The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-05-27

During few days after Clara,s
arrival the whole house was upset.
making and receiving calls. dinner ,
parties, dancing parties, lawn ten
nls-the days were not long enough
to hold their pleasures. Then all
was quiet at the mill.
/ In the orchard, which was large
the walks were spread over with
sand, and the trees, loaded with
fruit, afforded beautiful. shady
grove. This was Clara's favorite
nook. Here she would go and read
poetry. She had been given the
works Of Lamartine, beautifully
bound. Now, Lamartine is yery
tender poet, and Clara was still in
her teens, and this was summer, and
the fragrance of the flowers and the
murmur Of the breeze acted on her
young mind, and through this book
she would dream of things that she
had never dreamed of before.
One day her mother asked her if
she remembered her cousin Albert.
ooh, yes, indeed!" said she. This
answer came from her heart. She
blushed, and from her neck to her
brow she felt that sort of electricity
that is produced by little shame
and great pleasure.
ssWell,'' said her mother, "you
will see him very soon"
Clara was about to say, ooh, how
glad | amp but she thought it more
proper to say nothing.
And why was she silent? I will
tell you-it was because she had
read Lamartine. Why does pretty
poetry make one false? Well, l
don't know, but it speaks of love-
and what is love?
sWell," said Clara, 81 have not
seen him for two years. l suppose
he is changed
Not more than you, SAID her
mother, casting a loving glance of
admiration at her daughter. SYou
were little girl when you went
away. You are young lady now"
Clara ran off to her beloved grove
to hide the bushes on her cheeks
and the beatings of her heart. She
sat down, drew from her pocket her
volume of poetry, but read not a
line.
Albert arrived few days before
he was expected, but she was think
ing of him. She always had roses
| on her cheeks, but these roses
changed into peonies when she saw
him, and her hands trembled. He
took hold of those hands and kissed
her on both cheeks.
He was medical student who
had not yet in his brain the least
thought of anything serious. He had
suddenly discovered in himself a vo-
cation for the beautiful science of
Esculapius, that he might go to
Paris to spend a few years of his
life and waste few thousands of
his fathers francs.
"Ah, little cousin" said he, sSyou
are pretty now. Why, I am afraid I
shall fall in love with YOU"
She looked at him, not knowing
what to say.
ssHave you forgotten the good
times we had in this garden and over
there in the woodsw
ooh, no. said she.
ssAnd when we would go rowing
and / would scare you by swinging
to and fro in the boat to capsize
you 2"
"Oh. no. / remember it all. )"
ssThen why don't you put your
arms around my neck and say pleas
ant things to me, as you did then =
@I don't know" she faltered.
Then he said to himself, "This
| COUSIN OF uuluc IHuot NC q AAeoio 0A
pleton."
1Wen," said he aloud, 'and what
is this book ?"
sIamartine. It is beautiful.
s1 don't think so. / think it stu
| pid.o Then, seeing that she was
somewhat abashed, he added, why
does it displease you that | should
not care for Lamartine =
Because I love his poems.
.Well, if / read poetry | want
Alfred de Musset. / shall send you
his works when I get to Paris.
At this moment they heard q
quick and firm step on the sandy
walk, and young man came upon
them. !,
ssExoreo mo mademoiselle,0 said