The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-02-03
CHAPTER XIV.


ty, and Ethel felt just a little nervous
as she received the guests. Captain
Polling was watching her in the pauses
of his chat with Bertha Collins. lie
caught her eye presently and smiled at
her reassuringly, for she had confided to
him her dread Of the awful occasion.
"You are an old friend Of theirs. are
you not?" Bertha was saying to the
captain. 1--WE all think Miss Mailing
quite charming. | took to her from the
first; but, do you know. she is not easy
to get On with. OF course she is all one
could wish az a hostess; but it is impos-
sible to gush with her. She has a way
of sitting all one says and showing up
anything that is absurd without certainly
In the least intending to give Offense.
You would hardly believe it, dare say.
but | have adopted the habit of trying
to talk seriously when she is listening"
II think that is the greatest compli-
ment you could pay her. Will you adopt
the same practice with me?'
Il should not dare" she replied with
mock gravity. IF | were to get a repu-
tation for seriousness | should probably
die an old maid. Men always prefer
frivolous takers for their wives There
Is the dinner bell. Are you to take me
DOWN.
Later in the evening Miss Collins drop
ped into a quiet corner and discussed
the things with the utmost freedom with
an intimate friend whom she had not
seen since the end of the season. She
was describing the breaking up of the
party when Pauiine's intended maria &c
had been discovered
Now tell me-cOuld there be anything
more ridiculous than her running away
from her own house and marrying, or
trying to marry. man secretly. when
there was no one to prevent her doing
1t openly! My dear, you should have
seen our faces when Mrs. Seton read
us the note she had left behind, as we
dropped in, one after another to lunch
con! At first everybody looked very sur
prlsed, and then the absurdity of the
whole proceeding struck us. Why could
she not have been married properly? No
one could have objected to her marry
Ing that good-iooking artist if she chose
to do 500
was she very much gone on him ?"
Awfully. 1t must have been terri
bic blow to her when her husband turn
ed up
Rather. Isn't it odd, his being
herey'
Il don't think SO. He was very good
to Sir Geoffrey when he was in less
affiuent circumstances, | believe"
Things seem bit mixed From what
1 could make out, he had believed him
self a Wldower. just as she had thought
herself widow. until they met in the
church. Don't you think it probable
that. while he was under the impression
that his wife was dead. he may have
had liking for Miss Malling?"
Il believe you are right" Bertha re-
piled, energeticaly. flor | saw him look
ing at her before dinner with his heart
In his eyes,"
1t Is certainly very strange that he
should have fallen in love with the girl
who was being kept out of her right
position by his own wife! 1t looks like
the finger of Fate. doesn't it-though
which way the finger is pointing | can't
see"
AS the guests. one after another. took
their departure, Ethel felt her burden
tightening. Her first party had been an
unqualified success. but she was none the
less glad to have it over Lord Sum-
mers stayed behind, talking earnestly
with Sr Godfrey.
admit L was disappointed when |
heard that she had taken the family
jewels with her," he said. in allusion
TO Pauline. I'm afraid she has inher
TIED some Of her fathers want of prin
flpie. The Luftons were never ma rticu-
larry distinguished for honesty. What
do you mean to do about it. Geoffrev ,,
Nothing openly l am in commun;ca.
e'oh with her waiting maid, who had
promised to let me know if there is any
idea on Pauline's part of selling them
and l shall, unknown to her, become the
purchaser"
An excellent idea and a very venar-.
Gus one. BY the bye, as things bav.
turned out, how fortunate it is that tba
engagement between our charming Ethel
and young Dornton was-''
he stopped suddenly as Ethel and
feillng came back from bidding farewell
to Miss Collins. They both caught the
driIt OF his words, and Ethel glanced at
FEELINGS face; but it was calmly nm.
conscious. Thinking this a good opening
to talk Of Jack. he said:
IL you are not too tired, | want TO
show you delightful style of title pare
that l came across this morning. I
thought you might elaborate tho idea for
Tor your Central Africa 1t il ON this
table somewhere"
Il am afraid my share Of Central
Africa will not be anything to be proud
oil. be replied with q. smile
That is nonsense, and you know il.
Captain Polling! l have made up nv
mini that your sketches are to be the
principal attraction of the book. II ia
really unkind of you to make light of
your work after all our interest in itr'
THAT is just it, he returned, laugh
iagly. Il have become so accustomed
20 working in company that | find /
can't move step by myself"
You would not be offended at any,
thing | should say for your good?"
Go on" he said. and waited with
knitted brows for what she had to say.
Ethel, in her short life had often had
unpleasant tasks to perform, but never
one so unpleasant as this.
"Out of your own mouth shall Won be
judged" she began, smiling at him to
hide the trembling of her lips. you
say you have become so used to working
In company that you cannot move a stem