The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-01-22
CHAPTER XII-(Continued.)

md they were debating in their happy
minds whether it would be more denght-
full to go on to Italy or to return home a
word possessing an equal charm for both
now. when their movements were decided
by a letter from Mrs. Ellesmere:
NV Dear Toni have this morning
received news of the death of poor Tom
Nevil, of typhoid fever. The shock has
been so terrible to poor Sir Thomas that
II is feared he will not recover from IL.
He has fallen into a state of apathy from
which nothing can rouse him, and any
day he may die. Under the circumstances,
YOU being the next heir, do you not think
YOU ought to return to England? Poor
Tom leaves two little girls, and / have
ascertained that there is no expectation of
an heir. You will, | know, feel very much
for poor Mrs. Nevil | think you should
write to her; of course it is rather a deli
cate position for you, but | am sure you
will do the right thing. l shall not be
able to receive you on your return unless
you particularly desire it, as think young
people are best left to themselves just at
first Give my kindest love to dear June,
and believe me
Your affectionate mother,
VIOLET ELLESMERE."
This news caused Tom the deepest con-
Germ. No thought of the benefit likely
to accrue to himself from the misfor
tune of his kinsfolk entered his brain as
he read the letter; all he felt was sheer
sorrow. And June, the tenderest hearted
creature in the world, cried for pity of
the poor bereaved wife whose anguish
she was now fully able to comprehend.
What could they do for her? They laid
their heads together and made all sorts
of plans by which ultimately her grief
was to be lightened, and then, between
them, they wrote her the kindest letter
that two sympathizing young hearts could
devise.
And so they retraced their steps slowly
homeward. In Paris they received the
news of Sir Thomas death.
The rejoicings and honors that had
been planned for the young couples re-
turn were, by Toms especial request,
foregone. He departed at once for the
North, to attend Sir Thomas NEVIS flu
neral, and June cried all the evening and
half the night. SO heart broken was she
at being bereaved of her lord; and like
all tender, foolish women who love. she
tormented herself with fears for his 50 fe-
ty, and wrote him four sheets of paper
covered principally by expressions of en-
dearment which might have seemed mo-
notonous to another person, but were
heavenly sweet to the recipient. On Toms
return June quite startled at being ad-
dressed as my lady" and hearing him
called Sir Thomas.
1t was rather bewildering to her to
think Of herself as Lady Nevil. 1t is not
often that a person bears three names in
less than six weeks. In that time she
had been Miss Rivcrs-Mrs. Ellesmere-
Lady Nevil.
Tom was tolCrably indifferent to social
honors himself, but it leased him hugely
to hear his darling called my lady"
CHAPTER XIII.
The months rolled on and Sir Thomas
and Lady Nevil were as happy as united
lovers In story book. June is quite a
great lady now, and by no means indif-
ferent TO the fact that she is so, although
she bears her honors in the most modest
and unassuming way. Agnes had gone
with a friend to Italy for the winter. ex-
tremely thankful TO escape from the sight
of the happiness which was gall and
wormwood to her.
Tom deserved to be happy, and he was
happy. When, in September, the bells
rang and the announcement was made
that there was an heir to the houses of
Ellesmere and Nevil. his happiness seem
ed almost too much for him.
After Christmas they were TO have a
series of guests at the Hall. Dallas was
to come for n couple of days, for Tom
would have laughed to scorn the thought
of being jealous of any living man now
Mrs Trevanion and her son. an Eton boy
of seventeen, were expected. and two or
three other young people for Madge's es-
pecial benefit.
Madge adored June more than ever, and
June had promised that if they took a
house for the season in town, Madge
should so to them for a whole month.
Tom made terribly wry face over the
house in town, but he had no idea of
thwarting June, who was rather bent up-
on it, and only stipulated that he should
be there on and off, and that the baby
should not be taken to Pandemonium.
Her ladyship wanted the whole family to
migrate, and the first time there had ever
been the. shadow of a tiff between them
was when Tom offered serious opposition
to her wishes on this score. Tom would
not have that precious life endangered
by the pestilential atmosphere of London.
June was not used to hearing him say
would and would not. And, as the young
Sir Thomas was as robust as any infant
In the world, she was rather incensed al
what she chose TO consider her husband
fOolishness
30 she shed some tears of mixed anger