The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-25
CHAPTER XVII.

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was strong in brave resolves when
knocked at the door of the little house.
But they were sadly shaken the moment
it was opened by Clara herself. The
sight Of her sweet face, smiling upon
me. cowed my bravery. Have l come
here to look upon her for the last time
to bid adieu to that smile foreverw l
asked myself; and my heart sank, but it
gave no response.
1--WE are all alone" she said. as we
went into the parlor. MARY is out, and
SO is Mrs. Wilson, wonderful to say
She was working hard at her paint
ing. as usual. l sat down upon foot
stool at her feet, and gazed furtively
up at her face. Never, methought, had
she looked so lovely as she did that morn-
ing, in the soft, hazy, autumn sunlight.
Half an hour passed away, and we
had not exchanged half a dozen words;
but that was not at all uncommon, for
l loved better to gaze and dream than to
talk; and when at her work. she spoke
but little. She dropped one of her
brushes: and as l gave it to her, held
her hand for a moment fast locked In
mine. When she looked down at me
smilingly and saw me in tears, look
of concern came across her countenance
"Would it make you very unhappy If
l were to tell you that you might never
see me again after this day." l spoke
in a low, choked voice, and the gathered
tears burst forth from my eyelids, and
fell upon her hand.
She did not appear to comprehend my
words, as she saked, in a tone of trou-
bled wonder, What do you mean?'
l repeated my question, in yet more
trembling tone. l felt her hand more
passive in mine. and her eyes dropped,
and the carnation tinge deepened in her
cheeks, as she answered, softly, 1T
would make me very unhappy to think
So"
Listen to me-" I cried. kneeling at
her feet, and clasping both her hands
in mine. From the time Of our meet
ing, five years ago. l ave loved you; from
the time of our meeting a few weeks
back l have adored you! Oh. tell me-
do you love me? Answer me but one
word, my darling, my love-" l cried
again.
She raised her eyes for moment to
mine, and then dropped them, with her
cheek as crimson as my own. Il do
love you, dearest-yery much" she an
swered, in her low, soft voice.
l took her in my arms, and kissed her
fervently; and her sweet. blushing face
nestled upon my bosom like bird seek
ing for shelter.
Where were my resolutions now?-
my heroic self-sacrifce, my stoicism? ?
al IL h.
fore fire, in the fervid ecstacy Of that
moment. l had come to pronounce an
eternal farewell; stayed to pronounce
ar inward oath that l would sweep
away every obstacle, and win her yet
for my own undisputed prize in the face
Of the whole world.
After a time we sat together near the
window with my arm around her
waist, and her hand clasped in mine.
And thus we sat, silent-she, in one Of
her dreamy reveries; l, filled with gloomy
forebodings. For. now that the first
ecstacy was passed-now 1 knew that
her love was mine-the unnatural excite
ment of my brain subsidized, the tension
of my nerves relaxed, and the misera-
BILE rashness of what 1 had done was
revealed to me in the gloomiest colors
had sealed her misery, and increased
my own tenfold.
do you not think" she said, sudden
ly. that we are very strange people,
you and I? l mean, that we are very
unlike other peopley'
Il have often thought So" I said.
DO you not fancy the rest of the
world would think us very silly people I?
Now. you do not even know my name."
But you know nothing of me, so we
are well paired. know but little my
self. but that you shall know"
Not now, please, dear. Some day,
when am very brave, will tell you all
about myself"
Immediately afterwards, Mrs. Wilson
returned, looking very cross. II never
did know such gossiping creature as
that servant next door-always talking
to men, too. l don't know, I am sure,
what her mistress is about to keep her.
There she is, talking now to some
strange, queer-looking man; and l am
sure she is talking about us, for l saw
him point to this house, and then he
said something. and she laughed; she
had better not laugh at my house:
won't put up with her impudence."
A strange man pointing to the house!
What was there in such a commonplace
circumstance to trouble me? But it did.
l went to the window, but he was not
visible from there. 1 went to the door:
both he and the servant had disappeared.
l came in again and asked what the man
was like.
"Oh, don't know. l never notice
such people. A foreign-looking fellow,
with long hair" she answered, huffily.
Foreign looking, and long hair! Such
a description would apply to Mr. Mont
gomery. Could he have followed n.e? ?
And if he had, why should that discon-
cert me? He could not possibly have
any motive beyond idle curiosity. Nev-
ertheless, / could not reason myself out
of certain uneasiness respecting This
strange man.
Mrs. Wilson did not recover the seren-
ity Of her temper until after tea. In the
course of conversation i mentioned that
l had visited theater on the previous
night. They did not know of my con-
nection with the stage
Il have never been to a theater but
twice in my life. and then only when I
was little child. to see the panto-