alison, you stupid little thing?" she
said crossly, for she was put out at her
sister's sudden appearance on the scene.
"Please do not force her to come to
me; we shall be very good friends direct
ly," returned Alison, sorry for the poor
child's awkwardness. "Come with me,
Popple dear; Roger is in my room, and I
will Bhow you the pretty new game I
have brought for you."
The child's face brightened in a mo
ment, and she moved instantly to take Ali
son's hand ; again Missie interposed.
"She must change her frock, Alison ;
tea is just ready, and I hear papa's step
in the garden. He will be very angry if
Poppie looks rough or untidy ; and I can
not allow him to be vexed," pursing up
her lips with a virtuous expression.
Alison controlled a quick retort with
some difficulty. She had fully expected
to find Missie a most aggravating little
person, or why should Miss Leigh com
plain of her so bitterly? But the reality
was worse than she anticipated.
"Never mind," she said, calmly ; "we
must not vex papa, must we, Popple? I
will help you change your frock, and per
haps after all we may have time to look
at the fish ponds." And without another
glance at Missie, Alison made Popple
cheerfully lead the way, as she did not
know her room.
As Alison, after dressing Poppie, came
down the staircase with the child still
clinging to her, Mr. Merle suddenly made
his appearance from the study. He al
most started at the sight of his daughter,
and an expression of pain crossed his
handsome, careworn face. In the dim
light Alison recalled her mother too plain
ly to his eyes.
"Oh, papa," she said, hurrying to him,
and putting up ber fair young face to
his. He kissed her kindly, patted it, told
her that she had grown into a woman
since he had seen her, and questioned bet
with some interest about her journey.
The dining room, a large, handsomely
furnished room, looked sufficiently cozy
as they entered it. Missie was in the
seat' of honor; she gave a little simper
ing laugh as Alison entered with her fath
er. . "I suppose this will be your place
to-morrow," she said, for, as Alison re
plied simply, ''I siipose so, but I need
not disturb you to-night," a vexed look
crossed Missie's face, but as Rudel was
already grinning in hopes of a row she
prudently disappointed him.
When they rose from the table, Missie's
first words were a peremptory order for
Poppie to put away her toys and go to
bed. This led to a feeble protest on Miss
Leigh's part.
"It Is not so very late, Mabel, and Pop
ple has not seen her sister for two years.
I think she might wait a little longer." '
"I am not going ; there now !" observed
the child, defiantly, quite oblivious of her
father's presence. I
"Go It, Pops. I'll back you," whispered
Rudel, rubbing his hands ; "she sha'n't (
touch you as long as I am here."
Mabel's eyes flashed. "You horrid, rude
boy. Papa " But here Alison gently
Interfered.
"You will go to bed now, dear, will you
not?", she whispered In the child's ear,
"and I will come and tuck you up, and
wish you good-night." And thus propi
tiated, Poppie's sullenness vanished, and
she trotted on at once.
(To be continued.)
Cancer of the stomach causes about
0,000 deaths a year In tbe United
States and nearly 5,000 In England and
Wales. j
4 ""W ""LrV w w ' N 1 "-n. Hill I . fcritL-rrL'rr'TLLE -A!
a. m tA r -Mr7vir xw i v v l. ji a i w 11
J 5
"How did he lose his money?" "His
father-in-law failed." Illustrated Bits.
"Have you got an independent for
tune?'; "No, I'm married." Cleveland
Leader.
Mrs. Knlcker Where do you keep
your auto? Mrs. Newrlca In a mirage,
of course. New York Sun.
Jinimie My ma's gone downtown to
pay some bills. Tominle Pooh ! The
man comes to the house to collect ours!
He She Is such a charmingly Inno
cent girl, isn't she? She Oh, yes ; she
has taken years to uequlre it. The
Tatler.
Knlcker You know that speech Is
given to man to conceal his thoughts.
Broker Well, penmanship does It even
better. New York Sun.
She (at the piano) I presume yon
are a true lover of music, are you not?
He Yes, 1 am; but pray don't stop
playing on my account.
"John, you yawned twice while we
were calling on that lady." "Well,
dear, you did not expect me to keep juy
month closed nil the time, did you 7"
Magistrate If I remember rightly,
this Is not your first appearance In
court. Prisoner No, your honor; but
I ho)e you don't Judge by appearances."
"I've just figured out how the Venus
de Milo came to lose her arms?"
"How?" "She broke them off trying to
button her shirt waist up the buck."
Puck.
Weary Walker I sec f00 more men
has been frown out of work. Tired
Traveler Gee! Here's gettln' to be
too much comiietttlou in our business!
Pink.
"The seventeen mothers in the vil
lage mothers' club agreed to decide by
ballot which had the handsomest baby."
"Well, who won It?" "Each kid got
one vote."
"Are mari-lnges made in heaven?"
"As to that I can't say, but I do know
this much" "What Is that, Peleg?"
"There'e lots of courting done In
church." Washington Herald.
"This watch will last you for a life
time," reninrked the jeweler. "Non
sense!" retorted the customer. "Cnn't
I see for myself now that Its hours are
numbered?" London Spare Moments.
Man (to boy nt roadside) What
time Is It? Boy Purty near 12 o'clock.
Man Thought it wus more than 12.
Boy Nope. Never gets more than 12
In this country. Begins at 1 again.
Judge.
Bystander Doctor, what do you
think of th.s innn's injuries? Doctor
(of Irish extraction) Two of them are
undoubtedly fatal ; but as for the rest
of them, time alone can tell. Boston
Transcript
"You have a new housemaid, I see,
Mrs. Youngwlfe." "Yes, I got her about
a week ago." "How do you like her?"
