The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-08-13
CHAPTER KILL

| lunch table Robert had told Lady Con-
stance he should leave home at two that
| afternoon TO visit young friend. and
| should remain away until noon the next
| day.
| AS she had not ventured beyond the
| grounds Of the Hall since her arrival,
| except on this afternoon, before, she did
| not know in which direction the places
Of business lay; therefore. seeing Sandy
| Staples, the lodge keepers son. just be-
| yond rhe place, she stopped and inquired
of him.
''Oh. yes: | can tell you. certainly. Go
straight forw ard. pass DR. Efensteins
| cottage. when you will come to grove
| of willows; pass that. and then the
railroad track. and about one quarter of
| a mile beyond you will see a row Of
| houses; that is the commencement of the
real village proper, and there you will
| find several stores"
Thanking the boy, Ethel opened her
| parasol for the afternoon was warm and
sutry, and followed the path pointed
out. When she reached the cottage. her
| eyes wandered over its small flower-bor
dered garden it's pretty vine-covered
| porch and open windows with their
bowed blinds. just revealing the dainty.
| coo-looking. lace curtains within, that
waited back and forth, gently, in the
| fantest of all breezes.
How differently DIR. Elfens:ein inn
presses me, with his manly bearing his
| open countenance. and kindly eyes. even
| though his manners are reserved and
| quiet. from that vain, egotistical Robert
Glendenning," she thought. II cannot
| understand exactly why | detest that
person 50 thoroughly, nor why | admire
the young physician so much. One thing.
| perhaps, influences me: | always loved
! usefulness in a man; DIR. Elfenstein la
| bors for the welfare of others; young
Glendenning is an idle spendthrift, liv
ing merely to crafty the pleasures Of his
own handsome self. One, constantly do
| ing good, the other-I should judge by
his looks and acts, evilly disposed. and
reckless in all his ways"
| While thus thinking she passed the
willow grove, and the railroad track, and
| soon reached the stores. where the pur-
chases were made to her entire satisfac-
| ton Then she retraced her steps, walk
| ing slowly. in order more fully to enjoy IA
cooler breeze that was springing up: but
as she neared the railroad she quickened
her steps. for she knew that train was
nearly due.
Soon the place was reached and in
stepping over it, to her horror she found
| the heel of her shoe fastened tightly in
one of the frogs With a desperate haste
she strove to loosen it; in vain! Every
struggle only made it, as it seemed, more
firmly wedged.
/ Hank! What was til at rumbling? With
pallid lips and trembling form, she heard
a distant whistle tell of the swiftly COM
ing train.
In despair. she stopped TO unbutton the
| shoe; but it was a new one, and therefore
hard to manage, while her trembling An
gers sought to undo the fastening, but
she found them powerless TO accomplish
the task.
On. on came the engine She could
feel the rails vibrate with their motion.
and still her foot was fast and she could
not move. Then, one wild shrek Of ter
ror rang out upon the air, and even be-
fore it died away mans feet came run
ming to the spot.
BE calm. | will save you! Do not
struggle-stand perfectly Still"' said
voice in her ear.
On came the cars; even then they could
be seen in the distance One moment
moro and she would be under the fearful
wheels; but a strong hand caught the
foot wrenched open the buttons, then,
as the hot breath of the engine was al
most upon her. she was drawn from the
perilous position and knew no more.
When she opened her eyes, she was ~
ing on the green grass. a short distance
from the spot, while her head reclined
upon some gentleman's shoulder, and the
same person was gently tanning her with
a folded newspaper. Looking up, she
met the earnest eyes of DR.. Elfenstein
bent upon hers, and saw that he was
thus kindly supporting her.
ut is all RICH. now, Miss Nevergail.
You are safe, and will be yourself In one
moment" he said.
oh, but that was terrible, terriblew
she murmured, with a shudder, as her
eyes closed again, at the mere remem-
brance.
1T was. truly! While got to you in
time, thank heaven, there was not
second to sparew
"Oh, doctor, i can never thank you,
for know now that ii was you who saw
ed mev'
no not try, Miss Nevergail; i will not
be thanked. My fright, / assure you,
was nearly equal to your own"
How did you get the shoe off ?" she
asked, at length. as she raised herself
from his arm, and glanced at her foot.
II never can tell; it was so stiff and
tight it took all my strength. But now,
since you are better. will see what
has become of that obstinate little boot"
In few moments. he smilingly return
ed with its dilapidated remains in his
hand
You will scarcely know your own