The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-07-11

saw how lovely she really was.
1ous enough sight handsomer than
MISS Jenny" whispered Sarah as the
door opened and Jenny appeared more
simply arrayed than her sister, but look
ing as fresh and blooming as rosebud.
How beautiful you are, Rose" she
SAID, only 1t makes me shiver to look
at your neck and arms. You'll wear vour
wooien sack, besides your shawl and
cloak, won't your"
Nonsense. I'm not going to be bum
died up this way, for don't you see II
muses. the lace" said Rose, refusing the
warm sack which Jenny brought her.
a rap at the door and q call from
Henry that the carriage was waiting
ended the conversation. and, throwing
on their cloaks and hoods, the girls de-
scended to the hall, where, with unusual
tenderness, Henry caught up his invalid
sister, and, drawing the veil closely over
her face, carried her to the covered
sleigh, SO that her feet might not touch
the icy walk.
What? Rose Lincoln here?" exclaimed
half a dozen voices as Rose bounded
into the dressing-room.
"Yes, Rose Lincoln is here" she re-
piled, gayly, diyesting herself of her
wrapping. '.l'm not going to die just
set, l guess. neither am I going to be
housed up all winter. The fresh air has
done me good already-see," and she
pointed to a bright, round spot which
burned her cheek.
A young girl. whose family had one
by one fallen victims to the great New
England plague, consumption, shuddered
and turned away, for to her eye the
glow which Rose called health was but
the hectic bloom Of death.
How beautiful she isv said more than
one, as with her accustomed grace Rose
entered the brilliant drawing-room. And
truly Rose was beautiful that night, but
like the gorgeous foliage of the fading
autumn, twas the beauty Of decay, for
death was written on her blue-veined
brow. and lurked amid the roses on her
cheek. But little thought she Of that,
as with smiling lip and beaming eye she
received the homage Of the admiring
throng.
Just then Ida and Mary were an
nounced. Both Aunt Martha and Ida
had taken great pains to have their
young friend becomingly dressed, and
she looked unusually well in the en-
broidered muslin skirt. satin, waist and
blonde bertha which Aunt Martha had
insisted upon her accepting as a present
The rich silken braids of her luxuriant
hair were confined at the back Of her
finely formed head with golden arrow,
which, with the exception Of q plain band
Of gold on each wrist, was the only or
nament she wore. This was her first in
PRODUCTION to the gay world, but so keen
was her perception Of what was polite
and proper that none would ever have
suspected it; and yet there was about
her something so fresh and unstudied,
that she had hardly entered the room
ere many were struck with her easy. un-
affected manners, so different from the
practiced airs Of the city bellies.
ella watched her narrowly, whispering
aside to Henry how sorry she felt for
poor Mary, she was so verdant, and real
" hoped she wouldn't do anything very
awkward, for 'twould mortify her to
death! But look" she added, "and see
how many people Ida is introducing her
to-"
"Of course, why shouldn't she?" asked
Henry; and Ella replied:
II don't know--it seems 20 funnyj to
J see Mary here, doesn't itT
Before Henry could answer, young
man OF his acquaintance touched his
shoulder, saying: "Lincoln, who is that
splendid looking girl with Miss Selden? ?
l haven't seen finer face in Boston for
many a day."
THAT? Oh, that's Miss Howard, from
Chicopee. An intimate friend Of our
family. Allow me the pleasure OF IN
Producing you," and Henry walked away.
leaving Ella to the tender mercies Of
Rose. who, as one after another quilted
her side and went over to the "enemy," !"
grew very angry, wondering IL folks were
bewitched. and hoping Ida Seldom FELT
better. now that she'd made 20 many
notice her protege.
Later In the evening, William Bender
came, and Immediately Jenny began to
talk to him Of Mary, and the impression
she was making. Placing her HAND
familiarly upon his arm. - though that
were its natural resting place, she led
him toward group, OF which MARY
seemed the center Of attraction. Near
her stood Henry Lincoln, redoubling his
aattering compliments In proportion a
Mary grew colder and more reserved IN
her manner toward him. Silly and con-
caited ~ he was, he could not help mo-
t;cine how differently she received VIII
tam Render from what she had himSeil.
"But all in good time" thought ne.
olancinr at Ella, to see how she was AZ
sected by his desertion Of her and his
| airta tion with her sister. She Was stand