The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-08-28

IL was vulgar wrath: her dress was OF
fashionable cut, but the colors were
loud. and there was the superabund-
ance of ribbons that Ann had noticed.
She wore much jewelry of questionable
value. From the fact that her hat
was on and one glove, | gathered that
she was going out.
II am afraid that | have come in al
an inconvenient time" | said, after
shaking hands with her.
"Oh, no. thank you; I am always
glad to see you May | offer you some
thing? There is wine or brandy in the
cupboard"
Mechanically | declined. My mind
was too absorbed to think of what l
was doing or saying.
81 see you are a bit astonished."
Indeed | am"
But | told you had been shuttle
cock long enough. and was going to
join the battledore brigade"
81 know you did; but I did not take
it seriously. I had marked out diff
ferent career for you"
Everybody has the destiny they de-
serve"
"Then you will right YOURSELF"
eff | am wrong"
miss Milne. 90 you seriously think
there is any doubt Of that? Are you
happy tell me that?"
(Which me do you nean-the new
one I am cultivaing, or the remnants
of the old not quite dead?"
81 mean the old one, the Miss Milne
I knew"
"Oh. I don't trouble much about
her: she was a decided failure-a mis-
take all round"
II did not find her so; respected
and looked up to her."
That may be. but you had not her
life to nut up with. No. Doctor Rigby,
am altered" dn a more serious. less
bantering tone, she continued: Il do
not want to discuss the matter. | am
rcmaking my bed, and | shall have to
lie in it. and no one else"
But if that bed should prove as I'M
comfortable as | think it will, don't
you think your friends will share the
sorrow of it?'
They'll get just the reflection per-
haps, but no more, and that they'll
SOOu Stt Ofci lOu Will CCl tdiiiif'
now you have something else to think
about"
l guessed to what she referred, and
regretted the allusion. knowing how
dangerous the topic of one woman's
engagement is to another.
Nothing can happen to me that will
so absorb my thoughts as to render
your prospects other than matter of
great anxiety"
Indeed. What a good hand you are
at making set speeches! When did you
return from the country"
About a week since; but my time
has been fully occupied"
"'Tis too bad to dwell upon that;
there was time when you would not"
; 81 was younger then, much younger.
But, seriously, | did not mean any
thing. Would it be very rude to ask
you where you are going?"
mot at all; am going to the the
alter with friend"
1t was obvious that no good could Re
done by remaining, so l took my hat
and turned to go.
Then I altered by mind and went
back to her and held out my hand. AS
! SEOOk HtIS, L Sdlu btOu-Dy L uO
hope you will stop this before it is too
late. You can't think how anxious
am about you"
you need not be, Doctor Rigby; |
am not one to be very rash in my
movements and things done de|iber-
ately are not easily undone. Good
night"
AS turned the handle of the door 7
heard from the pavement outside the
sound of hurrying feet, and as opened
it some one said "At last. at last.
began to think you were never"
He did not finish the sentence. but
upon seeing me turned and walked
away, evidently good deal, disguised.
He was young and well dressed. not
exactly of the elegant vacuum" order,
although there was more than trace
of that strain in him.
ooh! you are the victim are You?
And dare say you think you are lead
ing her, instead of being led yourself
by the nose. young man." I thought to
myself as | wandered sadly homeward.
"Ah! well. I only hone she will be a
little merciful to you"
Ito he conuuued.)
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