The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-10-22

Mademoselle Helen are we'll to-day"
quite well, Rose. You have not been
up to the chateau since last week, L
think?'
mo. / do not think l have stayed
away from there for so many days to-
gether in all the years since we came
here. 1t seems a strange thing to in
quire after them" said Rose, looking up.
MY uncle and Helen were mentioning
it yesterday" rejoined Louis. They in
tend sending for you tomorrow
30, will not trouble them so far as
to do that" responded the young girl.
Il do not need any one to come for me
now, because l can come alone quite as
! well. Will you be so good as to tell
Mademoiselle Helen that l will come to-
morrow"
Il will do so-certainly," answered
Louis. But where, then, is that trou-
blesome cousin of yours? Has he gone
away"
Yes, monsieur. 1 hope we shall never
see him again." she said, with a slight
shudder of aversion. "My father spoke
very sharply to him, and sent him to
place a great way from here. l do not
know what place it was; my father did
not tell me. But he says Gasparde shall
never come back until he learns to be less
insolent."
what a relief that is, Rose-is it not?'
said Louis with smile. But this sub
ject is not a pleasant one-is it? Sup
pose | try to Danish from your memory
for the present, the image of this wicked
man, and we will talk of something rath
er pleasanter. Tell me who and what
this is, my little friend"
He had opened his portfolio and now,
as he spoke, passed to her the sketch
which he had taken fifteen minutes pre-
viously.
shone in her hazel eyes.
Monsieur" she said at is my own lit
tie home. How faithfully you have
sketched it! There is the mignonette on
the sill; and my pretty cat, asleep by the
box, in the sunshine; and one edge Of
the bookcase, which you can see within,
and which hangs close beside the win
dow. You must then, have drawn this
before | saw you-befOre l heard you
coming just now"
''Yes-exactly; before you saw me. But
there is something Rose, which you
seem to consider of less consequence than
your cat and the mignonette, since you do
not mention it. l wonder if you have
observed it. Who is it that sits by the
door sewing? My cousin Helen?
"No, monsieur; it is not your cousin.
You did not mean it for Mademoiselle
Montauban. 1t is, 1 think, Rose La
monte"
you are right. 1t is Rose Lamonte
Well Rose, l took this without your
knowledge, therefore, l suppose L should
ask your permission to retain it. But
do not anticipate a refusal. l do not
know that l shall heed it, if one is given"
IN that case, monsieur" returned the
young girl, smiling at his frankness-"in
that case, it would be useless either to
give or withhold permission. 1t is yours.
however, by right, monsieur"
Then l will keep it. And now, since
the morning is nearly gone, 1 think can
stay no longer. l should like to see your
father, Rose; but since he does not come,
/ must wait until another time"
Il am sure he would like to see you,"
said Rose. "And now 1 think of it; he
babe me thank you, in his name, if
should meet you again, for your interfer-
ence in my behalf the other day"
Il was glad that l happened to be
near, to chastise the scoundrel," respond
ed Louis; land / shall be well satisfied
if the lesson proved to be one of lasting
service"
And bidding the young girl adieu, he
turned from the spot to retrace his home
ward way.
How pretty she is, how innocent, how
childlike, how charming!' said Louis,
mentally. zone cannot but be attracted
towards her." He walked on, meditating
as he went.
"And so that ruffan, Gasparde, is
gone," he said, again. "Good. 1t will
be worse for him if he comes into the
neghborhood, and attempts to modest her
again. Poor little Rose-little forest
blossomw
Suddenly he heard a merry voice whist
ling some light air, at distance. 1t
aroused him from his reverie. Looking
up, he beheld man approaching him,
who was then, perhaps, fifty yards from
him. This man, as soon as Louis lifted
his head, suddenly broke off the lively
air with which he had been amusing him.
self, and seemed TO regard our hero earn
estly. Then as suddenly he recommenc-
ed whistling, fixed his glance in turn up
on the earth, and, with head slightly
bent, advanced.
"Who can it be?" thought the count.
"He seems to recognize me. And it
strikes me that he is endeavoring TO con-
ceal his features"
And such, truly, appeared to be the
case. Yet it was no one whom Louis re-
membered to have seen before. This man
was dressed In the garb usual TO the peas
ants of the country, in stature of about
medium rank, and proportionate size. His
features were partially concealed, as he