The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-07-09


pher," he said. II envy you. I'm a.
restless as hawk"
l smiled. IAN uneasy conscience"
mo; I'm no Etienne. believe the
only place for such men is under lock
and key. But l hate to sit still and
think-in my present condition.
He did not seem disposed to explain
that position, and | would not press him
After a time we adjourned to my bal
cony and sat there enjoying the day, car
rying on somewhat desultory CONVEX
sation. l found that l liked this man !;
there was a frank camaraderie about
him, an openness of face and spirit, that
irresistibly appealed. He seemed the
better sort of young New Yorker, thor
oughly optimistic, always at his ease.
1 could see he had the knack of knowing
how to dress even his loose, 5aggy out
ing clothes set well upon him.
do you ever shoot at gulls?" he
asked, noting the birds that wheeled con-
tinualy in from sea and over the cliffs.
mo; it's bad luck to shoot them. In
stormy weather, when sailors can't see
their hands before their faces, they can
hear the beating of gulls' wings and look
out for hidden rocks. One comes to
think a great deal of seafarers down this
way"
Il dare say. 1t must be beastly work
in a storm at sea-"
Il often think that when I'm in bed
on a bad night The Shoal Light yonder
keeps most of the ships away"
We smoked for a time in silence.
"What a contrast" Islip said at length,
between this quiet beach and the folks
at the club! l think like this the bet
ter of the two, but l should want COM
pany."
MANY people over there now?' !
asked.
"A goodsh number
"Who are they?" l inquired idly.
ooh, the usual crowd of city mag
mates with their wives and families
James G. Purviance of Oil. with the
Mrs. and two manageable daughters.
The Mrs. has her eyes on Colonel Eel
loves, the man who judges the hackneys
at all the shows. l think he'd rather
stay single, but the nets are Tightening,
and Mrs Purviance isn't going to let him
Slip Then there's the Gregory family.
l.
of the day. giving orders how to run his
railroad, though he thinks he is off on
summer holiday; and the three girls and
the boy cut capers on the golf-links, and
get up theatricals in the evening. Then
there are two very decent unattended
bachelors, Philip Leroy and Arthur Saw
age-wel, l suppose l might say three,
because I'm bachelor
"Yes?" | asked in a tone that asked
delicately for more.
"Oh, there's Mr.. Divine of Rock Bot
tom Lead, and-let me see-there's a
Miss Elizabeth Corey and her niece, Miss
Graham. of New York"
l watched him out of the corner of my
eye, but his tanned face was placidity it.
SELF
What are they like?" 1 asked.
every nice. Miss Corey is quite the
grande dame, in gentle way"
"And the niece?'
Now I detected a shift in Islip's posi-
ton.
well, she's very nice. too, very nice.
I knew her quite well in town." He
broke off definitely.
l changed the subject. l didn't care
very much about the rest of the guests
at the club.
A little later Islip took up his fishing
rod and his empty basket, and we walked
up the beach together. At the farther
end l pointed him out his road home.
MAY l drop in on you again if I'm in
the neighborhood?" he asked as we said
good-by.
II wish you would. Next time I'll put
you on to a place where you'll get all
the fish your basket will hold. I've lit
tie place of my own
Thanks. l know you don't care for
the club, or I'd ask you up to dinner.
If 1 get word of sudden break in the
market, I'll let you hear"
1t was plain that he couldn't keep his
thoughts long from Wall Street. l smiled
at the apparent incongruity Of his words
there on the beach, then l watched him
climb the rocks and disappear. 1t was
pleasant to have company, l considered,
but for some reason 1 found the Ship,
when l climbed on board to try my
paints, rather lonely. l was not used to
having two visitors in as many days.