The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-07-21

was the onus, and his must be the blame.
There was no desire to shirk response
bility; indeed, he seemed to court IL
Helen Grace must be deceived-it was z
contemplate thing to do-and he would
have none other but himself. He stub
bornly took 1t all upon his own shoul-
ders.
81 suppose" said Helen at last, that
he wants to 60" 49,.
"Of course" was the answer. what
sailor would not? But l persuaded him
the fault 10 all NINE"
She looked up sharply.
And Mr. Easton! p she inquired, with
keen logic.
"Yes, yes; but 1 chose your brother.
The matter rests with me, and-the
blame.'
what has Mr.. Easton to do with it?'
she asked and he knew that she was al
ready prejudiced against the American.
HE is getting up the expedition-ths
first one"
"And he goes with you!"
NO" replied Tyars; II have already
told you-he is physically incapacitat-
ed"
She gave a little laugh-a very un-
pleasant laugh for a man to hear from
the lips of a woman. Fortunately Mat
thew Mark Easton was spared the cru
city of hearing it.
! Il like you" she said, 'for telling
me. There were SO many other ways OF
doing it-so many easier ways for you
but you chose to tell me yourself.
-
capable air, despite an unusual rapidly
of thought which took the form of action
in emergencies, he was not able to reel
| of glib phrases at the proper moment.
Suddenly her proud self-restraint SEEM
ed to give way.
II suppose" she said, softly, almost
pleadngly, that nothing will deter you? p
"One word from you would deter me"
he said, but l do not think that you
will say it."
NO" she answered, with a smile; II
am not going to ask you to let my BROTH
er off,"
II did not know how he was circum-
| stanced when | first met him." said Ty-
ars; II did not know of your existence"
"Of course" she said, with a little
shrug of the shoulders, II am not going
to be silly and stand in my brothers
way. Only it would have been so much
better could you have found some one
like yourself-without brother or sister,
or any one to care much for him. 1t 10
not only for myself"
She stopped suddenly. There was a
moment of tense silence. Then he slowly
approached her until the little table alone
separated them.
Miss Grace" he said, slowly, what
do you mean?"
She was not the kind of woman to
resort to subterfuge or useless denial, and
she therefore held her tongue. At the
same time she began to feel very help
less. With Oswin, with her father. and
| with all men whom she had hitherto
known, she could hold her own. but with
Claud Tyars it was different. There was
| in his presence force which did not
take the form of words. He merely stood
still, and his silence was stronger than
any words she had yet heard. Then he
spoke slowly and quite gently:
| "You must tell me-" he said, what
you mean"
She glanced up at him appealingly be-
meath her lashes, at bay and yet almost
mastered. He softened little.
'Unless," he added, lit would be q
breach of confidence"
"No." she answered, sit Is not that
for no one has con6ded in me-but I
think"
"You are not sure?" he interrupted.
eagerly.
| Eyes, Mr.. Tyars, l am sure"
He turned away again and went to-
ward the window. She mechanically took
I'D her work. and for some time both
were fully occupied with their own
thoughts.
The short winter day was drawing in
before Claud Tyars left Brook street. A
he shook hands with Helen, he said:
Il had the pleasure of meeting Miss
Winter the other evening"
YES" said Helen, "she told me-"
That was all, but they understood each
other. A stress upon a single word, q
glance, a little hesitation. will say so
much that cannot be set down in print.
The unfinished conversation was termi-
mated. Claud Tyars knew that there
was some one else to watch and wait for
Oswin Grace if he went to the Arctic
seas.
He had only been in the room an hour
la dismal November afternoon-and yet
there was difference in his life as he
left the door. 1t does not take long to
make friend.
Ito Be continued)