The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-03-12
CHAPTER. mi.

OA4AI IL.
Harold Denison was an embittered, dis
appointed man-far too clever not to see
how he had thrown the game Of life
away by the turf follies and extrava-
gances of his early days; far too proud
TO take a reduced status in the county in
which he had been at one time a lead
ing magnate; far 100 selfish to sacrifice
an iota of that pride to enhance the pleas
ure of either his wife or his daughter.
he had married, early in life, lady Of
good family in his own county. 1t had
oeen better for Harold Denison had she
been constituted Of sterner stuff. She
never crossed her husband in word or
deed.
Maude was the only child, and this
perhaps still more fostered the intense
selfishness of Mr.. Denison's disposition.
A girl was, of course, sure to marry. He
had none of his stock to come after him;
and though he little relished the i4sa of
the Denisons of Glinn being blotted out
OF the county Red-book, he could not be
expected to feel much interest for boy
ish nephew he had barely seen. On one
point only did poor Mrs. Denison ever
venture to contradict her lords wishes
that was about Maude The girl was all
in all to her mother. Maude's woman's
wit had early made her understand that
her father dealt but hard justice in that
quarter; and she was ever ready to flash
forth as her mothers champion. Other
wise she loved her father very dearly,
and was quite imbued with the family
doctrine of self-sacrifce where he should
be concerned
BY the light of candle, in the soil
tude of his chamber, Grenville Rose was
tasting all the sweets of dressing to catch
an early train on a dark February morn
ing. He had been brought up great deal
with his cousin Maude. They had romp-
ed together as children, and been fast
cousinly friends since they had grown
bigger. No lovemaking had ever taken
place between the pair, yet Granville
was conscious of being very fond of that
grey-eyed damsel.
Grenville enters the old dining room,
to gulp his scalding coffee, and recognize
the utter futility of attempting to eat at
abnormal hours. He is suffering altogeth-
er from considerable mental depression
predominant idea, perhaps, What
door opens, and Maude Denison glides
into the room.
''Good morning, GrenVille. Isn't this
good of me to make such a struggle, and
rush down to give you your coffee? All,
see you've got it. Never mind, you
must take the will for the deed. At all
events, I'm in time to say good by"
His face lit up as he shook hands
with her. ''Very kind indeed, Maude, to
come down and give me last glimpse
of you-so tired, too, as you must be
after your triumphs of last night"
'"Triumphs! What do you mean" re-
piled Miss Denison, in sweet humility,
though a coquettish smile and fash of
the deep grey eyes showed that she was
perfectly conscious of her ballroom sue
cess.
"Oh, the hypocrisy of women !" laughed
perfectly we'll that all the men were
raving with admiration, and that the la
dies could find no words to express their
opinion of you As if you could not inn
agine that you were pronounced hand
some. lovely, graceful-stigmatized as over
dressed, under dressed, and awkward !
While your admirers on one side of the
room vowed so light a foot never glided
across the boards at minister, your de-
tractors on the other, were specializing
as to how much of your hair and complex
ion were really your birthright. AS il
YOU did not know you were the belle of
the ball, and enjoyed all the rights and
privileges of the distinction"
"Ah, we'll ~ she rejoined, with a saucy
smile: II am not going to be humbug
to YOU, Granville. l know some people
thought looked nice, and l know others
disliked me for doing so. Let me pour
YOU out some more coffee"
fTSo ho continued