The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-01-29
CHAPTER NIV-(Continued.)


1t is not acting, though Il good deal of
It is temper; she would never bring in
that sacred name for the sake of getting
her own way. But the effect is magical
on Tom: remorse stirs his heart; he re-
calls all the tender injunctions of that
dead mother about her darling. and his
will is broken like reed at the remem-
brance. 1t is true he is all she has; he
is her defender, her support, her shield
against trouble and sorrow; it is not for
him to thwart and grieve her. She is
dearer than ever, though her lovers first
passion may have worn off; she shall be
happy, cost what it may!
He kneels beside her, he pours out every
endearing word he knows upon her, he
covers her hair, her throat-for her face
Is averted from him-with kisses, he prom
Uses her that he will go and fetch little
Tom tomorrow, and in due course June,
half-triumphantly, but secretly good
deal ashamed of herself is lying with her
head on Toms breast, his arms about her,
and all his kind, honest heart bent on
restoring her to peace of mind and happi-
ness.
In the morning, when her maid brought
her tea and letters. she eagerly opened
the one from her lord. Having finished
1t, she laid it down, and cold chill came
over her. She stared bankly into space
for minute or two, then took it up and
re-read:
Darling Wifey.-I got down here all
right, and found the boy all right except
little bit flushed and" (here two letters
easily deciphered to be "Ag' were
scratched OUT 1--WE thought he might
have another tooth coming but, anyhow,
we thought it better to wait a day and
see. Don't be frightened, darling; he is
in capital spirits, AMI hope to bring him
up tomorrow, though l do hate the idea
of London for him. | hope the dinner
will go off all right. OF course you will
say and do the right thing about me,
and | dare say as long as they get you
they'll be very happy to dispense with my
company. You can't think how heavenly
II is down here after London. I've got
on an old shooting-coat, and l feel as
happy as a king; ut least should, darling,
IL had you here.
81 had to break off here to see Jones,
and he tells me there are two or three
things | ought to see to tomorrow.
Should you mind if we don't come up till
Tluul 1T VIII give lue DOy uuOlHer
days respite, and you can go about and
see your friends and amuse yourself for
that little time longer. can't you, dearest
wiley?
always your most loving and devoted
husband Il. n"
When she had read that affectionate if
not wel-expressed epistle, all pleasure and
happiness took flight from June's heart.
She was nothing to Tom; he could dis
pense perfectly with her society, as long
as he had the baby, and the country, and
his old shooting coat, and-with fierce
spasm-Agnes.
June glanced Mt the clock: the hands
were just on the hour of nine-impossible
TO catch the ten train; but there was an
other AZ eleven, which stopped at station
six miles from the Hall. She rang the
bell, sent for form and wrote a tele-
gram desiring that carriage might meet
her at l., dispatched a line to her
mother-iu-!aw, and. With a mixture of
triumph, defiance ard anger in her breast,
set out on her journey to bring back the
iruant