The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-07-02
m marry Miss Eyre 2"

TO marry MISS IIyIe!
ST don't know, I'm sure, sir; but he
seemed quite mad about it, and talked
like as If he knew something bad about
Fenner l thought perhaps 1t was only
talk, though. because he sets such deal
on Miss Eyre
'Send Hawkins to my room at ten
o'clock tomorrow" said Mr.. Hastings;
II want to ask him about the partridges;'
and Mr.. Hastings rose and went to join
his friends on the terrace.
The following morning there was low
tap at the door, and Hawkins, the game
keeper, entered Mr.. Hastings room.
long conversation followed, as a result
of which Mr.. Hastings sent the follow
| ing note to Fenner:
"Sir-Be good enough to call upon me
this afternoon, at three o'clock. L have
to speak to you ON important business.
"ERROL HASTINGS.
Hazel Court"
| AT half-past three Mr.. Fenner rang at
the door of HAZEL Court. 1t was opened
Immediately, and he was escorted through
| the grand hall, along a corridor, and up
some steps into Mr.. Hastings private
room. Enrol was sitting at his writing
looked up and continued his letter. Tom
| Fenner felt very savage; he would have
liked to throw himself with swagger
into one of the chairs, but he did not
! dare. There was something in ErrOrs
look, and something in his own servile
| fear of rank, that made him afraid to
take liberty.
Presently Mr.. Hastings looked up and
said:
Il have sent for you to tell you that
l object to the way in which you have
annoyed Miss Eyre lately, and to request
that you will discontinue it,
Tom Fenner felt he was getting very
| savage.
And suppose" he remarked, insolent-
| ly, that | say | shan't, what them
Very WELL" said Mr.. Hastings, quiet
ly, then l will order my horse, and go
round to Mr. Lennox. and tell him you
are the scoundrel who shot Tom White,
the gamekeeper, three years ago in the
HoltOn woods"
Fenner started cOnvusvely. he turned
ashen white and trembled in every limb.
oh, SIR he cried, in agony of fear,
as soon as he could speak, don't do
thatr
And then all of a sudden he recovered
himself, and looked at the man who had
| confronted him with an air of logged de-
fance.
Il didn't know what yoa meant at the
minute he said. pale to the lips; Il
thought it was something else. | don't
know anything about Tom Whites affair
that was the poachers' doing"
Mr.. Hastings did not answer for the
moment; but els eyes were fixed on Fen
ner's face. The miserable coward took
courage from his opponents silence, and
tried to force sneer.
suppose you thought to trump up
some lie against me- he continued; but
fine gentieman's word isn't quite enough
in these days to transport an honest
man"
NO" acquiesced Enrol, quietly; lit
wants proof"
Yes" echoed Fenner 1T wants proof"
shall | give it first to you or the mag
istrates?' asked Mr.. Hastings coolly.
Il know nothing about it; it's a trump
ed-up lie. defy you.' cried the farmer,
savagely.
Mr.. Hastings kept his temper admira-
bly,; he did not even raise his voice.
stop a moment" he said. Il have
something to tell you; if any of my details
are wrong, you can correct me. The
gamekeeper, White, had a very pretty
sister called Sophy, who was a seam
stress, and worked for your mother"
Fenner started uneasily.
You promised to marry her." proceed
ed Enrol, coldly. ''She appealed to you to
keep your word, and you laughed in her
face. She turned in her misery to her
brother. and he met you and thrashed
you in the lanes. Is it not sop
Fenner's teeth chartered, but he dbl not
speak.
You told no one of your meeting"
Enrol went on, ''but you remained in bed,
and said you had an attack of rheuma-
tism. One day when you knew White
would pass alone through the Holton
woods. you hid yourself, with your gun,
and waited for him."
The wretch was brought to bay at last,
through the information which Hawkins
had impaired to Enrol
Have mercy on me, sir!'' he gasped,
almost inarticulately. ''Tll do anything
you tell me-"
'St down on that chair, then" said
Mr.. Hastings. sternly, land copy what
is on that piece of paper"
Fenner walked trembling TO the table,
and sat down. His hand shook so that
he could scarcely hold the pen that was
thrust into it. He leaned back for a mo-
ment, wiped the cold sweat from his
brow, and began:
81 apologize to you, Miss Eyre, for the
anxiety and annoyance have caused you,
and | solemnly swear never again from
this time to modest or in lure Won In am