The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-05-07
CHAPTER XX.--tCoutinued.D

"
land were not to he trusted. II t.ls
strange girl had for years deceived INN,
!f his mothers warning were after Vii cor
rect. what was to be done at the -lcV-
enth hour. when lie was in great trouble
The door opened. and Mary Holland cnme
into the room.
"You sent for me- she said.
Yes" he said. Tin misery and Fear
srnt for YOU Sit down. please, he said;
II am anxious to ask you many lues-
lions"
The old palor which Sarah Eastbell
had perceived stole to Mary's face rs
Reuben spoke. but she took the chair
which he had indicated, and which was
at a little distance from the couch, and
sat down facing him.
Though We hHvc not seen great deaf
of ench other in our lives, Mary" he be
gan. kindly and earnestly, still 1t is
through Won that great changes have &C.
cnrrrd--that have lost my fathers love-
aud home, aud fortune
Yes" said Mary sadly, that is true.
II lost the three without losing conf
dcnce in you. As | learned to respect
3ou, so began to think of the possibil-
ity Of many past mistakes, on my side and
my mothers. OF late days | have CON
sidered you the friend of all in this
house"
IL have done my best 10 he the friend
she answered.
Last night and for the first time in
my life a suspicion seized me. | hardly
know what il was. 1t would have pass
ed away. but that it came again to-day,
strengthened by new doubts. You see
this letter. Are you aware of its pur-
portT'
"No. save that it was written In my
presence by Captain Peterson. Dare he
does he refer to me in thatT she cried,
with the color mounting to her cheeks
for a moment, and then dying away into
the old gray tint
mot by word He is AS silent respect
ing the past relations between You as
you have always been
"You know. them she said. in dis
may.
II know that you and he were confer
ring together in the garden last night :;
that there is secret between you which
l do not share. and which you have made
no effort to reveal; and l believe that
man knows where Sarah Eastbel IL. and
is in all respects villain. Tell me what
you know of him, aud when you knew
hilu first"
II cannot she said in a low voice.
He Is at the bottom of terrible mys-
terry; he has brought grief to me; he is
linked with Thomas Eastbel against the
peace of this house: and you will not give
me one clew to his life"
II know but little Of him. Reuben"
she answered. "nnd that cannot divulge
now. 1t is more than my life's worth to
attempt II. | could not explain to Sarah
Eastbelt: cannot explain to you at this
time. | can emily say that | ain woman
grievousty misunderstood"
Miss Holland" said Reuben. II am
sorry, hut cannot trust YOU any more
in this house"
She did not speak again. She looked
at him steadily for u few moments, and
then went away, and up the stairs to her
own room, at the end of the corridor, AID
1t was some hours before she was seen
again In that house. Ii was nearly mid
day when, dressed as for a journey, she
reappeared in the corridor and faced
Hartley, still at her old post, woman
forever on guard
you are trusty servant. Hartley"
she said. as she advanced; but you must
be extra vigilant extra strong, and clever.
and cunning. while | am away"
Are you going-at this time. Miss
iiollandT' exclaimed Hartley. In sur
prise.
"fes--for n little while. | will write
10 Miss Sarah by next post"
ITO Miss Eastbell!' exclaimed Hart
ky.
Meanwhile listen at this docr--you
are good at listening. believe"
"Oh, madam!--I-whatm makes you sQy
that?"
"Ail IL mystery In this house. and |
get you en the watch for all of us-if |
have seemed part of the mystery, too, Il
was your place TO warn one who will
soon be rightful master here. But listen
now for me-"
II do not understand, madam"
ION the brink of many strange coufes-
sions. that poor woman has slept Ia mucl,
security. 1t has been our mission more
than once to keep the truth from killing
her, aud heaven will pardon the fiction we
have woven round her life. as | pray that
heaven will pardon me-
Mary went swiftly down the stairs. and
out of the house wherein she had spen,
nearly six years of her life, winning ma
mans love. or woman's gratitude.
CHAPTER XXI.
Sedge Hill was more desolate aft.,
Mary Holland had departed. Though
Miss Holland knew 1t not, she had been
the ruling agent of that house. for good
or evil. for a longer period than that from
which the opening of our story dates. A
torlorn little woman. set forever under
suspicion by an adverse fate beyond he,
power TO resist, she was still TO be misses
NJ han aha Ind 49, -