The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-09-18
CHAPTER VIT-Continued.


being more than huge and horrible
joke. Then | read it again. and saw
the care that had been bestowed upon
its composition. A third reading
brought out it's logic and careful argu-
mt, and then began to realize some
thing OF the hold she had over me, and
between the lines Of her letter found
the Irotives that were inspiring her.
When after an hours study | had
thoroughly cOmpassed its full import,
my first impulse was to throw it into
the fire and let her do her worst; but |
soon saw that such a step would GER
tainly be followed by a good deal of
anxiety. and. after revolving many
projects, decided to seek the advice
Of a legal friend and patient of mine
who lived near me. and in whose opin-
ion 1 placed the greatest confidence.
After hearing my story and reading
the letter he bluntly told me that
was in bad box, and that the best
thing | could do was to square the
matter with the woman at once and
get off as cheaply as could.
| went home that night the saddest
man in London. A terribly thick fog
enyeioped everything. and my heart
was in my boots. The following day
consulted two other leading lawyers,
and received from them exactly SINH
lar advice. And so in the evening |
sent by the page boy the following
note:
Doctor Rigbv would be glad to see
Miss Milne this evening on business,
If she could spare him a few minutes"
| waited his return with a good deal
of anxiety. To my establishment he
brought back a message that Miss
Milne would be with me in an hour
| say, establishment, because | did
not believe it possible that she could
do other than avoid a personal inter-
view. ! busted myself in the interval
seeing patients. and wondering what
/ should say to her when she came
Presently. punctually to the moment
Miss Milne was announced.
She walked into the room with a
friendly, familiar nod and a Good
evening, Dr. Rigby." Her manner was
Jaunty, but her expression firm and de-
termined, and | saw that had her
culean task before me in appeasing her
or getting off. as the lawyer said,
"cheaply." She spared me the Difficult
t. Of beginning the conversation by
leading off herself.
81 fear my letter must have caused
you q good deal of establishment, DR.,
Rigby, but now that you have had time
to. think it over, | am sure you will
agree with me that it is better to have
the matter settled"
Certainly" | replied meekly and al
most modestly. for felt already as
child in the hands of this woman. with
her damnable efrrontery-"certainly, If
thoya 10 INV poottar RI Gattlp +"
There can be no doubt of that.
Surely you have been told so much by
the many legal friends you have con-
suited"
Legal friends"
Eyes; | know how you spent last
evening and the greater part of today.
BIT don't you think we had better get
to business? | hate worrying people,
and am sure this interview is wor-
rying "ou."
The calm. cool. Satanic confidence
of the woman disarmed and unuerved
me completely In desperation L
groaned out: Have you no conscience,
Miss Milne?"
NO" she replied, with perfect COM
posture, no. thank you. none. But
come, won't you get your check book,
and let us close this interview? 1t
is only painug you unnecessarily"
was. as far as closing the interview
was concerned. only too glad to fall
in with her suggestion. but, half dazed
as | was. | had still too much sense
left to put myself Gas she evidently
wished) entirely into her power by
writing a check. | had provided my
self with change, and unlocking my
drawer, | asked: How much do you
wish me to give your"
81 have been thinking" she said.
that if you gave me ten pounds to-
night, it would help me out of few
pressing difficulties. and We might set
tie as to the future in few days"
Without a word [ counted out the
amount and handed it to her. She took
il and carefully counted it TO see If 1t
were correct, and then turning to me.
said: "You cannot think how it wor-
ries me to bother you this way"
When the door had closed behind
her. | sat down to write the daily love
letter. which was no longer pleasure
but terrible task: for now. instead of
the rhapsodies of full heart, had to
assume a gladness and hopefnlness
that could no longer feel.
Over the blue sky of the brightest
prospect that ever dawned upon one
capable of approaching blue skies and
bright prospects. there had arisen
cloud charged with black destruction.
| struggled hard to write as | had
done. and disguise as best | could my
trouble. but the effort was useless: my
letters were stilted and forced. and had
been becoming more and more so as
this terrible trouble grew. The result
was. as knew ii must be, request a
few days later on the part of my In
..,ff - %lot h don an a