The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-04-02


| ana sought MS wife's boudoir, having pre-
| viously ascertained that his daughter was
out of the house.
II want to talk something over with
| you, Nellie" he observed, as he entered.
Il don't think that it will be quite pleas
ant to hear, but, at all events, It can't
distress you, as you will have the power
of deciding as you like about it."
Mrs. Denison raised her face anxiously
to her husbands. Decision, on any point,
was painful to her, and she was too well
aware, from former experience, that this
was but the prelude to some scheme in
which her concurrence had already been
| practically marked out by her lord and
| master Harold Denison's consultations,
at such times. generally comprised mere
synopsis of his intentions, revealing some
minor unpleasantness which he looked to
her to carry out. Poor Mrs. Denison
might well be difident about such conf
dences; as a rule, they had borne but
bitter fruit.
"What should you say" continued the
squire, IF tell you that it is possible to
save Glinn to us YETI"
"Oh, Harold, can it be SOP" cried Mrs.
Denison with clasped hands and beating
heart. "No, you don't look like it; see
in your face there is more to follow. It
is some bare chance, and your sanguine
nature has led you astray concerning it"
| Nellie, don't be foolish. There is
way of arranging all these miserable
money matters that has been submitted to
me, and which, should we consent to-,
| there is no doubt will prove perfectly
| satisfactory. l have turned it all we'll
over in my mind, and though I have, as
yet, come to no determination concerning
| it, yet don't deem it altogether imprac-
| ticable. Will you hear me patientiy!
EYES, Harold" was the meek response.
"Well, what l want to talk to you
about is this. OF course you must be
| aware that Maude is not only grown up
and handsome, but has arrived at an age
when wooers may be expected.
what do you mean" asked the moth
er, her pale face flushing, and half
| anxious, half-frightened expression visible
| in her blue eyes.
1--WE will come to that presently. You
know her admirers at the Xminster ball
we're numerous. A man of good property
| in this county solicits permission to pay
his addresses to Maude. He can give her
a good home and everything she can want
| now, while at the death of his father ne
| will be the possessor of large landed es-
| tates in the county, besides considerable
sums invested elsewhere"
The poor mothers heart beat quick. To
| whom was she to be asked to yield her
darling? Who in all the county side was
worthy of her peerless Maude? She
knew of none; yet she spoke not, but
| gazed eagerly into her husbands face,
and waited with high-strung nerves till
he should speak. again.
"Maude can have no attachment as
yet?" inquired the squire, at length.
mo, l think not. How could she,
Harold? The poor child has, as yet,
seen so little of the world, and Maude
is not one to give her heart away light
ly."
"Maidens' hearts are stolen, sometimes,
good while before they are themselves
aware of it." returned Denison, senten-
tiously. ut is essential for my project
that Maude should be fancy Free"
"She u.s." returned the mother, anx-
iously; 'but tell me, who is this you
think good enough for her? There is no
one know" she continued. sadly, fit
to claim my darling's hand"
Its no use fencing any MORE" re-
Piled the squire. young Pearman was
much struck with Maude at the Xmin-
ster ball, and solicits permission to win
her, if he can"
"Pearman! What-the son of the law
yer 7" cried Mrs. Denison. You're jok.
ing. Harold, surely You would never
consent to such a match for a daughter
of yours"
Listen, Nellie" replied the squire, sad
". "Pearman has a heavy mortgage on
the property; he has bought the best
| mart of what has been sold, and Maude's
marriage with his son would once more
consolidate Glinn. Don't interrupt me !"
he exclaimed, in answer to despairing
gesture of his wife's. II don't say if
things stood with us as they did in the
old times I'd listen to such proposal
as this; but, Nellie, If Maude could make
| up her mind to it, Glinn would remain
ours, and that would tighten the remain.
der of my time in this world, and yours,
too, wife NINE"
| mot unless Maude were happy" muir.
INJURED the poor mother.
I can fancy the contempt with which
| a Belgravian matron might regard Mrs
| Denison's last remark. A penniless girl
offered wealth, country house, etc., and
her mother Numbering about her happi
ness. Oh, it is too absurd!
Ito be continued)