The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-09-15
CHAPTER XVII.

Is less perceptlble. They seemed 10 nave
passed very lightly over the small phase
of existence working itself out unheeded
by the world in the drawing room where
we last saw Agnes Winter, and where
we now find her again.
The room as unchanged, and the Agnes
Winter dwelling therein was the same
woman. The same strong, finished grace
attended her movements, but her eyes
lacked repose. They were the eyes OF
one who has waited and waited in vain
None need search very far afield to find
such eyes as now looked up nervously to-
ward the door at the sound of the large
oId-fashioned bell pealing in the basement
"Who is that?" said Agnes Winter to
herself. "Who can that be?'
She rose and set one or two things IN
order about the room, and after glanclne
at the clock, stood motionless with her
tired eyes fixed on the door. listening IN
tently. While she stood there the dooi
was opened, and the maid announced:
''Mr. Easton."
Matthew Mark Easton came into the
room Immediately afterward. He snooR
hands rather awkwardly. as one sees
man 20 through the ceremony whose nm
gers are injured.
"How do you do, Miss Winter be
said, gravely.
"Well," she said in a sharp. unsteady
voice, ignoring his question, what news
have you!"
81 have no news of the ship, Miss Win
ter" he replied.
Tell me-" she said, what you have
done"
Il have" he said. explored every yard
of the coast from the North Cape 10 the
Yana river
"And why did you stop at the 1ana
river?" asked the lady, with an air OF
knowing her ground.
81 will tell you afterward.. he said !:
when Miss Grace is with you-lf-it
she does not object to my presence"
She drew writing materials toward her
and wrote: "Mr. Easton is here; come at
once" She read it aloud, and, ringing
the bell, dispatched the note.
81 presume" said Easton, slowly, that
the admiral is still with u.s.
''Yes; he is alive and well. Helen is
you will find her a little changed"
he EdlStu HIS tSeS " hti ioNN' AAAS
glance was as quick as ever, but his eyes
did not twinkle now: they were grave,
and the rapidity of their movement, be-
ing deprived of brightness, was almost
furtive. Then they sat waiting. until
the silence became oppressive. Suddenly
Easton spoke with a return of the quaint,
narrative manner which she remember
ed as characteristic.
Zone evening" he said 'as we were
steaming down the Baltic last week-a
dull warm evening, Tuesday, | guess-I
was standing at the stern rail with my
arms beneath my chin, when something
fell upon my sleeve. l looked at it curl
ously, for | had not seen such a thing for
years. 1t was a tear-most singular !
feel like crying now, Miss Winter: l
should like to sit down on that low chair
In the corner there and-cry. There are
some disappointments that come like the
disappointments of childhood-when it
rained on ones birthday and put stop
to the picnic"
Miss Winter said nothing. She merely
sat in her gracious, attentive attitude and
looked at him with sympathetic eyes.
at shows" he continued, presently,
show entirely one may be mistaken in
ones own destiny. I never should have
considered myself to be the sort of per-
son into whose life catastrophe was in
tended to break"
p She still allowed him to continue, and
after pause he took advantage of her
silence.
':Some men," he Went on, expect to
have other lives upon their consciences-
but their own lives are more or less at
equal stake, and the risk is allowed for
in their salary, or is supposed to be.
have thirty lives set down on the debt
side of my account, and some of those
lives are chips off my own"
Thirty questioned Miss Winter
'There were only eighteen men on board
all told"
"Yes; but there were others. 1 shall
tell you when Miss Grace comes. 1t is
not a story that one cares to relate more
often than necessary"
In few moments they heard the sound
of the front door bell. Easton rose from
his seat. He did not go toward the door,
but stood in the middle of the room, look
ing rather breathlessly toward Miss Win
ter. She it was who moved to the door.
going out to the head of the stairs to
meet Helen.
Dear" he heard her say, and her voice
was smooth and sweet, "Mr. Easton is
here; he has come back
There was no answer, and a moment
later Helen Grace stood before him. As
he took the hand she stretched out to
him with an air almost of bravado. be
saw at once the difference limited at by
Miss Winter. 1t lay in the expression
of her face, it lowered in her eyes. It il
to be seen in most ball rooms, and the
faces carrying it are usually beautiful,
The striking characteristic of such WON
en- is their impregnability.
81 am glad, Miss Grace" Easton said
that you have done me the honor of com
Ing"
And she smiled exactly as he expected
the hard, inscrutable society" smile.
which never betrays and is never infec-
tious. She did not, however, trust her
self so far as to speak. There was ST.
lence for a moment-such a silence and
such moment as leave their mark unon
the entire life. Easton breathed hard
he had no doubt at that time that he
was bringing to each of these women
news OF the man she loved.
CHA TED vvrrry