The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-09-02
CHAPTER VII.

When Mary had given her uncle his
tea and cleared away the things" she
left him to his papers and his pipe, took
her hat and went into the porch, where
she stood for moment dangling her hat
by its strings and shading her eyes with
her hand.
Then, with a little flush upon her
cheek and a Frightening of her eye, she
passed through the garden to the back
of the house, where she knew George
Sidcote waited to take her to the choir
practice, for twas Saturday evening.
When Mary came through the garden
he took both her hands in his, bent over
her and kissed her gravely on the fore
head, as if to seal her once more for his
own. There was little of the sweet love
language between these two; they be-
longed to each other; they were SO well
assured of the fact that there was no
need to renew their vows.
George" said Mary, softly.
MARY" George whispered.
They sat down together on a. wagon
shaft, side by side.
II saw him this morning." he said,
slowly-Mary knew very well who was
meant by ''him''-"and told him what
I told you the other day, my DEAR"
What did he say?
He said that he knew it beforehand.
He had calculated it all out on paper.
and he was certain, he said, that this
season would be the last. Very well,
he said, the law provides remedy when
the interest or the principal cannot be
repaid. OF course he added, L am not
going to lose my money This is what
he said first, Mary"
"Oh! and what did he say next?"
Il told him that if he would give his
consent, your fortune would nearly pay
of the mortgage"
What did he say thenY'
well, Mary, then we had little row
not much. He said that it was clear
l only wanted your money, and he should
never give his consent. l said that it
was clear he meant to make any excuse
TO refuse his consent, in order to keep
your money in his own hands,"
i am sorry, George" said Mary. HE
told me nothing of this"
1T was not likely that he would tell
you. He heard what had to say in
his dry way, and then asked me if there
Well, Mary, l was reused a bit by this,
and reminded him that, if you did not
receive your aunt's fortune, David would
be entitled to the money. Well, he was
not the least put out. He only laughed
his laugh is the sort that makes other
people cry-and said that you were a
good girl, but silly, like most girls, and if
you chose to throw away your fortune he
was sorry for you, but he could not pre-
vent it. Well, Mary, I came away. So
that is done with, and this is the last
year there will be one of the old stock in
the old place."
Courage, George" she said; 1--WE will
do something; we will go somewhere
somehow we will live and prosper yet"
Somewhere he echoed, land
somehow! Well, 1 have a pair of
hands and pair of broad shoulders
yes. But you, Mary, and my mother?'
Courage" she said again, "have faith,
George. Even if we have to go away,
We shall be together. was reading
yesterday story about settlers in Can
ada. 1t had pictures. There was the
wooden house and the clearing, with the
forest all round; thought it might be
ours. read how they worked, this
pair of settlers, and how they gradually
got on, clearing more land and increasing
their stock till they became rich in ev-
erything except money. l thought of our
selves. George; we shall not want money
it we can live on a farm of our own
somewhere, and if we can work for our
selves. You are so strong and brave;
you do not mind hard work; and-and-
let us have faith, George. God is good.
If we must 60 from here, we will go with
cheerful hearts, and leave my poor uncle
to his lands and wealth.
He threw his arm round her neck and
kissed her again-an unusual demonstra-
ton from him.
Go be continuedl