The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-07-28
CHAPTER XVII.

| ucuticHleu, NE Sdiu, ny AeIS -
| finished
CHAPTER XVII.
! On the evening of the Admirals' CLUB
| dinner early in December, Helen had
| been in the habit of dining at the Win
| ters'. Although Agnes Winter was now
alone, she seemed singularly anxious to
keep up this custom, and Helen acceded
| to her proposal readily enough. Oswin
| was easily disposed Of A sailor return
/ ing to London after an absence OF some
| years can usually employ his evenings
satisfactorily.
! 1t happened that Miss Winter was alb
sent from town during the three days pre-
ceding the anniversary, and Helen was,
therefore, left in ignorance as to the ma
| ture OF the entertainment to which she
| was invited. As she drove through the
fog and gloom of December streets the
thought came to her, however, that had
there been other guests her brother o.
win would, in the ordinary course of
| events, have been invited. This thought
generated others, and before the little
| brougham drew up smoothly, the young
| girl was verging upon a conviction that
the course Of events had diverged already
| from the commonplace. She was not,
therefore, surprised to see Miss Winter
standing at the head of the brightly light
ed, softly carpeted stairs to greet her. Be
| fore she spoke Helen had guessed that
| they were to pass the evening alone to-
gether, and as she mounted the stairs she
did her best to Quell an indefinite feeling
of discomfort.
The drawing room looked intensely
c6ky. Two armchairs. and two only,
small and low. were drawn forward to
| the fire, and between them a small table,
promising coffee. In response to little
1 gesture of the hand. Helen took posses
| sion Of one OF the chairs. Miss Winter
took up an evening newspaper, of which
the careful cutting betrayed no tamper-
| ing on the part of literary cook, and
slowly unfolded it.
| Il want she said. Ito see who is
acting in that new piece at the Epic.
l had a note from Oswin to-day, propos-
ing to make up-a party for next Wednes-
| day"
Yes: he spoke to me about 1t.
should like to 60
1
paper with a considerable hustle. She
was not looking at it. but at Helen. who
seemed interested in the texture of an alb
surd little lace handkerchief.
| "Who-is going?"
| The girl raised her head and frowned
| slightly, as if making mental effort.
1 Let me see-papa, Oswin, you, my
self, -and-oh. yes! Mr.. Tyars"
| Miss Winter was not an impulsive
woman. There was a graceful finish and
sense of leisure about her movements, but
before Helen could move. her. friend was
kneeling on the white fur hearth rug,
drawing her toward her, forcing her to
face the light.
| Helen, let me see your face"
1t was almost command, and the girl
obeyed, slowl! turning. Her eyes were
dull, as if with physical agony. Miss
Winter relinquished the warm, soft fin.
gers. She half turned. and sat with her
hands clasped in her lap, gazing into the
| fire.
When" she asked, when was it?
Long ago at Oxford, or only just lately"
II suppose" Helen answered, quietly,
that it was long ago at Oxford; but
but 1 think 1 did not know it."
This daughter of a sailor race was not
given to tears, but now her lashes were
| glistening softly. 1t is not the bitterest
| tear that falls.
MY poor, poor Helen murmured
Miss Winter. stroking her friends hand
gently. And he-Claud Tyars-he has
said nothing?"
"Of course not"
Miss Winters eyes fell on the news
paper lying open at her feet Mechan-
ically she read the heading of long
article on the New Arctic Expedition"
Her heart sank within her.
But, Helen" she whispered. do YOU
| think he"
flush, DEAR" interrupted the girl.
Don't ask me that"
Helen, will you tell me one thing? %
The girl moved uneasily, keeping her
eyes averted.
II think not" she answered, you can
ask it, but l do not think l will answer
| it."
Long ago" murmured the low voice
of the elder woman. long ago at Oxford
did you think-Helen, forgive my asking
did you think that he loved your
There was long silence. broken only
by the officious little clock upon the
mantel piece. and the heated creak of the
| glowing cinders. Then at last the an
swer came:
| Mono, certainly not. But he was
different from the others-quite different.
1t seems ridiculous, but at the time l
thought that 1t was because he was q
1 Cambridge man."
.Fhen IL you had not met again this
| would not have happened?"
NO" answered Helen, gravely; ait
would not. 1 wonder why Oswin should
have saved him, of all men, in the middle
of the Atlantic ocean,"
CHAPTER XVIII
On this same day Oswin Grace dined
with Claud Tyars at his club. 1t was in
this manner that he disposed Of his un-
=