The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-09-11

better for both of u.s.
mo, we will not end this discussion.
| have shown you but one side OF the
picture: now | will show you another
and a less pleasing one. have offered
you myself. my energies. my life, and
devotion that will follow if you &C
cept my offer. Now | will tell you
something else. But first. will You
favor me so far as to resume your
81 att"
| obeypd like a child this desperate
woman. and returned to the table
and leaning my head on my hand.
looked her in the face. Twas well |
did. for the marvellous changes of ex-
uression that followed each other dur
ing the next ten minutes were terrible
I , behold and added tremendous en-
rhasis to all she said.
"What | have to tell you now. DR..
Rigby. is what will follow if YOU do
tot accent my offer. In the first place.
il you 90 not marry me, you shall
II arrv no one else"
"What?"
shall marry no one else.
Miss Milne. what do you mean?
Yen are not omnipotent."
Il am sufficiently so for that. [ don't
waste my breath in idle threats. | say
again. you shall marry no one but
RTE
sprang to my feet. and was about
10 sneak. when with a movement OF
her hand. she silenced me and said:
"Now. let there be no misunderstood
ing-T offer you myself and with it
prosperity and happiness. or life OF
absolute isolation and failure. 'Tis
for you to CHOICES. Now we will close
this interview" And with a bow she
left me- Before closing the door, she
added: "You had better take couple
Cf days to decide. Shall | call again,
or will you write?"
81 will write was all I could say;
and the door closed and she was gone.
Of the next two hours have no rec.
objection. | sat there bewildered and
dumfounded. don't think had any
faith in this woman's threats; it was
IN possible she could do me any harm
~ prevent my marriage; and yet whar
q desperate creature she was. Was
anything impossible for her?
CHAPTER VII.
The morning following this memor-
able interview with Miss Milne found
| sat over my untasted breakfast in
srate of Inconsistencies; my mind
wandered from topic to topic, but could
settle itself on nothing.
In the evening double rap an
rounced the arrival of the last post.
went to the door myself and took
letter directed to me in wOman's
hand-a bold. firm hand that was en-
| A 10 n n
the dining room and read as follows:
Doctor Rigby: Sir-t ought not to
trouble YOU at this time. when you
must be thoroughly busy preparing for
your approaching wedding (which |
hear is arranged for the 14th inst.) But
as my letter is upon purely business
matter. that think had much better
be settled before than after that event,
you will. am sure. forgive me.
ga Series of misfortunes has during
the last few months. combined to in
volve me in good deal of debt. al
Jude to the failure of my business. the
board and lodging Of Arthur at Brly
ton, the illness and death of my poor
baby, the purchase of mourning, and
the extra nourishment necessary to
sustain me through those trials.
More than that, | have through
them become involved in another way,
You remember at your suggestion Mrs
Best, my good nurse, was induced to
leave her home and undertake the care
Of me, and by so doing she sacrlhced
her connection. and with it her source
of income It is only right, therefore,
that should see her in Some way pro
vded for.
''Now. had my health and strength
Permitted me to undertake some occu-
patton. and so support myself and her
I would not have thought OF troubling
YOU But the fact is. my constitution
has been more or less ruined through
the series of trials by which it has
pleased Providence to visit me.
Under these circumstances [ have
had to look around to see from whom |
had a right to expect help. Aud as YOU
were the cause of all my late misfor-
tunes, and as there is none other TO
whom | can apply, think Won will
agree with me that | am justified in
troubling you.
"Of course. the evidence of your be-
ing personally interested in the remov-
al of my little one is purely circum-
stantial: but then nv own thoughtful
care of each particular fact and the
preservation of evidence of each fact,
have secured for me chain Of evil
dence that has not weak link. The
mere incident of your being known as
constant visitor of mine. coming and
going from my house at all hours or
the day and night. YOUR lavish distri-
button of money. clothing. and Injuries
OF the good order, are quite minor de-
tails. and from a legal point of view
Of not much value; but. added TO the
rar,a RI about tho uudpSirah ilitV Of