The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-01-28
CHAPTER |.


country people said meaning that the
hail, and sleet, and rain. and bitter east
winds were still in the ascendant, and
that there was not a glimpse of sunshine
from weeks end to weeks end. Times
were hard and business was bad, and peo-
pie already croake1 about the danger
TO the harvest. 1t was world that shiv-
cred by the fire still, and waited for
change Weather-wise folks looked mp
at the leaden sky every day, shook their
heads and said more wet; and the wet
came down as though they had asked for
it, and washed out the energy from
three fourths of the humankind in Wor-
cester.
1t had been raining all day in the loyal
city, just as it had rained the day before,
and the day preceding that. 1t was rain
ing at ten O'Clock in the evening in as Wig
orous and lively fashion as though it
had just commenced, and the wind had
turned ont with extra strength to add to
the dark nights discomfort. Worcester
had lost heart and given up and gone to
he'd, and Mt the railway station, where,
by the tables. one could ascertain that
train was behind time by three minutes,
there was faint semblance of life, more
depressing than the elements. There was
one fly, with its driver asleep in the in
terror of his vehicle, and it's drabby horse
coughing like man. There was Il wet
old gentleman, glttering like beetle in
his waterproof as he walked up and
down. under the dim gas lamps of the
station. There was a railway porter s
head peering occasionally from half
open door, and declining to allow its body
to come forward until the glaring eyes
of the engine were seen advancing
through the miseries of the night; and
there was a short thin, haggard scrap of
youth, in tattered corduroys and red
comforter, curled up on porter's truck,
and sleeping placidly.
The train that was overdue was not
calculated to rouse the officials into en-
ergy. 1t came from a dull, dead branch
line. and was going on to Gloucester; it
was not likely to land many travellers or
take up many at that hour of the night.
When it arrived at last. it came into the
station noiselessly and in a spiritless con-
dition, as though the steam were low end
the engine-driver had just buried his
wife. and only one bespotted window was
slowly lowered in IA third-cass carriage,
as the train glided to the platform.
From this window an ungloved hand
aud arm protruded and Unattached the
door. and then a stalwart man of four or
five and twenty years of age, a bright
faced, brown-bearded man, stepped out,
dragged forth n portmanteau and hat
box, stood aside to allow of the brisk en-
trance of the man in the shiny water
proof, and looked around him in that
half-sharp. half-vague manner common
to individuals who find themselves i'm
places that are new to them, or have
changed much since their last farewell.
The guard banged the door to, the engine
gave a melancholy wall, and tOiled on
with it burden: the youth in corduroys sat
up on the barrow and stared at the port
manteau and hat box rather than at their
owner; the f1y-driver, who had reused
himself, called out Carriage. sir?" and
not receiving a response. cut the coughing
horse viciOusly under the chin with his
whip and drove off at full speed.
The traveller, after hasty glance at
the sky. called out in sharp, clear voice
20 the porter:
Il expected carriage for me tonight"
"What sort of carriage?"
"a private carriage from Mr.. Gull
wick's. of Sedge Hill. Do you know Mr..
Culwick by sight or his coachman!"
There has been nothing here but cabs
all day--and there's nothing likely to
come now, | reckon"
do you want anybody to carry your
luggage sir?" asked weak voice, and
the lad who had been doing away time
on the barrow obtruded in an edgewise
manner into the conversation The trav-
elerd glanced at him and said:
1T is too heovy for you, my man"
''No, it isn't" said the youth with alac-
rity I'm very strong; l have been
waiting for a job all night, sir--if you
don't mind, sir-for I'm very strong, I
am, indeed"
The eagerness of the request the reiter-
alton of his powers, the contrast which
his words presented to his white cheeks.
and eager, dark eyes, attracted anew the
attention of the gentleman for whom no
carriage had arrived, before the railway
porter turned upon the applicant
You get out of this. young shaver;
you've been here sight too long al
ready" cried the porter, "and I've had
my hi on you these two hours. It's no
use your hanging about as if"
The boy covered for an instant, and
then turned quickly on the man.
And I'm very strong. SIR" he urged
again; may | try? I'll carry it easily;
zee nowp'
The pOrtmanteau was raised and flung
upon his shoulder, the other hand caught
up the leather hat box, and the white
face looked round the burden inquiring-
iy.
Where TO, sir?"
ITO Muddleton's Hotel"
The youth strobe into the wind and
rain. and then the traveller. after giving
tug to his cap, put his hands in the