The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-05-13

l n'S us ioyeHest on this mellow
/ october afternoon as the big P and
y. steamer slowly glided from her
moorlngs amid the crowd of shin
ping that filed the harbor
There were not many passengers
on board the Parramafta. for This
was not time of the year that
many people Travelled from the east
homeward, but amid the stir and
hustle attendant on the departure
OF a big mail steamer and the set
ting down Of newly joined .passen-
gers two people, both passengers,
formed tranquil contrast.
Major Walton, although his ewes
rested on the gold tipped hills thew
were SO swiftly passing, saw them
not at all. His thoughts were all
inward, too much occupied with a
bitter past to take much heed Of the
surroundings of the present. It was
the old, old story his mind was
dwelling on-that Of woman,s
frallty and mans villainy-and.
although the events which had well
nigh wrecked his life had all hap
pened more than a year ago now,
they were brought but too freshly
to his mind by this journey home.
"Home! And what a home com
ingp he said to himself bitterly.
The story was one perhaps only
too common. He and his wife, the
latter beautiful, spoiled, vain, had
been staying in the south Of France
and had gone on to Monte Carlo for
a week or two. Here they had met
Sir Lionel Hippesley, a handsome,
shallow young Engfishman, who was
doing his best, without success, to
ruin himself at the tables, although
the money he SO freely squandered
was not his, but his young wife's,
and, as rumor averred, he had mar
ried the pretty Scotch heiress only
for her fortune.
He was staying at Monte Carlo
very much en- garcon, his wife being
i'll at home and unable to travel.
He and the Waltons became ac-
luainted, and he appeared much
struck by Mrs. Walton's beauty,
while she was both pleased and flat
tered by his admiration and atten-
tons, and her husband, glad that she
should be amused, thought or sus-
pected no wrong. Under Hippesley's
guidance Mrs. Walton became an
ardent gambler, and a good many
bank notes huttered away, but Wal
ton was a rich man and could afford
TO indulge her every whim.
Then had come the war In South
Africa, and Walton's regiment was
among the first ordered to the front,
and he departed, leaving his wife
more or less her own mistress and
with the command of plenty Of mon
ey.
] During her husbands absence she
again met Sir Lionel Hippesley, this
time at home, and he, more than
ever fired by her excessive beauty,
/ persuaded her, a too willing victim,
to run away with him to Paris.
From there she wrote to her hus-
band and told him she had never
| really cared for him and that now
she loved only one man on earth,
and that man was Sir Lionel Hippes-
| ley.
The blow almost stunned Walton.
Then he was wounded and invaded
home, when be obtained his d.
vorce. Hippesley's wife had already
divorced her husband. Immediately
! after the trial Walton had started
on voyage to Japan and was now,
after year spent in the east, once
more returning to England.
j With short, impatient sigh Wal
j ton reused himself and turned to
90 to the smoking room. As he did
so the lady near him turned to go
below at the same moment, and they
came face to face Such a beautl-
full, pathetic face, out Of which
shone pair of dark blush gray
1 eyes. Walton, as for an instant his
ewes met hers, felt a sudden thrill
Of interest, and he wondered who
she was.
He very soon found out, for on
board ship one speedily becomes
aware of the identity, whether true
or false, of ones fellow passengers.
q She was Mrs. Grenyille, q WIDOW
and had been staying at Hongkong
with friends and was now returning
to England. She was chaperoned
I BY an aunt, Lady Grahame.
.I wish Violet would make up ner
mind to marry again, she sad one
l. - Ik<kf