The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-04-08
TWO DISCOVERIES.

YIN always wondering" remarked
Elva, refectively, as she handed
q me my second cup Of tea, when
you're really going to fall in love,
and-"
Don't be too hasty," interrupted.
as assisted myself to sugar; per
haps I'm even now consumed with the
disquieting fever"
you're SO fat" said Eliza, dispar-
agingly.
'Honsense" 1 protested. simply
we'll covered. Why, my tailor altered
my measurements only yesterday
"Oh, of course, If you won't be seri-
ous," she sighed, resignedly, and pre-
pared to nibble a judiciously Drowned
muffin; "but really, Monty, you're-let
me -4O-you're independent, and
'um--''-she regarded me critically
with her head on one 'passably
good-looking; and yet you let pretty,
nice, suitable girls slip through your
fingers by dozens, because you're eth
er too lazy or too conceited to take
sufficient interest in them"
Don't lecture me-" pleaded-Elva
is prone to lectures; you're SO dread
fully impulsive, you know. As mat
ter of fact, looked in this very after
noon on purpose to tell you how-how
abominably in love 1 am!'
Something in my tone must have
struck her as unusual. The muffin,
like Mahomet's coffin, remained sus-
pended while she surveyed me intent
~, presumably to see If she could de-
tect any latent humor in my counte-
nance.
1 did not move a muscle.
IF 1 were quite certain that you
were in earnest" she began, hesitat-
1ngly, and I thought-though. Of
course, I had no business to think
should say how very glad am"
please try and believe me-" plead
ed.
She studied my face as ii undecided
what to do.
"Is it recent?' she asked at last.
1T happened-yesterday," 1 con-
fessed. "You remember, I always
promised that you should be the first
to know whenever I really had any
thing to tell, and was just going to
begin when you fell upon me-"
Yesterday murmured Elva, in ev-
ident surprise. "Then it must have
been at Lady Follet's garden party"
nodded.
WAS it love at first sight, or had
you seen her beforeY'
II had seen her." I said, guardedly,
'once or twice"
'Oh" said Elva, and think she
flushed. Then, of course, it's Mollie
Richards. I saw you talking to her for
ages in the rosary. She's nice girl,
l believe, and I'm really awfully glad,
Monty1awfully." Somehow her tone
didn't carry the conviction it was
doubtless intended to convey; I pre-
sumed 1t was because Miss Richards
was never a very particular friend of
hers.
II suppose, she went on, you'll
propose at once. You've no need to
wait like most poor creatures"
Il intend" 1 said firmly, ito offer
myself with as little delay as posi-
ble."
"And you really don't mind my tax
ing the privilege of an old friend-a
very old friend-to ask you all these
questions, do you?"
mot the least in the world" said,
graciously; expected them"
What do you mean by thatT' she
inquired, with suspicion.
Nothing, except that you've chas-
Used me about my matrimonial pros
poets ever since you could toddle. Do
you remember, for instance, asking me
at q schoolroom tea in your early
youth whether 1t was my intention to
marry your Fraulein or not?"
Elves face frightened promptly.
Rather" she said; land Fraulein
turned all sorts Of colors, and told
mother the next day that she would
no longer stay with a child 20 en-
barrassing.' really think she had q
tendresse for you, Monty
Probably" l agreed. MANY peo-
pie have"
Don't be conceitedr' reprimanded
Elva; but tell me all about Mollie
Richards, and exactly what attracted
You. Some people call her pretty, T.
rather admire her myself. only"
"Mollie Richards" l inquired. with
extreme innocence. "Who said any,
thing about Molie Richards7"
why. you did. of course. that il
to say-yes-no, suppose you didn't
then-why. / did. suppose: but any
how what's the good Of cavilling about
her? 1t u Mollie Richards isn't itr'
I wouldn't marry Noble Richards,"
I said, decisively, III they shot me for
refusingy'