The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-08-01
BY MRRY j. HOLMES

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home, bringing a note from Ida, saying
that the carriage would soon be round
for Mary and Jenny, both of whom must
surely come, as there was pleasant sur
prise awaiting them. While Mary was
,, reading this Jenny was eagerly question
ing Uncle Ezra with regard to the sale.
which he said went of uncommon well"
going chiefly, he reckoned, ito tall and
mighty goOd-lookin' chap, who kept bid
ding up and up, till he got 'em about
where they should be. Then he'd stop
for someone else to bid"
"Who was hep asked Mary, coming
forward and joining Jenny.
dun know, miss; never seen him
afore," said Uncle Ezra, 'but he's got
heaps Of money, for when he paid for the
pianner he took out roll of bills near
about big as my two fistsr'
Then the piano is gone?' said Jenny,
sadly, while Mary asked how much it
brought.
Three hundred dollars was the last
bid heard from that young feller, and
somebody who was biddin agin him said
twas more'n twas wuth.''
1T wasn't, either" spoke up Jenny,
rather spiritedly. 1T cost FIVE hundred,
and it's never been hurt Bit
"Mr. Bender bought that little fiddle Of
yourn," continued Uncle Ezra, with pc
culiar wink, which brought the color to
Jenny's cheeks, while Mary exclaimed:
"Oh! I'm so glad you can have your
| guitar againr'
Here the conversation was interrupted
| by the arrival of the carriage, which
came for the young ladies, who were soon
| on their way to Mr.. Selden's, Mary won
| dering what the surprise was, and Jen-
| ny hoping William would call in the even
| ing. At the door they met Ida, who was
unusually merry-almost too much so for
the occasion, it seemed to Mary, as she
glanced at Jenny's pale, dispirited face.
Aunt Martha, too, who chanced to cross
the hall, shook Mary's hand as warmly
as IL she had not seen her for a year,
and then with her broad, white cap
strings flying back, she repaired to the
kitchen to give orders concerning the sup
per.
! Mary did not notice it then, but she
afterward remembered that Ida seemed
quite anxious about her appearance, for,
following her to her room, she said, You
look tired, Mary. Sit down and rest you
awhile. Here, take my vinaigrette-that
will revive you" Then, as Mary was
arranging her hair, she said: "Just puff
out this side little more-there, that's
right. Now turn round, want to see
how you look"
"Well, how do I?'' asked Mary, facing
about as Ida directed.
| II guess you'll do," returned Ida. 81
believe Henry Lincoln was right when
he said that this blue merino and linen
collar was the most becoming dress you
could wear, but you look well in any
thing, you have so fine a FORM"
"Don't believe all her fattery," said
Jenny, laughingly. "She's only compar-
| ing your tall, slender figure with little
dumpy me; but I'm growing thin-see, =
| and she tapped her dress two or three
| inches in front.
"Come, now, let's go down." said Ida.
"And I'll introduce you to Jenny's sur
prise 6rst."
With Ida leading the way, they entered
| the music room, where in one corner
stood Roses piano, open, and apparent
ly inviting Jenny to its side. With joy
full cry she sprang forward. exclaiming,
"Oh, how kind in your father: most
know we can redeem it some time. I'll
teach school-anything to get it again."
"Don't thank father too much," an
swered Ida, "for he has nothing to do
with it, except giving it house room, and
one quarters teaching will pay that billr'
'sWho did buy it, thenT asked Jen-
ny; and Ida replied:
Cant tell you just yet. I must have
some music first. Come, Mary, you like
to play. Give me my favorite. Rosa
Lee,' with variations"
i Mary was passionately fond Of music,
and. for the time she had taken lessons,
played uncommonly well. Seating herself
at the piano she became oblivious to all
else around her, and when a tall figure
1 for a moment darkened the doorway,
while Jenny uttered suppressed ex-
clamation Of surprise, she paid no heed,
nor did she become conscious of third
persons presence until the group advanc-
ed toward her, Ida and Jenny leaning up
on the piano and the other standing at
her right, a little in the rear. Think
ing, IL she thought at all, that it was Will
liam Bender, Mary played on until the
J niece was finished and then observing
that her companions had left the room,
she turned and met the dark, handsome
eyes-not Of William Bender, but of one
who, with a peculiar smile, offered his
hand, saying, II believe l need no intro
duction to Miss Howard, except slight
change in the name. which. instead OF
being Stuart, is Moreland!'
Mary never knew what she said OF
did. She only remembered dizzy sen.
sation, in her head, strong arm passed
around her, and a voice, which fully
aroused her as it called her MARY" and
asked IL she were faint. Just then Ids
entered the room, announcing tea, and
asking her il she found "Mr. Stuart
much changed! At the tea table MarJ
. sat opposite George and every time she
, raised her eyes she met his hxed upon
her, with an expression so like that Of
the picture in the golden locket which
she still wore that she wondered she had
not before recognized George Moreland
! in the Mr.. Stuart who had 50 puzzled
/ and mysti6ed her.
. During the evening William Bender
called, and soon after Henry Lincoln alst
1 came in, frowning gloomily when he saw
how near to each other were William
and his sister, while he jealously watch
. ed them, still keeping an eye upon Georgt
, and Mary. At last, complaining Of feel
) / ing ssblue," he asked Ida to play, At tn
/ same time sauntering toward the music
: room. where stood his sisters piano
} s.Upon my word" said he, this lookl
!, natural. Who bought itr' and he drum
, med few notes Of song.
"Mr. Moreland bought T. Wasn't =
) kind - aaid Jonnv vho Al the evening