The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-06-16
CHAPTER VII.


Helen's eyes rested for a moment on
perceptible movement of lid and eyebrow
he treasured her.
'..What time is dinner? told him to
come at 7 O'clock" said he, holding out
his cup for more tea.
THAT is right" answered Helen.
"You would have done BETTER" said
the Admiral, still unpacified. Ito have
given the man a dinner at your club"
"Oh!" replied his son, serenely, II
wanted you and Helen to make his &C
quaintance; besides, could not have in
vited Muggins to the club"
'Muggins" growled the old gentleman,
interrogatively.
''The dog"
"Ah! Is he a presentable sort Of fell
low, then, that you want your sister to
meet him?"
''The dog?" inquired Grace, with much
innocence.
NO." laughed his father, despite him
self: the man-Tyre, or Sidon. or what
ever his name isl
''Tyars. Yes; I think 50. Tyars is
distinctly presentable, or else would not
have suggested his coming to dine with
Helen-and Agnes Winter"
Helen had moved away toward the
window, and was now leaning against the
folded and old-fashioned shutter. She
turned and looked at her brother as he
| spoke. with that gentle, womanly scru-
tiny.
Like her brother, Helen Grace favored
to some extent a gravity of demeanor
when in repose, and her face was of that
| refined type which possesses great mo-
| bility. Some faces there are which seem
to have brought from old times a recol-
lection of gay knights, full Of poetry and
full Of fight; of troubadours and patient
women. Oswin and Helen Grace were Of
this mold. In profile the chiseling of
either face was perfect, for Helen was
but a refined miniature Of her brother !;
and in smiling their gray eyes lighted up
with the self-same soft merriment.
As she stood in the soft sunlight look
ing sideways toward her brother her ten
derness was visible. These two were the
only children of a dead mother, who if
she had never quite understood her hus-
band had at all events possessed the pow
er of loving her children. Oswin Grace
had left home early, as all naval men
must, and during the short spells allowed
to him By grateful country as recrea-
ton he had not learned to know his Sis
| ter very well-not well enough to forget
that he owed to her the respect due to all
women.
The two men now started a conversa-
| ton upon very nautical matters, employ
| ing such technical terms and waxing so
| interested that Helen sought chair near
the window and settled down to listen
with respectful silence. When the Adj
miral had left the room Oswin crossed
the floor and stood beside his sister, his
scrutinizing glance cast downward.
| How is Agnes Winter" he asked.
| sShe is very well. Did those flowers
remind you of herr"
'Ye-es." he replied, slowly. I wonder
whyT
Because she arranged them, sup
| pose" suggested the girl, looking up sud-
denly, a. If struck at the possibility of
her idea being of some weight.
| Perhaps 30. She is not engaged yet?
Helen threaded a needle with some
care and stopped over her work.
! mo; she IL just the same as ever. Al
ways busy, always happy. always . Ia
vorite. But-ons never hears the slight
lest rumor Of an engagement, Or even !
filtration"
-while." added Grace. airily. .hsr dear
friend firts hare and hirts thsrs. but