The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-10-08
CHAPTER III.-(ContinuedD

inc ioyful exclamation as she met the
newcomer.
Dear father she cried, gladly, why
did Won not come before? | was begin
ming to be alarmed" And she threw her
arms about his neck.
Take care" he said, kissing her gent
ly: you will get wet; my clothes are
none of tn dryest. l came home as soon
as | could, for the rain"
Poor papa. yes-you are quite wet.
1t is PITY And with her hand in his,
she was drawing him in, when her glance
fell. for the first time, on the figure OF
the man behind him. She half started,
and n slight frown was visible upon her
pretty face, but she quickly dispelled it,
and nodding carelessly, said: Good
evening, Gasparde.'
The man closed the door. and then fol-
lowing them. seated himself on a wooden
bench by the hearth; while Hugh La
monte, putting off his heavy hobnailed
shoes. took them in his hand, and cross
ed the kitchen floor carefully, saying,
with slight gesture, to Gasparde, as he
passed through the door on the other side
of the apartment: "Wait awhile Gas
parde-wait awhile, and | will be with
you again.
Ruse put away her wheel, swept M a
few dead ashes lying on the hearth, and
then busted herself about her fathers
supper. without once speaking to or in
any way noticing the guest. He, how
ever, eyed her from time to time, as she
moved about the room, with glance
which she evidently felt rather than saw,
to be fixed upon her, and which she as
apparently studied to avoid. After some
ten minutes of utter silence, finding that
she was determined not to speak, he
opened the conversation on his own re-
sponsibility.
well, Rose, you are silent tonight
You are ill., perhaps?'
"No-I am not ill., she answered, cold
L..
"You are not glad, then, to see meT he
continued.
Il did not say So" she replied, without
looking AZ him.
You will say nothing, Rose, that is
pleasant and kind. Come, you might give
me Il friendly word when | have walked
such long way tonight"
Il did not give you the trouble, If it
is a trouble
Il came partly for the sake of being
company to your father-that he can tell
you" said Gasparde.
The pretty lip of Rose slightly curled.
Her father need company.-a stout, bold,
sturdy peasant, who was afraid of moth
ing human, and who, she very well
knew, passed through the forest every
time he went to market, and often re-
turned after nightfall too. "A probable
story thought the young girl. He only
says it for the sake of appearing anna
BILE"
And So" she said, aloud, glancing, at
the same time, at the strange adorn-
ments which he wore at his waist-"and
so, as my father was not able to take
care of himself She paused a mo-
ment He had not seen the quick glance
which she cast at his belt as she spoke,
and standing an instant with her eyes
fixed on his face, in silence, she sudden
ly said: What are your pistols for?
He started, and put his hand to them,
remembering with CONSERVATION that he
had forgotten to conceal them before en-
tering. Recovering himself, however, he
answered, putting on a careless look:
20, these are arms that | brought on
purpose tonight; for you know 1T is
much later hour than the one at which
your father usually returns, and they
would be good for both of us to have, as
we were coming through the forest, in
case of danger"
Rose gave a shrug, too slight for him
TO notice. AS she did not once attempt
to break the pause which he allowed to
follow his words, by Offering him the
lanSt Crhnlant Al nrnpnn1 no
tered audacity without.
Il have been thinking for long time"
he went on, that it is very lonely living
without a wife, and as l am an honest
fellow. likely to make my way in the
world, though, perhaps, am not 50 hand
some man as pretty maiden might
choose. yet | know, cousin, that you are
too sensible a girl to refuse a good hus-
band on that account, and will, perhaps,
think reasonably of the affair. Will you
marry me, RoseT
NO, Gasparde | will not" she replied;
"and | wonder you ever presumed to
think of such thing"
20, you are testing, cousin-you are
testing, surely" he said; do but consid-
er the matter. Come, l will make you a
good husband, as | said before, though
think it hardly ought to be repeated"
Hardly, indeed" she returned, slight
ingly, twisting his last words TO suit her
own fancy. But for all that, Gasparde,
l never will marry you, and you need not
ask me again"
And, quite weared with his pertinacity
indeed, with the very sound of his
voice-she went out and shut herself in
her own room till he should be gone. She
had but just retired when Hugh Lamonte
re-entered, bearing a small basket, which
he gave TO Gasparde.
These are the things" he said. But,
Gasparde-those pistols in your beltY'
and his GLANCE rastnd nnnn thar,n unoa cilu