The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-08-21

of recOmpence that won't 90 one Vi
the other Goodnight. Doctor Rigbv.'
And she was gone out into the night
taking her sadness and her secret
with her.
The morning following this inter
view brought a letter from some
friends at Chiselburst who had heard
Of my illness. and who were most ARK
ious that should spend few days or
weeks with them by way of entire
change. and as this suggestion fell In
with the wishes of my medical friends.
wrote and accepted. promising to be
with them in fortnight. | was with
in three days of starting when | saw
the last of Miss Milne as had known
her hitherto. Another and very dit
ferent Miss Milne | saw good deal
Of
She entered the dining room very
quietly. | was sitting in an armchair
at the fireside. and she, walking over
to me said: 81 hear you are going
! awav for change"
Yves: who told you?"
"Ann"
ooh. yes. was coming to tell you
/ tomorrow: but how tired and i'll you
| look, Aren't You well?"
Eyes; thank you" she replied, with
a look of terrible WEAKNESS, the sim
! ole sadness of which cut me to the
heart.
But am sure you are not. l re-
member your saying during our last
interview that you were to some ex-
cont indebted to me. I don't admit
this. you know. but if you think SO
you wight confer a favor on me-"
what favor?"
"TeIl me what Influences have been
At work to dra0 you down to your
present state of WEAKNESS and pros
tration-T can't use any other word"
"None. none. Dr. Rigby; most GER
tninly none that you could remedy"
Then. as if anxious to change the con-
versation. none that you could rem
e6y''
Thank you: shall be much hap
pier when come back if I find yous
looking stronger and hapDier."
Suddenly looking up at me with
much apparent earnestuess. she ask
ed: "Sunposing you did not find me
here at ALL would you be very sorry?"
why do you ask such a question?
What do you mean. Miss Milne; you
arc not thinking Of"
81 am not thinking of anything but
,rlv wondering If the little usefulness
Of nv life justified all the WEAKNESS
OF IT,"
you who have overcome so much.
fouoht so nobly against circumstances,
ought to be the last to talk like that"
Perhaps: but you'll admit that
there is such thing as losing ones
pluck in the face of new trials COM
ing"
mot unless those coming trials are
verv real and very great"
"Supposing they are the greatest
woman can-suffer: what them"
well, then-but what is the use of
talking Of such? You have none or
that depth to dread"
Perhaps not" with deep sigh. 'T
Vas only wondering what would be
the consequence if they did come
You ought never to forget your
lovely boy. Arthur"
BAH" she exclaimed. with her first |
symptom of anger and the shadow o.
a momentary flush dyeing her face. |
BAH" | have no patience with sucn |
half notions as that. child. indeed!
As though one only wants child to
live for. There are many loves
stronger than the love of children-the
love OF alcohol. for instance. I could |
tell you plainly more il I liked"
Her manner while delivering this |
sentene was quite different to any |
thing I had previously seen in her or |
though her capable Of It set me |
thinking deeply as to the cause of it |
all, the influences at work; that there |
were influences at work was certain, |
and that these influences were very |
powerful ones was equally obvious. |
What were they? Had it been any
other, girl should have concluded at |
once that she was in love. desperately |
In love: but from the cynical words |
on this subject that heard. conclud- |
ed that she was above being influenced |
powerfully by that passion.
She did not interrupt my wondering |
by any remark. and we were both of |
us silent for some seconds was |
the first to speak
81 am certain" said, you are not |
talking like this from any sufficient !
cause: at the same time. am equally |
certain that you have some trouble on |
your mind. Now, once YOU gave me
your confidence without asking, and |
you said, remember, afterward. what |
a comfort it was to you to have con-
fided your sorrows to some one sympa- |
thetic. This time ask you for your
confidence. aud withal have right !
to it, after all your kindness to me-"
We'll. DR.. Rigby. I'll give you my
confidence" she said. slowly and low
ly. without moving her face from the
hollow of her hands, ION condition
that you ask no questions"