The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-12-26

house in sight"
"All right" was Rogers cheerful re-
spouse; things are just as they should
be. Walk as fast as you can; in less than
ten minutes we shall be at the gate of
Maplewood. Could anything be more clev-
erly arranged? OF course we must take
refuge from the impending storm. They
will be compelled to house us for an hour
at least
ooh, Roger, what a good idea,' ex-
claimed Alison, laughing. please let us
| make haste, though, or we shall never
reach Maplewood in time" And Alison
quickened her walk into run. But the
heavy drops pelted on her before she took
refuge in the portico.
Before Roger could lift his hand to the
knocker, the door was flung open, and
Anna stood on the threshold.
II saw you both running down the
road" she exclaimed, eagerly. Il knew
you would take refuge here from the rain !;
there is going to be such heavy storm,
| and l was just beginning to feel fright
ened at the thought of being alone in it.,
but don't mind a bit now"
do you mean that Mrs. Hardwick and
your sister are out?" asked Roger, as he
shook Alison's light mantle, which was
already wet.
"Yes, they are out dining. There is to
be dance afterward, so they will be very
late. Do you mind my taking you into
the morning room? 1 have some work
that 1 must finish, or Eva will be disap-
pointed, but 1 can talk to you all the
same. Oh, it is so nice to see you again"
looking at Alison affectionately.
"Is it not nice to see me, too? asked
Roger, in a comical tone. Il don't think
you ought to leave me out in the cold,
Miss Anna
Anna laughed and blushed at this, then
she said, very prettily, in her childish
way, ooh, 1 am glad to see you, too, but
1 never thought of telling you so. Will
you ring, Mr. Roger? and then Morton
will bring us some tea. Please take that
easy chair by the window, Miss Merle
it is Eva's favorite seat, because there
is such pretty view of the garden"
mo, indeed l am going to help you,
returned Alison, laying her hat aside, and
pulling off her long gloves. "Oh, you
poor child what a task - as she inspected
Annals work. She was trimming an In
dian muslin gown with coffee-colored lace.
Eyes, is it not pretty?' returned Anna,
innocently. EVA means to wear it at our
garden party on Thursday. You and Mr..
Roger are both coming, are you not?'
1--WE are not invited" returned Alison,
little gravely, as she took thimble
from her pocket, and helped herself I'M
asked to a needle and thread. II am go
ing on with that founce," she continued,
quietly, $50 you have nothing to do but
to talk to me and Roger"
"Oh, how kind you are!' returned
Anna, gratefully. ''The thunder always
makes my head ache little, and l have
been working all the afternoon, and it
was so hot; indeed" interrupting herself,
eva was writing out your notes of in
vitation to-day. l think she gave them
to Mabel l am sorry" flushing little
as she spoke, shat you should have them
so late, but Eva is always so busy"
$50 is some one else always busy"
observed Roger, with plying glance at
the girls tired face. Both he and Alison
thought she looked thinner and paler
than when they saw her last; her blue
eyes looked large and heavy, and the veins
of the forehead were marked too clearly !;
her fair hair was strained from her face
and coiled somewhat untidy, and her gray
linen dress looked tumbled and far from
fresh.
II am afraid you will have to house us
for a good hour or MORE" Roger observed
'for the weather means mischief, and in
this climate it never rains but it pours,
so while Allie does your work you may
as we'll make yourself comfortable. 1 sup
pose you will not mind my going into the
library for book, for 1 am not much
of hand at talk? You may summon
me when tea is ready" And Roger
marched off, muttering to himself 1.-Two
is company, three is none; she shall not
be bothered with making company talk
for me, poor little girl J"
"How good he s!'' whispered Anna,
almost before the door had closed be-
hind him; she thinks l want to talk to
you alone, and so l do. Oh, how quick
ly you work your needle seems to fly.
My head was aching so with STOPPING
over the muslin that l could hardly see,
| but when 1 told Eva so she said l was
always full of fancies, and that I was
| SO dreadfully idle. But don't think
really am idle, do you?"
mo, indeed" returned Alison, with
something of Aunt Diana's abruptness; Il
am sure you have been working too hard,
you look so thin and unsubstantial. Tell
me, Anna, why have you never come to
see me again, as you promised?'
eva does not want me to come; at
| least, 1 think So she always raises diff
culties when l ask to accompany her !;
| and-and"-h eyes filling with tears
"she was so angry that afternoon when
you and Mr.. Roger were so kind to me !;
| she said I was so forward that people
| could not help noticing me, and that she
was sure Mr.. Roger thought So"
'Never mind. Anna dear-may I call
| you Anna? and please remember l am
only girl myself, and my name is Alison,
/ and not Miss Merle. Never mind, what
your sister says is not 'true; people often
say things when they are put out which
they do not really mean. No one could
think you forward; l am sure Roger
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