The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-04-13
THE CHARITY GIRL
By EFFIE A. ROWLANDs
fond of him TO let that last.
Bv EFFIE A. ROWLANDS

L
You must have a chat with Gus when
he comes back, and until then, dear, look
upon me as your banker" she said, gent
iy.
"Dear Aunt Agatha !" Beverley muir
INJURED, pressing her hand. His gratitude
was entirely assumed, since he had set
tied this arrangement in his mind before
he left Port Elizabeth; but Mrs Thorn
ga, never doubted it for moment.
You will be a rich man some day,
Beverley, you are so clever. Brains like
yours always succeed"
| "They certainly have. served me very
| we'll so far" agreed Mr.. Rochfort. There
was a curious smile on his face as he
| recalled how often his brains had carried
| aim through disagreeable aud awkward
crises. Il must tell you Ill about my
plans tomorrow, Aunt Agatha. Are those
the Lights of Dinglewood? 1 had an idea
it was much further away. What a
fine property it is! Miss Fraser is a
lucky young woman. Is she appropriated
yet?''
There is no definite engagement; but
l don't think 1 am far wrong if I say
Sheia's fancy leans toward Lord John
Giendurwood. think you met him
whel you were here before"
4 grim look settled on Beverley Roch-
forts handsome face; his lips compressed
themselves into a tight, ugly line.
eyes, / know Glendurwood," was all
he Sc id :; but keen listener might have
detected something hard and strange in
his voice. HE is very decided prig,
Aunt Agatha"
Mrs. Thorngate made no reply to this,
IN her heart for Lord John, and was one
Of his warmest admirers.
~ hate prigs! l knew one out there"
with a comprehensive nod backward at
some unnamed bourne-''to whom l took
fancy" Beverley laughed softly. HE
was the surliest chap I ever came across,
out what a plucky one! We knocked
against each other pretty often. l felt
sorry for him, somehow; he seemed al
ways so glum. He gave me a packet to
bring home to some lawyers here, and
mace me swear l would honestly deliver
it. He called himself John Marsh, but
] AN quite sure that was no. his name.
He must have been a good-looking fellow
"ACu hC was yOuhSC1, Win CySS as OiuS
well, as your large sapphire ring, Aunt
Agatha, and coal-black hair. A strange
coordination! l never saw 1t before"
why, that's just what that child is
like ~ cried the rector's wife.
what child?'
Miss Fraser's maid, and protege Of
Gus! Such a lovely little creature.
wish you could see her, Beverley"
Il never waste my admiration on ser
| wants." he said as they reached the low,
wide porch-like entrance of Dinglewood
House.
Miss Fraser was dispensing tea to her
grace the Duchess of Marlborough and
| one OF two other people. She received
Mrs. Thorngate in the wsrm, pretty
fashion she always assumed before Jacks
mother.
"How good of you to come! Dear
mamma will be so pleased to see you !!
Thanks, she is really better this afternoon
at least hope so. Oh she frightened
me terribly when she fell down in that
| fairting fit! l did not wait her to go,
| but she would do it. Mr.. Rochfort,
| will you come and sit mere? Dear god
| mamma, may 1 introduce Mr. Beverley
RocLtort to you? He has just come back
| from foreign parts, and will entertain
you. l am sure"
The duchess moved her arrle skirts
so that Beverley might sit down. Lord
John was speaking very plainly and earn
| estly.
"sheila," he said, as he drew the girl
apart from the rest for a moment, "how
| comes that man here?"
what man? Oh, Mr.. Rochfort?
| Why he is dear Mrs. Thorngate's nephew.
Stupid Jack, as if you did not know
! that"
Il did not know 1t, or I should not
have asked the question. ] have never
seen him down here before, and l have
never heard Mrs. Thorngate speak of
him."
"Oh, he is her joy and her beloved. 1
cali him handsome, don't you? But, of
course, no man ever aomtres another;
forgot"
whoever he may be, i know him as
one Of the greatest blackgnards it has
ever been my lot to meet"
Good gracious, Jack, how awful; and
Mr.. Thorngate clergyman, tool"
"Mr. Thorngate has nothing to do
with him. I doubt If he would ever let
HIM inside his house if he knew as much
| about him as / do"
Beverley was in the BEST of spirits.
He lad carefully noted chat whispered
conference at the fire, just as he had
noted that Lord John Glendurwood did
not vouchsafe him any greeting. He was
much relieved as Sheila came ur to them
| and treated him to a smile. He did not
quite understand her expression, but he
| studied 1t well and determined to think
it over. He was a most amusing man
he could tell an anecdote with just enough
disregard for the truth as to rcint it well
and make it more palataole. His voice
was SO pleasant, his bearing 30 grace
full, and his face 20 hands ,me, that he
won everybody's heart.
You must come to Craislands," cried
the duchess, with decision.
Meanwhile Jack Glendurwood was
strioing through the chill February at
terncon; a slight frost and fall of snow
had prevented the meet that morning,
and he felt q trife bored.
l d. An r.