The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-08-04
CHAPrER XyIu.-fContinued.

me ABOUT IL. i Shall DE 1t HoHle III Su-
morning. Yours very truly,
AGNES WINTER
The young sailor read this letter among
others at the breakfast table. His faith
er and sister were engaged on their own
sifairs-IIelen with her letters, the ad
miral among his newspapers. Oswin
Grace read the letter twice, and then
slipped it into his pocket together with
the envelope that had contained it.
Miss Winters elderly maid servant ex
pectcd Lieut.. Grace, for she opened ths
door and stood back inyitingiy. He wa.
ushered up into the warm, luxurioui
drawing room, and after the door had
been closed, stood for few moments ir
rasolute in the middle Of the deep carpet
Presently he began to wander about ths
room, taking things up and setting then
down again. He inhaled the subtle at
saOsphere of feminine home refinement
and looked curiously around him. There
were a hundred little personalities, little
inconsidered feminine trif1es that are oni.
found where a woman is quite at home
u here was a silly little lace handkerchief
utterly useless and vain, lying upon a
table beside a work basket. He took IL
up, examined its texture critically, and
then instinctively raised it to his face
He threw it down again with peculiar
twisted smile.
Wonder what scent it is," he mutter-
ed. Il have never come across it-any-
where else"
Re went toward the mantelpiece; upon
it were two portraits-old photographs,
somewhat faded. One of Helen, the 9TH
er OF himself. He examined his own like
ness for some moments.
Solemn little beggar," he said, for the
photograph was of little square-buiit
midshipman with a long, oval face. Sol
emn little beggar: wonder what the end
will be! Wonder why he is on this
mantelpiece? 1 think that l was rather
a fool to come here. Tyars would not
like it,"
While he was still following out the
train of thought suggested by this refec-
ton the door opened aed Miss Winter en-
tered. She had evidently just come in,
for she was still gloved and furred.
ALI" she said, gayly,. you have come.
l was afraid that your exacting COM
mander would require your services all
the morning."
My exacting commander" he answer
ed. As he took her gloved hand in his,
has peculiar way of doing everything
himself and leaving his subordinates idle
She was standing before him, slowly
unbuttoning her trinm little seaIskin
jacket.
What" she said, suddenly, "about the
e1pedition?"
He looked back at her over his shout
der, for he had gone toward the window,
and there was a sudden CLEAN of deter
mination in his eyes. 1t was her influ-
ence that had disturbed Tyars' resolu-
ton.
What expedition" he asked CURLY, on
his guard.
This theater expedition" she replied
sweetly.
"Oh, well, suppose it will be carried
through. We all want to go. l suppose
you are not strongly opposed to it?'
"I!' she laughed lightly: 'of course l
want to 60. You know that l am always
ready for amusement, proftless or other
wise-profitless preferred. Why do you
look SO grave, Oswin? Please DON'T
hate solemnity. Do you know you have
got terribly grave lately? 1t is"
1T Is what, Agnes:'
He was looking down at her with his
keen, closest gray eyes, and she met
his glance for moment only
Mr.. Tyars." she answered, claspine
her fingers together and bending them
backward as if to restore the circulation
after her cold walk
There is something" said Grace. after
little pause. during which Miss Winter
had continued to rub a remarkably rosy
little pair of hands together, that Jars
Iyars annoys you in some way. Why?'
Miss Winter changed color. She look.
ed very girlish with the hot blush fading
slowly from her cheeks. She did not
however, make any answer.
Wont you tell me, Agnes?" he urged
and as he spoke he walked away from her
and stood looking out OF the window
They were thus at opposite sides of the
room, back to back. She glanced over
her shoulder, drew a deep breath, and
then spoke with an odd little smile which
was almost painful.
His Arctic expedition" she said. de.
liberately. IF he is going to spend his
life in that sort of thing l would rather
-not-cultivate his friendship"
She leaned forward, warming her hands
feverishly, breathing rapidly and uneven.
~. She felt him approach, for his foot.
steps were inaudible on the thick CARPET
and she only crouched little lower. Al
last, after horrid silence, he spoke. and
his voice was deeper and singularly mo-
notonous.
Why should you not wish to cultiyat.
his friendship under those circum
stancesT
Because" she answered lamelv. "]
should hate to have a friend of mine-a
real friend-running the risk of such !
horrible DEATH"
He walked away to the window aeair
and stood there with his hands thrus
Into his jacket pockets-plucky, self-con
tanned, taking his punishment without .
word.
That" he said SIS the worst of max
Ing friends. One is bound to drift ava,
from them. But still it il foolish to 'hols
aloot on that account"
Our maritime philosopher" she said
will now expound q maxim. Ex-pound
Derlvation-to pound out"
Shall / get the tickets7' he asked. j,
practical way.
sploo~>D