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

the distinguished lift Of the head, the
man who had been true to her while
she had offered him no hope OF re-
ward. And wondering II this were 20.
and halflbelieving he might bring her
happiness, her eyes wandered to an
obscure corner Of the little church,
and there found the face Of her girl
hoods romance. Her heart stood still,
and she grew cold from head to foot,
but her face did not alter. She turned
her eyes upon the open song book, but
all during the service. though she
looked intently at the minister, she
saw nothing but the pale face OF Nor
ton Summers. How much older 1t ap-
peared! and yet 80 like the old face,
her heart ached miserably.
When the congregation was dis
missed, he waited to greet her. His
manner was very quiet; his hand
scarce touched hers. In answer to her
conventional question he said he
would be in town only till the NOR
row.
She did not ask him to call, but
swept past, her hand upon Edgar Du-
walls arm. And now in the afternoon
this letter had come from the morn
ing's escort, asking her to be his wife.
She wished it had not come to-day.
Presently she picked it up, and read it
slowly through. Again it fell from
her listless fingers. Suddenly she
shuddered and stirred the fire. II 1t
had come yesterday!
At last she rose hurriedly and going
into the next room, returned with a
small ebony box. She unlocked it, and
drew forth bundle Of old letters and
a few queer objects, whose value lay
only in the associations of past
thoughts and feelings. She united the
faded ribbon and began to read the
letters. They were all from Morton
Summers.
"No matter how long 1t may be-"
they ran. mo matter what happens,
will always trust you, you will al
ways trust me-" Perhaps all lovers
have written So The tears presently
hid the words. Through the blur, ten
der epithets shone, "Darling-Sweet-
heart" She never tired of gazing
upon them. 1t was as If his voice still
called her thus. She dashed away the
tears, and caught sight of the letter
upon the floor. She held it up in one
hand and seemed to weigh it against
the bundle of old love letters. How
much older they were than the love
Of which they spoke!
(Which shall destroy?' she asked
aloud, stepping to the fire. II cannot
keep both. Poor Edgar, he loves me
so faithfully! Poor Morton-he loved
me once! And land 1? God help
me! l love him still! I know-I
know" she faltered, the tears again
rushing to her eyes, chat shall love
him always"
She cast Edgar Duvaps passionate
appeal into the flames and sinking
back into the chair, buried her face
among the letters of long ago, kissing
them wildly. She had made her
choice; the choice Of lonely life, q
life Of privations and toll, but a life
which could be lived true to its ideals
and it's girlhood's faith.
Eyes, she is at home,' said the maid
to the tall, pale stranger, "she is In the
parlor. Will you walk inY'
She had not heard the doorbell, nor
did she notice the opening of the door.
She did not live in the room, Just
then, but in fairy wood with golden
splashes from the sun, and fragrant
perfumes now vanished many years,
and gentle voice-yes, she lived with
it, and with eloquent eyes, and cling
ing hand. Her mind was SO far away
she could not hear the footsteps draw
ing near, nor see the startled gaze riv-
eted upon the old letters heaped in
her lap.
A sudden exclamation Of surprise
and pain brought her, with a violent
shock. back into the present
Thinking Edgar Duval stood near at
hand, she glazed down with dismay at
the love letters, while her cheeks. still
damp from tears, grew crimson. Then
seeing it was Morton her confusion
and distress sought relief in anger.
She hurriedly dashed the letters into
the box, crying out the first words
that occurred to her.
you have no right herev'
'"These give me the right" cried
Morton, his eyes burning as he tore
the letters from her grasp, and held
them up. "They speak for me to-day
as they spoke six years ago. Hear
them, darling. Every word is true.
You loved them once you love them
now saw it in your eyes as 1 en-
tered"
She turned upon him, her eyes blaz-
ing.
'sYou come to me after all these
years-after all these years-you come
and speak of love after'-
Her voice faltered. There was some
thing In his gaze which slew her an
GER and made her grow afraid froyc