The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-05-16
BY MARY j. HOLMES


aiiment he hurried away toward Mrs
towards. The sun was inst r;.ino
Within the cottage there was no sound or
token Of life. and, thinking it's inmates
were asleep, Billy paused several min.
utes upon the threshold, fearing that n.
should disturb their slumbers. At last
WIN 4 vague presentiment that all was
not right, he raised the latch and enter
ed. but instantly started back in aston
ishment at the scene before him. On the
thundle bed lay Frank, cold and dead.
and near him, In the same long. dream
less sleep, was his mother, while between
them, with one arm thrown lovingly
across her brothers neck, and her cheek
pressed against his, lay Mary-her eye
lids moist with tears which, though Sleep
ing, she still shed. On the other side Of
Frank, and nestled so closely to him that
her warm breath lifted the brown curls
from his brow, was Ella. But there were
no tear stains on her face. for she did not
yet know how bereaved she was.
For a moment Billy stood irresolute.
and then, as Mary moved uneasily in her
slumbers, he advanced a step OF, two to-
ward her. The noise aroused her, and
instantly remembering and comprehend
ing the whole, she threw herself with q
bitter cry into Billy's extended arms, as
II he alone were all the protector she now
had In the wide, wide world. Ere long
ella, too, awoke, and the noisy outburst
which followed the knowledge Of her loss
made Mary still the agony Of her own
heart in order to soothe the more violent
grief Of her excitable sister. Billy's
tears were flowing, too, but at length
rising up, he said to Mary, Something
must be done. The villagers must know
of it. and I shall have to leave you alone
while I tell them"
In half an hour from that time the
cottage was nearly filed with people,
some of whom came out Of idle curiosity.
But there were others who went there
for the sake Of comforting the orphans
and attending to the dead, and by noon
the bodies were decently arranged for
burial
There will be no trouble" said one, 'in
finding a place for Ella, she is 50 bright
and handsome; but as for Mary, l am
afraid she'll have to 60 to the poorhouse. :"
'Were / in condition to take either"
replied Mrs. johnson, II should prefer
the best girl; but there is the baby, who
must 60 wherever Mary does, unless she
can be persuaded to leave her."
Before anyone could reply to this re-
mark Mary, who had overheard every
word, came forward, and, laying her
face on Mrs. Johnson's lap, sobbed out,
"Let me 90 with Alice; told mother /
would"
Billy Bender, who all this while had
been standing by the door, started for
home, never once thinking, until he
reached it, that his mother more than
six hours before, had sent him in great
haste for the physician. On entering the
house he found her, as he expected, rolled
up in bed, apparently In the last stage Of
scarlet fever; but before she could re-
proach him he said, Mother, have you
heard the newsw
Mrs. Bender had particular love for
news, and now forgetting "how near to
deaths door" she had been, she eagerly
demanded, "What news? What has hap
pened?
When Billy told her of the sudden
deaths of Mrs. Howard and Frank, an
expression of What? That all?" passed
over her face, and she said, Dear me,
my snuff, Billy Both died last night, did
they? Hain't you nothin' else to tellT'
"Yes, Mary Judson and Ella Campbell,
too, are dead"
Mrs. Bender, who, like many others,
courted the favor of the wealthy and
tried to fancy herself on intimate terms
with them, no sooner heard of Mrs.
Campbelrs afliction than her own dan
perous symptoms were forgotten. and,
springing up, she exclaimed, ELLA lamp
bell dead! What'H her mother 90! l
must 90 to her right away. Hand me my
double gown there in the closet, and give
me INV lace cap in the lower drawer, and
mind you have the teakettle billed agin l
get back"
"Before you 60 anywhere, suppose you
sion at Mrs. Howard's and comfort poor
Mary. who cries all the time because she
and Alice have got to 60 to the poor
house."
"Of course they'll so there. and they
ort to be thankful they've got 30 good
place" nm &c..
we--couldn't you take them for q rev
days, and perhaps something may turn
up" ,.,,
"William Bender" said the highly as
tonished lady, what can you mean!
moor. sick woman like me, with one loot
in the grave, take the charge OF three
manner children! sha'n't do 1t, and you
needn't think Of 1t. -
"But, mother" persisted Billy VINO
could generally coax her to do as he liked,
.it's only for few days, and tneyii nCe
be much trouble or expense, for In "orA
enough harder to make 1t up.
81 have said no once, William bendef'
and when I say no, I mean no." was the
answer. ,a.d
Billy knew she would be less decided
the next time the subject was broacneo'
so for the present he dropped y, ana .aN-
ine his cap he returned to MRS. HOW
ards. while his mother started Tor MIS-
CampbelPs. -. O
Next morning between the hours OF 2
and 10 the tolling bell sent forth It's sac
summons. and ere long few OF tne VII
layers were moving toward the Drown
cottage. where in the same plain cvmn
.s,snt the mother and her only boy. Near
them sat Ella, occasionally looking VIII
Childish curiosity at the strangers arounu
her. or leaning forward to peep z. Ine
fins of the new morocco shoes wnicn mls.
Iahnson had kindly given her; then' wns.
hsr ewes fell upon the coffin, she woulu
1.. ,,oh an agony Of weeping tn1t