The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-04-04
BY MISADVENTURE
Err A NIX b A r r e T II
CHAPTER XIV.

The young man DENT Ills ncdu Oh" A"O
ed on the ground. He couldn't stand
chat: but he had to make the best OF 1t
now-perhaps consoling himself with the
reflection that he would not stand
after their marriage. l can imagine MN
promising himself to break her IN ana
bring her to meek submission IN the iu-
ture. Pity those poor souls VINO marry
a bully they have teased beforehand!
Il think this is scarcely time for
badinage," said he, after a pause, stiil
looking upon the ground and tracing the
pattern of the carpet with the lash OF MS
whip. II know l am not perfect; OuI
YOU must admit that allowances snouio
be made for a fellow under the influence
of-of emotion"
II am willing to admit that a man
under that condition is not responsible
for his actions-is that enouShE
IF YOU admit that, what am l to un-
derstand by your present attltude' Lou
seem to forget what took place pe1ore
went away
But do not You made me an otfer
Of marriage: but am / wrong in thinking
that YOU made that under the influence
Of emotion? l absolve you from respon-
sibility for action under that condition.
May not suppose that you were BESIDE
yourself when you made that proposal,
and overlook the mistake as readily as
that you have committed SINGER
1T was not a mistake, Gertrude
loved you then as love you now; l nave
come here this afternoon to ask you again
if you will have me, faulty as l am-yet
an honest fellow-and be my wife,
Nurse Gertrude was not greatly moved
with this speech, which had very little
appearance of depth and sincerity IN H.
despite the quavering of that manly voice.
May 1 ask why you have thought 1t
necessary to ask me a second timer she
asked, trying to fix his shifty eyes, and
learn the truth from them.
well, your manner seems to imply
that you consider the engagement broken
off"
81 did think 1T broken off. Had l not
reason to think SOP"
"Oh. yes the way l spoke to you ana
little Laurie was objectionable.
He paused and looked down again to
escape from her fathoming eyes. He had
probably thought that there would be lit
tie difficulty in his way, and that he could
lust reconcile Gertrude, if she should re-
sent his silence, with few words or a
kiss or two, and without going into any
more ve1atious explanation than mere
avowal of manly weakness under trying
circumstances. DR.. Awdrey had told him
to confess the truth, and conceal nothing,
adding that a woman would forgive the
man she loves anything except duplicity.
But Lynn, in his own conceited, pig
headed way, had fully relied on his own
cleverness; his contempt for women In
general disposed him to tell them no more
than was necessary. He would rather
have avoided an explanation which,
though it presented a certain attraction
in being untruthful, would require good
deal of bolstering up to support his as
sumption of honesty and generosity. How
ever, he had bungled so disastrously In
his own attempt, that he saw no escape
from his dilemma but by acting now on
Awdrey's suggestion.
''The fact u.s." said he, changing his
tone with a slash at his leg, Il was pur-
posely brutal to little Laure and you.
/ wished you to take offense and relieve
me from the engagement"
THAT is what I thought was the
only construction could put upon your
behavior" said she.
II dare say you wonder what my rea-
son was. will tell you. l can't conceal
the truth, and know we'll enough that
there's nothing a loving woman will not
forgive, except duplicity."
A new warmth glowed in Gertrude's
heart. She liked those words they were
good and rue-it never struck her that
they might be DIR. Awdrey's.
II knew that through Keene's delay l
was ruined-that had nothing whatever
to expect from my uncle's will. I knew
that L must no longer cherish the thought
Of making you my wife, in debt and PEN
niless as l was, and-but there, you can
imagine the rest"
"You wanted to give me the opportu-
nifty Of breaking the engagement, before it
might appear that our separation was due
to mercenary considerations on my part.
oh, that was generous" exclaimed Nurse
Gertrude, carried away by her own impul-
sive and generous recognition of an un-
selfsh-nay, chlvalrous motive on his
part. All my warning was forgotten in
an instant.
Il did not want to tell you this" he
said. In a tone that seemed to disclaim
any merit to gratitude.
"But you wronged me, Lynn" she said
gently-''you wronged me, to think !
might wish to break the engagement be.
cause you were less rich than you ex.
pected to be when you made me an Offer
She held out her hand to him frankly
and he took 1t. II he had been wise
enough to tell her all that had passed be
tween him and Audrey, she would have
been his without doubt. In return for an
open avowal, he would have swept aside
my warning and all prudential con
sideratious, put the best construction or
his motives, and scorned to entertain an,
suspicion Of mercenary motives which
might be suggested by his conduct. Nov
was tho time for him to spring mn and
put his arms around her; but he hun,
back. the dolt. With that perverse ides
Of q girls mental inferiority, he thoueh
ne had told her enough. Possibly he va,
annoyed In being forced to abandon hi,