The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-02-13

half ScOwf at the Traveller Tor waxing
her thus unceremoniously.
do you know me?" Reuben said,
changing his tone and question.
NO" was the slow reply; I've never
seen you before"
Not at Worcester station. at ten
o'clock last night. when you helped me
with heavy portmanteau that | was
selfish enough to let you carry for me"
he continued.
IL help you with portmanteau?' said
the girl. scofiingly, lat Worcester sta
ton! Yes, that's very likely"
at was you," said Reuben, sternly,
as he continued to stare at her, and as the
girls cool denial of the fact began to az
gravate him; "why do you tell me that it
was nOt?"
The young woman did not answer read
lily. She rose to her feet-a tall, angular
girl, smitten sorely by poverty-and lean
ed against the door post, peering ut her
questioner. with her brow still contract
ed.
"Why should help your she said at
last; cant you help yourself!'
you tainted away; you were weak,
and gave up. Why deny this?'
IL don't know what you are talking
about" was the sullen answer.
The girl was turning away, as if with
the intention of passing into the house,
when Reuben remembered the object of
his quest.
will you tell me. please. in which of
these small establishments resides Sarah
Eastbell?' he asked.
The girl paused. and then swung her
self rapidly round and faced him.
what next?" she cried angrily, "and
what's next after that?" she added; I'm
Sarah Eastbell and if you have any
thing to say against me say it. I'm not
ashamed of my name; l never was-I
never did anything wrong in my life
now, then, what is it that you want?'
you are Sarah Eastbell!' said Rem
ben with n new interest asserting itself;
then you are--nO. you cant be-" added
our hero. exhibiting again that incoher-
ence which had already bewildered the
waiter at Muddleton's.
Twill you tell me what you want
here 2" asked Miss Eastbell, peremptor-
lily.
II want to see an older lady than your
self, of the same name, and residing, /
believe. in one of these almshouses.'
"Oh, indeed-what for?" was the eau
tious inquiry.
"a friendly call-that's ALL" answered
Reuben.
my grandmother is not well enough to
see company
"She will see me-" replied Reuben Gull
wick
The statement concerning Mrs. East
bells idiosyncrasies was destined never
TO be completed. for short, sharp
SARAH in an excrutiatingly high key.
that was like the twang of wire, and
left a humming sound in Reuben's ears,
came from an inner room on the left
hand side of the doorway.
"Comingr' said the tall girl, and she
disappeared at once. and left Mr.. Gull
wick on the threshold. half resolved to
follow her, and before Reuben was pre-
pared for her temperance she was
standing in the doorway again.
you can come in." said the girl sui
lenly.
She led the way to small room, scru-
pulously clean, with bed in the center
of the room. and an old woman in the
center of the bed. There was nothing
to be seen of Mrs. Eastbell but her face,
and a grim. yellow. parchment face it
was. cut up by a hundred wrinkles.
well, SIR" said the head above the
sheets. will you please to state what
business you have with old Sarah East
bell, who has been past business for the
last ten years?"
Ii was crisp and not wholly shrill
voice, now that il had dropped an octave
or two. The visitor walked to the bed
side, sat down In rush-bottomed chair
that was there. and looked hard at her
when | saw you last you were Il
bustling little woman, carrying your years
WELL" said Reuben Culwick tenderly; Il
am sorry to find on old friend brought
down as low as this"
1T can't be Reuben. can it?'' she
asked eagerly.
Yes il can"
"Now to think of that. after these
years. and here!'' said Mrs. Eastbell.
That's kind of you. Reu; I'm very
glad" and the old lady fought hard with
the sheets and got thin. yellow hand
above the bedclothes. and extended il in
the direction of her nephew. laughing in
an oud chucklihg way tnat portenued III
ture Mysteries. if she were not careful
Reuben shook the hand in his. aud the
girl stood by the mantelpiece. watching
the greeting furtively.
What made you think of me?" said
the old woman. after moments pause
Il came to Worcester last night |
heard this morning for the first time that
you were here"
"Who told your"
| my father"
"You are friends. then? He has for.
given your" she said.
mo"
| "Ah! he will presently" said Mrs
Esstbell. with an easy confidence; there
are many good points about my brother
Simon, and it is only a question of time
i A III thinRs como round In Tina RoI,