The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-07-18
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII. 1 4
For more than an hour there had been
rnhrokcn silence in the dingy old law
afire of Mr.. Worthington, where Henry
Lincoln and William Bender still re-
NAMED, the one as a practicing lawyer
and Junior partner Of the firm, and the
other as student still, for he had not
vet dared to offer himself. for examina-
,ion. Study was something which Henry
plr,icuarly disliked; and as his mother
had trained him with the idea that labor
for him was wholly unnecessary, he had
never bestowed thought on the future,
or made an exertion Of any kind. Now,
however, different phase of affairs was
onpear.ng. His fathers fortune was
threatened with ruin; and he sat in the
office with his heels upon the window sill,
debating the all-important question
whether it were better to marry Ella
Campbell for the money which would
save him from poverty, or to rouse him
self to action for the sake of Mary How
ard. whom he really fancied he loved.
Frequently since the party had he met
her. each time becoming more and more
convinced of her superiority over the 9TH
er Young ladies Of her acquaintance. He
was undoubtedly greatly assisted in this
decision by thn manner with which she
WAS received by the fashionables of Bos-
tom but, aside from that, as far as he
was capable Of doing so, he liked her,
and was now making up his mind wheth-
er to tell her so or not.
At last breaking the silence, he exclaim-
ed: Hang me, if / don't believe she's be-
witched me, or else I'm in love. Bender,
how does a chap feel when he's in lover
Very foolish, judging from yourself, !"
returned William, and Henry replied:
Il hope you mean nothing personal, for
I'm hound to avenge my honor, and
'twould be a deuced scrape for you and
me to fight about your sister, as you call
her for 'tis she who has inspired me, or
made fool of me. one or the other"
You've changed your mind, haven't
you:" asked William, little sarcastical-
y
Hanged if I havew said Henry. "I
was interested in her years ago, when
she was the ugliest little vixen a man
ever looked upon, and that's why teased
her sol don't believe she's handsome
now, but she's something, and that some
thing has raised the mischief with me.
Come Bender, you are better acquainted
with her than | am, so tell me honestly
If you think I'd better marry her."
With naughty frown William replied:
'You have my permission, sir, to propose
as soon as you please. rather wish you
would" then taking his hat he left the
office, while Henry continued his solilo-
guy as follows:
81 wonder what the old folks would
say to penniless bride. Wouldn't moth
er and Rose raise a row? I'd soon quiet
the old woman, though, by threatening to
tell that she was once factory girl. But
II dad smashes up I'll have to work, for
haven't brains enough to earn my living
by wit guess on the whole I'll go and
call on Ella; she's handsome, and besides
that has the rhino, too; but how shallow
and the young man broke the blade of his
knife as he stuck it into the hardwood
table by way Of emphasizing his last
words
Ella chanced to be out, and as Henry
was returning he overlook Ida Selden
and Mary Howard, who were taking
their accustomed walk. Since her conyer-
sation with William a weight seemed
lifted from Mary's spirits, and she now
was happier far than she ever remem-
bered Of having been before. Mary
could not find it in her heart to be I'M
courteous to Henry, and her manner to-
ward him that morning was so kind and
hat toll and
when he parted with her at Mr.. Selden'
gate his mind was quite made up TO
offer her his heart and hand.
Il shall have to work." thought he.
but for her sake I'll do anything"
An hour later he sat down and wrote
to Mary on paper what he Obuld not
tell her face to face. Had there been
a lingering doubt of her acceptance, he
would undoubtedly have wasted at least
dozen sheets of the tiny gilt-edged pa-
per, but as it was one would suffice, Tor
she would not scrutinize his handwriting
she would not count the blots, or mark
the omission of punctuating pauses. An
ardent declaration of love was written,
sealed and directed.
RESTLESS and unquiet, he sat down to
await his answer. 1t came at last7-his
rejection, yet couched in language so Kind
and conciliatory that he could not feel
angry. Twice-three times-he read Il
over, hoping to find some intimati0n that
possibly she might relent; but no, it was
hrm and decided, and while she thanked
MN for the honor he conferred upon her,
she respectfully declined accepting it, as
surlng him that his secret should be kept
invioate.
There's some comfort in that,
thought he, ''for wouldn't like to have
II known that have been refused by 2
POOR unknown girl" and then, as the con.
Nctlon came over him that she would
never be his, he laid his head upon the
'anle and wept such tears as q spoilt
chili might weep when refused a toy toe
costly and delicate to be trusted in its
rude grasp.
Ere long there was a knock at thu
uCUr and hastily wiping away all traces
Vi MS emotion, Henry admitted his faith
er' who had come to talk Of their future
prospects, which were even worse than
nt mad feared. But he did not repr0ach
MS hayward son, nor hint that his reck'
,eSs extravaganza had hastened the ca
iamity which otherwise might have been
avoided. Calmly he stated the extent g
mnich they were involved, adding that
.nough an entire failure might be pre-
,en'ed short time, it would come a
,as'' and that an honorable payment q
MS debts would leave them beggars.
FOR myself l do not care" said tn
.retched man, pressing hard his achinl
temples, where the gray hairs had thick
sned within few short weeks. ~
myself do not care, but for my VIII
anu chlldren-for Rose. and that -
must miss her accustomed comfcrts, =
'Ae keenest pang Of all