The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-10-26
q r a n v i | 1 e

to stand by her. 1t would be but poor
return on your part for all her kindness
to you if you didn't; but in wronging
me she has wronged you as well. In
opposing our union, she not only wrecks
my happiness, but yours"
He was quieter presently. In the soft
ening influence of Harriet Weldon's pres
ence his evil genius seemed to desert him.
The angry expression of his features re-
laxed. They sat side by side and began
to talk. Still pleading with him, Harriet
Weldon strove to persuade her lover to
| abandon his intention of Immediately
leaving France.
Il have given you all my heart" she
said, tearfully. land now you are going
| away. perhaps fOrever-but bark, what
sound is that?"
She leaned out of the window and list
ened intently for moment. The sound
of wheels on the carriage drive was dis
| tinctly audible. She rushed to the man
| tlepiece where little clock stood ticking
away the precious moments.
at is long past twelve" she exclaim-
ed. That's their carriage we hear.
| They've come back from the opera. o,
Charlie, go, go, beg you, while you can
| get away"
Van Lith turned at once to go. For
| a moment only. he held her to his breast.
| Into that brief interval of time were COM
pressed hundred different emotions,
| which stirred him as he had not been
| stirred for many day.
Il cannot, yet l must leave you," he
cried
He bowed his head little and kissed
her twice upon the lips. She trembled
| violently, but thrust him away from her,
repeating in tones of entreaty:
BE careful o, do be careful!'
He was himself once more. He placed
the half-fainting form of the girl upon
the sofa. and hurried away. He was
| about to commence his descent from the
window. and had already swung the old
| fashioned, damond-paned sash half way
open. when Harriet, in whose agitated
mind the fear of discovery overcame all
| feminine weakness. rushed forward, and,
catching hold of his arm, exclaimed:
You are too late Come back. Be
| quick, or you will be SEEM"
Van Lith had just time to close the
window when, through chink in the cur
! tains, he saw a hooded barouche, drawn
| by two powerful horses, sweep rapidly
around the bend of the avenue and draw
up at the main entrance of the chateau.
From the vehicle there alighted a gentle
man of about thirty years of age. With
a great show of attention he first assist
ed a young lady, evidently still in her
teens, to descend. He then with much
solicitude placed his nattily gloved hand
at the disposal of the third occupant of
the carriage, a gray-haired lady, evident
| ly well advanced in years, for she leaned
heavily upon the shoulders of both her
companions. She shivered slightly as she
stood upon the gravel path in the moon
light, notwithstanding that the night was
| warm.
| There were traces yet of extreme beau
ty in this woman's features, who, as
Sarah Graham, had once been the toast of
the club rooms in fashionable New York.
1t was still the face of refined and cul-
tured American lady. The nose was thin
and aquiline, and an expression at once
naughty, yet kindly withal, sat upon the
mobile, nervous lips. Jewels flashed
upon her still firm neck and her little
wrists. She held herself erect and her
| eyes flashed proudly, as she looked upon
her splendid home.
Emily, my dear, 1 have left my shawl
in the carriage. Will you please hand
it to me? Monsieur Chabot, your arm"
The younger lady at once sprang light
ly into the carriage, and returning with
the shawl, wrapped it closely about her
aunt. There was an inexpressible ten
derness in the action.
'How thoughtless of me, dear. You
might have taken cold. Don't ring, Mon
sieur Chabot. 1 have latch key. All,
here is Pierre. Pierre, are you sitting
up? l hope there's some supper ready,
for I'm hungry as can be. Come, aunt !;
let's go in"
But something seemed to have attract
ed Nine. Roupell's attention She with
drew her hand from the arm of her male
escort, and adjusting her monocle, a
dainty toy of gold and ivory, gazed stead
lily at the upper windows of the chateau
isn't it rather strange, my dear, that
there's a light in Harriet's room? l
thought she was going to bed. If her
headache was no worse than that she
might as we'll have accompanied us this
| evening. When l was young girl, Mon
sieur Chabot, it would have taken some
thing more than headache to keep me
away from the opera"
NJ. Chabot smiled, and showed his
white teeth pleasantly.
Madame can still teach us inexperi-
enced people how to enjoy life," he re-
marked, CALAMITY. sit remained for the
United States to send to France another
Ninon D'Enclos, to prove that charming
women never grow old"
Really, Monsieur Chabot, am over
whelmed. For simplicity and natural
ness in compliment, my dear Emily, let
me recommend this fatterer."
Nine. Roupell's favorite pastime was
to make NJ. Chabot believe that his ex-
aggerated praises of her as great lady
struck home. One of her sayings was,
II like Monsieur Chabot He is such a
sincere humbug," but she must have really
been little moved on this occasion, for
her smooth, white fingers on the French.
mans coat sleeve frightened their pressure
and her face ightened wonderfully.