The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-05-09
BY mary J. HOLMES
CHAPTER 1.

CHAPTER l.
What makes you keep that big blue
.,rhonnet drawn so closely over your
,ace? Are you afraid Of having it seen?"
The person addressed was pale. sick
,v Looking child about nine years Of age,
,,Ao On the deck Of the vessel Winder-
more was gazing intently toward the dis
cont shore OF old England. fast receding
,,on view. Near her a fine-looking boy
Of fourteen was standing, trying in vain
% gain look at the features shaded by
the gingham bonnet.
Ar the sound Of his voice the little girl
started. anl without turning her head,
replieh, Nobody wants to see me, l am
so ugly AMI disagreeable.'
~ gly. are you?" repeated the boy, lift
Ipc her up and looking her fully in the
face. We'll. you are not very hand
some. that's fact. but wouldn't be sui
lon about it. Ugly people are always
smart. AMI perhaps you are. Anyway,
like little girls, so just let me sit here
and get acquainted
Mary Howard was certainly not very
handsome. Her features. though tolera
bly regular were small and thin, her
complexion sallow, and her eyes, though
bright and expressive, seemed too large
for her face. She had frequently been
told that she VS. homely, and often when
alone had wept. and wondered why she,
TOO, was not handsome like her sister
Ella, on whose cheek the softest rose was
blooming, while her rich brown hair fell
in wavy masses about her white neck and
shoulders. But If Ella was more beau
tful than Mary, there was far less in
her character to admire. She knew that
she was pretty, and this made her proud
and selfish, expecting attention from all,
and growing sullen if it was withheld.
Mrs. Howard, the mother Of these chill
dren, had incurred the displeasure of her
ryng her music teacher. Humbly at her
fathers feet she had knelt and sued for
pardon, but the old man was inexorable
and turned her from his house. Late in
life he had married youthful widow,
who, after the lapse Of few years died,
leaving three little girls, Sarah, Ella and
Jane two Of them his own, and one a
stepdaughter and a child Of his wife's
first marriage. AS a last request Mrs.
Temple had asked that her baby Jane
should be given to the care Of her sister,
Mrs Morris, who was on the eve of en-
barking for. America. Sarah, too, was
adopted by her fathers brother, and thus
Mr.. Temple was left alone with his eld-
est daughter, Ella. Occasionally he heard
from Jane, but time and distance gradu-
ally weakened the tie of parental affec-
ton, which wound itself more closely
around Ella; and now, when she, too, left
him, and worse than all, married poor
music teacher, the old mans wrath knew
no bounds.
But we'll see," said he-"we'll see
how they get on. I'll use all my influence
against the dog, and when Miss Ella 8
right cold and hungry she'll be glad to
come back and leave him."
But he was mistaken, for though right
cold and hungry Ella oftentimes was, she
only clung the closer to her husband,
happy to share his fortune, whatever 1t
might be. Two years after her marriage,
hearing that her father was dangerously
Ill, she went to him, but the forgiveness
she so ardently desired was never gained,
for the old mans reason was gone. Faith
fully she watched until the end, and then
when she heard read his will and knew
that his property was all bequeathed to
her sister in America, she brushed the
tears from her long eyelashes and went
back to her humble home prepared to
meet the worst.
In 81, Tro H
Mary and Ella, were added to their num-
Der, and though their presence brought
sunshine and gladness, it brought also
an increase Of toll and care. Year after
rear Mr.. Howard struggled on, while
each day rumors reached him of the
plenty to be had in the land beyond the
sea; and at last, when hope seemed dying
out, he resolved to try his fortune In the
tar-famed home Of the weary emigrant
The necessary preparations for their voy.
age were made as soon as possible, and
when the Windermere left the harbor
OF Liverpool they stood upon her deck,
waving last adieu to the few kind
friends who on shore were bidding them
godspeed.
Among the passengers was George
Moreland, whose parents had died some
months before, leaving him and large
fortune to the guardianship Of his uncle
wealthy merchant residing in Boston
his uncle, Mr.. Selden, had written fol
Ills nephew to join him in America, and
was for this purpose that George had
taken passage in the Windermere. Ht
was frank, generous-hearted boy, and
tavorite with all who knew him. Ht
was passionate admirer Of beauty, anC
tue moment the Howards came on boarc
ana he caught sight of Ella, he felt ire
Sistlbly attracted toward her. Mary
whose sensitive nature shrank from thu
observation Of strangers, eluded all hi!
EFFORTS to look under her bonnet. This
aroused his curiosity, and when he fol
"wed her addressed to her the remarl
with which we commenced this chapter
a, last, gently smoothing back her hair
winch was really bright and glossy. h'
sald' Who told you that you were 81
ugly looking?" The tears started t
Marys eyes, and her chin quivered, Al
she replied, Father says 50, Ella say
30 and everybody says 30 but mothe
and Frankly"
everybody doesn't always tell tn
ruin said George, wishing to admin
nN Sver as much comfort a. possible
lou We got pretty blue eyes, nice brow
na,r' and your forehead, too, 10 broa'
snu nigh; now if you hadn't such q mud
=! complexion, bony cheeks, little nose
Sts ears and awful teeth, you wouldn'
De such a frightv'
george propensity to tease had com
upon MIN, and in enumerating the defect
~ hary's face he purposely magnine
.uem; but he regretted 1t. when he sa'
tne elect his words produced. Hidin
ser race in her hands. Mary burst into
passionate fit Of weeping, then snatchin