The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-12-11
CHAPTER |.
,ei where are YOuY'

u
blown crimson blossoms of which she has
despOiled it,
June. the month, links spring to sum-
mer; in June the birds sing their sweetest,
the senses are keenest; June bears the
hope and promise of the year. June has
hot fits and cold fits, summer skies and
angry tears, balmy airs and chilling winds.
June is young and fresh, bright and hope
full, gay and careless in the faith of good
days to come; June, when fair, is fairest
of the fair; and June the month is fit
prototype of June the smiling maiden who
answers so promptly.
Madge, hoyden of sixteen, bounced
upon her cousin, thrust a vigorous hand
through her arm, and cried, in jubilant
accents:
"Tom has come. OF course he asked
for you at once, and Aggie said she
thought you had gone home; but / said l
knew you hadn't, and that | would ind
YOU; whereupon Tom beamed."
BY this time they were half across the
lawn, and a big. fair young man came
striding out of the French windows to
meet them. He looked, as Madge said,
beaming. A joyous fight shone in his blue
eyes as he took June's hand in an eager
clasp. No one, seeing the expression of
his face, would have entertained a mo-
ments doubt as to his feelings for the
young lady whom he was greeting.
81 am so glad you have come back, Tom.
1t was so dull without YOU"
June did not blush, nor look coy or en-
barrassed, which was, perhaps, rather an
unfavorable symptom for Tom.
'Was it?' he cried, eagerly. I'm aw-
fully glad to hear you say that"
"Well," cried Madge, has aunt found
a dukes daughter for you, and are we go
ing to have real swell cOusin|"
"They won't have me-" laughed Tom.
81 don't suit them. | am not their sort
Fashionable young ladies don't care for
me. | can't dance, and l can't talk their
jargon."
"Never mind, Tom," uttered June, Civ
ing him a friendly glance. "You have
come back to people who appreciate you.
And l am sure you are happier here"
"I should think | am!' returned Tom,
with emphasis.
Poor aunt!' remarked Madge again.
mischievousy, pretending to sigh.
my mother had Dal," answered Tom
laughing, land he is exactly after her own
heart"
But he is not her son." said June.
"What is he like?" asked Madge.
Hes a very good-looking young chap,
and very manly and plucky. And he
dances like seraph,' as some lady re-
marked, and looks at every pretty woman
as if he loved her"
'How delghtfulr' cried Madge. ooh,
Tom, wish you would have him down
herer'
''He has promised to come. He is real
ly tremendously fond of my mother.
feel quite an outsider when he is there"
At this moment Agnes came out of the
window, smiling, yet scarcely looking
pleased.
mamma says. Tom, will you stay and
have high tea with us? She is afraid it
will not be very good substitute for
your dinner, but we shall be delighted if
you will"
Tom felt himself rather in cleft stick
II June were going to stay, he would ac-
cept joyfully; if not. he wanted to walk
home with her. and he was not altogether
Indifferent to his dinner when there was
no object to be gained by going without
il. Yet he would not for the world be inn
polite to Agnes and Madge, though they
were his cousins. He hesitated for an
instant.
"June is not going to stay tonight" in
terposed Madge. reading his thoughts
with her sharp instinct.
Tom flushed crimson through his fair
skin; June tried to appear unconscious,
and Agnes closed her thin lips together,
and looked as if she would like to pinch
her sister.
Thanks. awfully." said Tom, after a
moments pause, but there are one or two
people ought to see tonight. / dare say
my aunt will let me come another night
instead. Is she in the drawing room?
will 20 in and see her" And he marched
Off
Agnes wanted to get June away before
Tom came out again. She was eternally
trying TO separate this pair, although she
knew that Tom was deeply in love with
her cousin. But she had heard that, wher
a woman is firmly purposed to marry O
man, she not unfrequently succeeds, anC
she had long ago determined to marry
Tom, if there was any truth in the saying
June saw through this and was provoked
at it. She was not in love with Tom; but
when any one attempted to put obstacles
between him and her, her regard for hin
went up with amazing rapidity.
She particularly wanted him TO wall
home with her tonight, but, as she wa
far too proud to run after him, she said:
Il must be going. did not know
was SO lste."