The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-05-07

1 w saw i dlSO. EdCu lSit SLhSoA-
raised. They were alone.
Annie eyed him closely, and under
her steady gaze Captain Jim began to
feel nervous, and at length looked fool
| ish. In that state he spoke foolishly,
for he asked, "be tibet meant fer your"
Annie answered Il rather think It
was intended for you" Upon which
remark Captain Jim again cast his
stupid than ever.
Jim's appearance was so ludicrous
that Annie could not longer control
her desire to laugh. Her curious,
questioning, half scornful look had
softened to a smile and that gave
place to a burst of laughter. so spon-
taneous. so delightfully."- feminine and
infectious that Captain Jim at once
felt himself man again, and surprised
himself, as well as Annie, by abrupt
ly declaring,
"Annie, I'd go through birthstone an
fire fer you"
1t was indeed, a revelation to her
and what Immediately followed we
shall not attempt to describe. But,
as Captain Tom, bethought him of the
onion and surmising the consequence
of Jim's proximity to Annie, fastened
to warn him. Upon opening the door
and crossing the threshold. Tom dis
covered Annie seated at the table, and
Jim in the act of bending over her, and
holding her right hand, presumably to
kiss it, but, by a dexterous movement,
surprising in so old man, implanted
one on her lips instead.
Annie instantly sprang to her feet,
turned her back to Jim, puckered her
mouth, and put on most woeful face,
which prompted Captain Tom to ex-
claim with disgust:
81 know'd tibet onion would do 1t,
the blasted old fool" and so saying,
he turned and left the room.
Captain Jim thought otherwise. He
believed Annie turned her back on
him out Of modesty. He stood contem-
plating the sweetness of that stolen
kiss, and unconsciously exclaimed
aloud, milk O. the Gods be nowhar."
Annie haughtily turned, stamped
her foot, a curious habit some women
have of expressing displeasure, and in
dignantly remarking, you are rude"
left the room.
1t had been so long since Captain
Jim got close to a beautiful woman
that the very thought was ecstacy, and
like smOuldering fire, needed but
touch of breath to burst into riotous
flame. 1t allured him on to a degree
of admiration, where reason was lost
in the vortex of infatuatiOn. He
found himself saying:
Il be a goin' tew do some courtin'
here, 1 should thing so, Annie, my
dear" He looked up and discovered
she had gone.
Jest leetle shy" then he solilo-
quized, "by Ged, what splendid craft.
Jest the critter I've been looking out fer
these ten vars, I'm sixty-One, barrin'
a month or SIGH, but who'd think it.
She be grass wilder with three chill
lun, all gals tew, big incumbrance, but
then tibet air be circumstance in my
favor. It's jist what'll give me pow
erful influence over her, and by the
great horned whale she shall be Mrs.
Captain Smeets, if l have to, squander
few hundred a-gettin' her.
Hello, JIM" said Captain Tom, who
entered again and softly closed the
door behind him.
How be you, Tom?" replied Jim.
Rather mild for December, eh jim"
said Tom with one of his peculiar
winks.
"Ya-as, pears a leetle mild, but
reckon it'll blow up sorter soakin' fore
morning"
Tom worked up another wink and
directed it full at Jim, and followe' it
up by softly asking, 'how air The
81 reckon hers afloat."
Jim, Nan says she air stirlin'
white"
''I reckon Mans about rioht thar.
Tom, hers a splendid craft, I'll allow"
Shore" said Tom. 81 say JIM"
speaking confidentially, eff you like,
I'll have Nan pilot Annie long some"
That voluntary offer, made by Cap
tain Tom, set Jim thinking. After
casting a questioning look at Tom
he answered slowly "N-no. kinder
-eckon you needn't inter-ude, but
thank you. all the same, Tom"
"All right, Jim, the best O. feelin's,
yer know" replied unabashed Tom.
Jest keep her well fixed in rocks
thet's my advice"
Don't you be a worrin' any, Cap
tain Jim reckons he be up tew snuff,
we'll | guess I'll look at the gals hop
PIN" remarked Jim.
"And jine our set in a reel. Ell JIM"
Jim shook his head demurely,
and replied, faint feelin' in
practice tew night, Tom"
"T confess | amt nnther, shore I
amt" replied Tom. Got streak of
the blues. That grocer-I say Jim. kin
yer lend me ten fer few days?"
mo, can't jist now, Tom" answer
ed Jim slowly. Never carry any
change about me, as yer knows" and
he passed in among the dancers, leav-
ing Tom alone with his disappoint-
ment.
1.-THE old miser," Tom angrily NUT
tered. Hes got loads of money, and
never lent helpin' hand yit. All
right. Jim, opine the widdy'll soften