V.1. ,lt.1..h tiwlnrul Clin 1.... ..... .1..
almost us I like about the house."
London Tit-Bits.
"What diagnosis did the doctor make
of your "wife's Illness?" "Said she is
suffering from overwork." "Is that
so?" "Yes; he looked nt her tongue
iind reached that decision Immediate
ly." Detroit Free Press.
Mr. Ncwwed You never cull me pet
names now unless you want something.
Before man-Iugc It was different Mrs.
Newwed Oh, no. Before marriage I
called you pet names because I wanted
you. Guidon Gentle woinn n.
"Jlninile, your face Is dirty again this
morning!" exclaimed the teacher.
"What would you soy if I came to
school every day with a dirty face?"
"Huh." grunted Jimnile, "I'd be too
perllte to say anything?" Circle.
Mother (In a very low voice) Tom
my, your grandfather is very 11T. Can't
you sny something nice to cheer him up
a bit? Tommy (In nn enrnest voice)
Grandfather, wouldn't you like to have
soldiers at your funeral?" London Tit
Bits. "I'm sure," suld the nreveler, "the
public would he interested to know the
secret of your success." "Well, young
man," replied the captain of Industry,
"the secret of my success has been my
ability to keep It a secret." Catholic
Standard and Times.
"I'm afraid I'm catching cold," said
Kloseman, trying to get some medical
advice free. "Every once In a while
I feel an itching in my nose, and then
I sneeze. What would you do In a case
like that, doctor?"' "Well," replied Dr.
Sharpe, "I guess I'd Bneeze, too."
"How did those two ever come to
marry each other?" "Well, she was
the only woman he ever knew who
would listen to his anecdotes over five
minutes at a time, and he wus the
only niun she ever knew that could look
r.t her that long without getting neu
ralgia." Puck.
Bonbon Cake.
Make an angel-food cake and bake In
three layers. Make a boiled icing and
flavor with lemon. First layer, spread
with Icing, then layer of cranberry Jelly
and another of icing. Second layer,
spread with Icing, then chopped dates
and nut meats mixed with enough Jelly
to spread, then another layer of Icing.
Third layer, spread with Icing and
sprinkle over with blunched and ground
almonds.
Steamed Meat Balls.
First boll one teacup of rice softi
when cold add two and one-half pound!
of Hamburg steuk, ground tine, a littli
salt and mix. Add one egg, boll one
small hard head of cabbage whole un
til the leaves can be taken off without
breaking; to each leaf put one table
spoon of mixture and fusten them with
toothpicks; steam until meat Is cooked
through, serve with cream sauce.
Charlotte Kuaae Killing:.
Leal the while of uue until dry,
add one-half cup powdered sugar grad
ually. Beat one cup of double cream,
add one teasioonful extract orange or
vanilla or two tablespoonfuls claret
and beat until it sticks to the bottom
of the dish, then fold in tbe egg and
sugar. Chill before using for a tilling.
This recipe gives plenty to fill a three
pint mold.
Boiled Cake.
One cup sugar, one cup water, one
half cup butter, half a package of
seeded raisins, one teaspoouful each ,
of cloves, cinnamon and soda. Put all
on the stove and let come to a boll.
Remove from the fire the minute It be
gins to boll and set aside to cool, then
stir in Just enough flour to make a thin
batter and bake In a loaf In a slow
oven one hour.
Apple Deaert.
Bako two layers of cuke of two egg,
one-quarter cup of butter, one-half clip
sugur, one-quarter cup milk, one tea
spoon baking powder, sifted with
enough flour to make a thin batter, fla
vor with vanilla. Put some stewed
apples between the layers and some on
top, covered with whipped cream j gar
nish with stewed prunes; let stand for
two hours before serving.
Baked Tomatoes.
Select fresh touiotoes, scald them
and remove the skins. Butter a pud
ding dish and slice the tomatoes Into
It Sprinkle some pepper and salt over
them and a layer of grated cheese.
Over that put some fine breadcrumbs
and several small pieces of butter. Bake
from twenty to twenty-five minutes In
the oven, but do not overcook this
dish.
Calibans Salad.
Cut half of a white cabbage In very
thin strips and sprinkle with salt Put
between two plates and let stand one
hour. Drain off tbe water and sprinkle
cabbage with a good salad dressing.
Pile It lightly In a dome-shaped mass.
Cut cold beets In thin slices, separata
into rings and arrange the rings lu an
overlapping border around tho base.
EltBTlraa Cookies.
One cup of water, one sup of moiuo
ses, two-thirds of a cup of shortening,
one cup of cold water, one teuspoonful
of baking soda, dissolved In a little hot
water; one teuspoonful each of cinna
mon, cloves and allspice and two tea
spoonfuls of ginger. Mix well, add
Hour enough to roll out, roll out very
thin and buke.
Steamed Potatoes.
Wash, peel and remove the eyes from
the potatoes; drop them Into cold wa
ter until they ore ready; put them
Into the steamer and cook until they
are tender; they will require thirty to
forty minutes. When done, Bet In a
warm place with the lid half removed I
shake occasionally so as to make them
floury.
I'lekleil Onions.
Take small onions, white ones are
the best, pour boiling water on them,
let stand till cold, then you' can peel
without hurting your eyes; then make
a brine of boiling water and salt so
an egg wjll swim In it; cover your
onions and let stand for twenty-four
hours and drain.
Di-aten Ulaoalt.
One quart of Hour, a small tea spoon
ful of salt iind a piece of butter and
lard, mixed, about the size of an egg.
Mix with cold woter Into very stiff
dough. Bent on a biscuit block with : n
ax .until tho dough Is smooth and
blisters. Mold by hand and bake In a
qnick oven.