The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-06-11

two horses Tor her, and mad given ner
chance of riding or driving; she preferred
the former, but chose the latter remem-
bering that it was a pleasure which her
dear madame could share.
Mr.. Eyre was very fond of his daugh-
ter, and, moreover, exceedingly proud of
her He desired intensely for her the
advantages of wealth and station, person
ally indifferent though he was to them.
His greatest truble, his most bitter NOR
tihcation in life, was that her grandfath-
er would not acknowledge her. For him
self he did not care, he had no wish to
rise from the position with which his fore
fathers had been contented. Once, at
his instigation, Madame de Montolieu had
mentioned Winifred to Sir Howard. An
angry flush darkened his brow as he
said, sternly:
Madame, feel no interest in hearing
of Miss Eyre, and beg in future you will
spare me all alluson to the issue of
disgraceful connection"
The gentle old Frenchwoman had con-
veyed the result Of her attempt to Mr..
Eyre with characteristic delicacy, but he
felt the insult of the refusal keenly. 1t
was his only hope for Winifred, for his
own relations were not in position to be
of use to her. Always in the evening
she sang, played or read to him; and
sometimes, when he had watched her
with a proud delight busted with some re-
fined accomplishment, he would sigh and
say:
"Ah! my child. you were born for some
thing better than u poor farmers daugh-
ter"
But if Winifred at times chafed be-
cause she was the unnoticed daughter of
poor farmer, she never looked down on
or blamed her father. She had no wish
to be elevated from her present position
without him; she sought no advantage
from which he was excluded. She even
strove to conceal her regrets from him;
but the eyes of love are discerning, and
although Mr.. Eyre never allowed her TO
see that her longings were known to him,
he was painfully alive to them.
Miss Eyre left the town one day and
walked on for about half a mile, until
she came to a small white cottage stand
ing back from the road in pleasant gar
den, well shaded by old-fashioned fruit
trees. Winifred did not stand on the
ceremony Of knocking, but raised the
latch and entered the drawing room.
where Madame de MontolieU was sitting
before her embroidery frame. She looked
up with a glad smile, and, rising, kissed
the young girl on both cheeks.
"Ah! my rosebud" she exclaimed, you
have come at last"
Yes, dear madame" Winifred replied,
"but / have not been wholly successful
in
she added. this green wool is a shade
lighter than the pattern, but | thought 1t
would scarcely matter, as your other
green's are so much deeper. The red is
the right color, but it seems to me
little faded lying in the shop. 1t is i'm
possible to get exactly what you want
in these little country towns"
Both will do eXcellently well, my
child | thank YOU" returned Madame
de Montoleu. putting on her spectacles
Then she looked fondly at Winifred's
face; but something she saw there
brought an increased gravity over her
placid features.
MY love- she said. gently, has any
thing happened to distress you?"
The quick tears sprang to Winifred's
eyes. but for moment she was silent.
Then she essayed TO smile, answering:
1T is my pride. for which you so often
chide me, that has been hurt, dear mann
ma. | shall make you laugh when L tell
how small thing has provoked me-"
But the kind old lady did not laugh
she was full of pitiful tenderness for
the feelings of youth. and sympathized
keenly with the wounds of sensitive
10 mi hox
Winifred's cousin, Miss Champion, had
passed her on the road that morning, ig-
noring her.
Madame" said Winifred, suddenly,
after pause. 'who do you think the
gentleman with Miss Champion could
beT
II cannot tell my love; probably Wis
itor at the Manor. Stay, my love, may
it not have been Mr.. Hastings? | hear
he has just returned from abroad and
you know his father and Sir Howard
were great friends. Perhaps he at last
feels a desire to see the beautiful home
of his fathers, which he has neglected so
long Can you describe him at all?"
Il only saw him a moment" returned
Winifred, blushing, ''but his face seem
ed rather brOnzed with travel; from what
l remember. | fancy he had dark blue
eyes and fair hair"
AZ think, then" remarked Madame de
Montolieu, that my surmise is correct,
for dark blue eyes and golden hair are
the family characteristics"
Winifred turned homeward with a
lighter heart. She had almost forgotten
the affront that had been put upon her;
but she could not forget the eager look
of admiration that had crossed the hand
some strangers face as he turned to
look at her. Without doubt he was Mr..
Hastings, the owner OF all the property