The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-06-18

into the distance. Her reverie was d.
verted by seeing a young farmer, Mr..
Tom Fenner, sauntering leisurely down
the road, hitting off the tops of the grass
viciously with his stick. She had seen
him pass before. when she was talking
with Mr.. Hastings, and his presence an
noyed her. He came deliberately in at
the garden gate, and walked up to where
she sat.
Good afternoon. Miss Eyre" he said,
putting out his great coarse hand to her.
Il suppose l may come in now you are
disengaged?"
Winifred was compelled to give him her
hand, sorely as it chafed her that his
coarse heavy touch should brush off the
tender clasp of Mr.. Hastings 1.-the fin
gers.
Certainly you may come in" she an
swered, coldly; you might have done so
when you pleased before. l was not par
ticularly engaged"
oh you did see me, then? l thought
you We're too much occupied with your
fine new friend to look at me-
Winifred was beginning to get angry;
this man had never presumed to use such
tone to her before.
''Do you want to see my father? she
asked abruptly.
mo, | don't; l left him not an hour
ago in the turnip field want to see
you"
"Oh, very WELL" remarked Winifred;
''but please let me know at once what
you want of me, it is time to go in and
see about the tea"
ssn ,,ol, u ,,,t
now, when you had that puppy of a
Hastings here" said Mr.. Fenner, wrath
fully.
Winifred rose like young Juno, with
such an imperial air of amazed indigna-
ton that her companion quailed.
Mr.. Fenner," she said have you
any idea of what you are talking about?"
Look here, Miss Winifred"' uttered
Fenner, with great earnestness-"it's no
use your pretending not to understand
me, because you can't have mistaken my
meaning this last month. I've loved you
for this year back. And so to-day, in the
turnip field, | spoke to Mr. Eyre, and
he said he had no objection, provided you
liked me, and | said | wasn't afraid of
that, for you had always been so kind
in your ways to me, which you wouldn't
have been if you hadn't meant as l did"
How dare you say l know what you
meant or gave you encouragement" she
exclaimed, passionately.
Because you did, he returned, with
temper. IF you didn't mean anything
by your smiles, and tricks, and ways,
you must be as false as fair"
Enough of this cried Winifred, impe-
riousy, understand, once for all, that
never had and never shall have the re-
hottest feeling of love for you and if you
wish me to entertain the slightest regard
for you, you will never again adopt such
tone to me as you have done to-day"
So" he said, in an insolent tone, you
could be all very well to Tom Fenner, the
farmer, until your fine new lover came
along; but you must turn high and mighty
directly you've been seen with Il London
swell. But | can tell you one thing,
Miss Winifred,' he added, with an in
sulting air that was indescribable, Hast
ings of Hazel Court don't mate with
farmers daughters"
You insOlent, mean-spirited cowardw
she cried, stamping her foot; ''leave this
place Immediately, and never presume to
house and shut the door, Then she ran
up to her room and, throwing herself ON
her knees by her bedside, she sobbed and
cried passionately.
At last she rose and went to her piano.
She sat there until it grew quite dark,
singing low, sweet songs to herself, I'M
til at last the cloud was chased away
from her face, and bright thoughts be-
gan to bring smiles in place of tears.
He must care little for me-" she
thought, "or he would not have held my
hand so long, and looked into my face
as he did"
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupt
ed by ring at the bell, and she paused
in her playing.
Some books for Miss Eyre, with Mr..
Hastings compliments" said a mans
voice, to the servant who answered the
door.
When it was closed again she jumped
up and called:
'Elizabeth"'
Eyes, miss"
"Give them to me, and bring the lamp,
please"
And she, began with eager delight to
examine the handsomely bound volumes.
1t was a happy evening; her new occu-
patton chased all unpleasant memories
away, and when she went to bed she had
even forgotten the existence of Mr.. Fen
ner.
But the next day poor Wnifred was
plunged into the depths of sadness again,
for Mr.. Hastings passed, bending over his
saddle to talk to her stately cousin. and
had never once turned to look for her.
(1'o be continuedD