The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1899-07-06
Not a Hero.


- FANCES had been arguing and
had silenced her opponent He
q stood leaning against the stone
Of the tower waiting her pleasure to re-
move from the scene Of contest. But
her line Of thought held her fast, or
perhaps the beauty of Belgian land
scape would not release her. At all
events, she did move, and he waited.
Finally, he ventured to suggest:
wont your Aunt Laura be tired Of
waiting%
She turned her eyes from the brown
Scheldt flowing below as she answered
carelessly: "Aunt Laura: o, she
doesn't mind! She preferred to let us
come up without her. She adores the
cathedral, and it isn't time to be hun
gry."
Ben Ripley had been In Antwerp four
hours, three Of which he had spent with
Frances Deere and for at least an hour
the two had been on the cathedral
tower engaged in the argument already
mentioned.
Ben had asked where Frances meant
to spend the winter. 1t was natural
question, for they had been neighbors
and friends always at home In Amer.
lea. Even when he was at college
there were vacations, and she con-
tinued to be a warm friend. So did he,
except In the intervals when, having
become too warm, he was obliged to
undergo cooling process.
Her winter, she said, would be one of
hard study. Aunt Laura would select
masters for her, and she would work
at art, music, languages-anythin to
keep busy. Then he began to argue
that she was all wrong. She ought to
60 home to her mother and not waste
her youth (she laughed scornfully) and
her beauty (she smiled proudly. Then
she asked him why he lived on Ban
bury road and studied mathematics at
Oxford instead Of going into business
with his father In New York. He an
swered that he wasn't worth consider
ing, that she was the only person in
the world worth talking bout, and the
climax of his whole argument was that
she should go back to America engaged
to him and wait for the glorious life
they would begin together next year
when he had taken his doctors degree.
But she was relentless and wouldn't
even attempt to answer his questions
whether she cared for him at all. She
grew a little impatient and said he
ought to see that she couldn't think
about such things; she was interested
In carrying on her studies and moth
Ing else. Finally he said he supposed
she expected him to start back for Ok
ford that highland wanted to be con-
tradicted. But she agreed that 1t would
be the most sensible thing to do.
So 1t had all ended, and she had be-
come absorbed In the landscape and
forgetful Of him until he mentioned
Aunt Laura and they started down the
tower. Ben was three or four steps
ahead, two-thirds of the way down,
when he heard a stumble. Frances had
caught her foot In her dress and fallen.
He had just time to brace himself with
an arm against either wall when she
slid down upon him.
Get your footing quick and don't
faint" he said.
"I'm not going to faint" she an
swered, land l am quite myself ex-
cept that my hat Is crooked-not that
1t matters In the dark"
Slowly he dropped his arms, and she
passed on before him. As they came
out into the light he motioned to a
carriage crossing the narrow court
There isn't moment to lose" he
explained, III am going to get my
boat. You are sure you are not hurt p
Perfectly sound. Did l frighten
your
well. yes; 1t didn't seem exactly safe
for either Of US to have come tumbling
down that way. But l must 60. /
shall see you again some day, Frances"
Somehow he got the cathedral door
open for her, handed her an umbrella,
took OF his hat pressed her hand, and
entered the carriage. She couldn't fol-
low his movements: she only felt his
eyes resting on her as II they could not
turn away till the narrow side door
closed behind her.
After few minutes Frances found
her aunt, and they left the cathedral.
where IL BenT Aunt Laura asked.
"G0ne to England to do his work as a
boy should, and we are going to Bru
sells tonight"
Aunt Laura gave little sigh. It IL
hard to be patient with youths per-
versity In bringing trouble upon itself.
The next day the two Sat at 1 small
table In . small patIsserie near the ton
Of the Montagn de II Tour waiting for
chocolate. Frances was struggling with
the Rotterdam daily paper. It was
hard work to make any sense Of the