The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-02-19
and began to sob violently. June was

scarcely less moved.
ITO think" gasped Madge, that Tom,
whom l was always 50 fond Of, should
behave so to me! / will never speak to
him again, never, never! And oh, Juny!
/ wouldn't mind a bit about not going to
the Hall if it wasn't for you. But what
shall do without your
Nonsense, my DEAR" replied June, su-
perbly. IF Tom forbids you the house,
he will have to turn me out too. We shall
soon see about that. But you haven't
told me yet what has happened"
"Well, this morning Aggie managed to
steal off without my seeing her, but the
moment 1 missed her put on my hat and
rushed off: to the Hall. When / got to
the drive, saw her and Tom talking in a
very earnest manner and standing still
in the middle of the road. Just before
came up, Agnes left him and went toward
the house, and he came to meet me, look
ing very red and angry. And before |
had time even to say Good morning. or
anything, he flew at me.
Look herer be said, 4 must have an
end to this sort of thing I'm not going
to have spies set on me and tales fetched
and carried to my wife,
June was almost stupefed by this reve-
lation. A chill passed through her heart.
>She had come home so full of pleasant
antcipations, and here was Agnes inter-
posing more seriously than ever between
her and happiness. Here was fresh cause
for estrangement between her and Tom,
for never, never would she tamely sub
NIT to this conduct on his part; never
would she allow her favorite cousin to be
insulted or to suffer for her affection and
championship.
She and Tom did not meet until the
gong sounded for dinner. Tom was aware
that his wife had been down to the rec
tory, and felt dreadfully harassed and
worried at the thought of the impending
unpleasantness between them. For he
knew enough of June's temper to be quite
sure she would not submit to the events
Of the morning in quiet and peaceful
manner there was bound to be storm.
He was not in the least deceived by her
ladyship's affable conversation during dim
ner; that was for the benefit of the SER
wants; he knew so well that little COM
pany manner and what it portended when
employed to him. She informed him of
his mothers health, of the people she had
seen, the places of amusement she had
visited; she kept up a flow of converse
ton; but something in her eye said by
and by" and Tom felt ill at ease and mis-
cradle.
When, finally, they were left alone,
there was pause Of at least minute. 1t
was coming now, and Tom knew that no
human power could avert it.
Il have seen Madge," said her LADY,
ship, looking over at Sir Thomas, and her
beautiful eyes, in which he had seen so
many moods expressed, were lighted by
an OminOus flash.
Tom met her glance rather sadly, but
was Obliged to turn away from it and con-
centrate his attention on walnut and
the nutcrackers, with which he sought to
occupy himself.
"And she tells me-" pursued June, that
you have forbidden her the house."
Tom gave his walnut sudden crack
which reduced it to a jelly, and, throw
ing it aside, he took another.
"She forced me to it," he said, slowly.
"Her behavior has been scandalous; no
one could put up with it."
Really uttered June, little red spot
coming into either cheek and her eyes
growing brighter. "How?'
"How?" Here Sir Thomas raised his
voice a little. by always lodging and
spying about in the most improper and
impertinent manner"
us there any reason" asked June, her
voice growing colder as her temper waxed
warmer, why she should not come up
here?"
Not the least reason" answered Tom,
warmly. 'if she came up in straightfor
ward manner and with some business to
come about but, when it was only to dog
her sisters footsteps and play the spy,
think it was high time for her to be told
that she'd got the wrong person to deal
with"
''Ohv' uttered June. "And if she came
by my wish?'
"Well, them" said Tom. looking up and
meeting her eyes with a steadiness equal
to her own, 1.-The sooner we come to an
understanding the better. Perhaps you
will tell me what you suspect me of, and
why you think it necessary to set a spy
upon me. Heaven knows you must have
changed, or there must be something very
wrong with your mind, before you can
have come to stoop to such thing"
ITO be continued.D