The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-07-30

only too apt, taking the facts IN con
junction with my mysterious ride to TIL
club in the evening, to believe had
dreamed it all. What would a schooner
crew bs doing on our lonely beach II
| the height of midnight storm? A sen
| sible man would naturally be inclined t.
doubt.
/ settled down to work, and, shutting
my mind both to the mystery and to Miss
Graham, succeeded in getting good dea
done by night. The next day passed in
similar fashion, living in quiet comfort
| so long as the storm lasted.
The third day broke fair, and early in
the morning l swept the sea and the
beach with my binoculars. Never were
sea and land more peaceful the tempest
appeared to have cleared the atmosphere
and brought it to a new serenity. My
work accomplished, l set out for the little
river to the west of the cliff, to see how
my catboat had weathered the gale.
found there was some bailing to be done
and then, called by a gentle breeze, ran
up sail and for an hour beat up the chan
nell The hot sun of noon sent me home
and sat down to my midday dinner.
Charles had brought me papers and a
note from the club. l ran through the
papers first, to prove to myself how little
| cared for the note, but at last I broke
its seal.
81 am going to hold you to your invita-
ton for supper in the Ship now that the
storm is over May we have it to-day
about 6?"
That was all, without even a sigma
ture.
l was in two minds as to what to do
I could not disappoint her without seem
ing more than churlish, without writing
myself down once and for all as no gen.
tleman, and yet the sight of her note
reused much of my sleeping resentment
If 1 went. would at least show her that
two could play at her game.
l visited the larder and decided on q
menu. Then startled Charles half out
of his senses, though to his credit be it
said he never showed it. "You will pack
these things'-I pointed out certain pro
wisconsin, the wheelbarrow, and take
them on to the Ship on the beach. You
will also take the folding-table from my
study, and two folding-chairs, and set
the table on the deck. l am going to
take supper there with lady at 8. You
can leave the iced tea in a bottle. Have
the supper ready at a quarter before the
hour, and then leave. We will not re-
quire any service
"Yes, Mr.. Felix" said Charles, sedate-
ly. l frowned as though the whole pro-
ceeding bored me, and returned to my
work.
As half past l dressed carefully and
left the house. As l walked up the beach
l could not help but contrast this sunny
scene with the night of the storm. What
it was clear l was not to know much
about it.
1 waited on the shore until Miss Ora
ham appeared, and crossed the path with
her to the Ship. l pulled the snort rope
ladder over the side and helped her on
board. We beheld supper table immac-
ulately set, and places for two.
Miss Graham was delighted, and /
could not help relenting little when
saw how very pleased she was More
over, I was the host, and she my guest,
and l could not cast shadow over my
own feast. l tried, therefore, as best
could, to forget Islip and the locket. and
to think only of what beautiful late
afternoon it was, of how fresh the smell
of the sea came to the old Ships decks,
and of the beauty of the girl who sat
across from me. / think she detected
that at first 1 was making an effort, and
so tried to help me, for she was very
lively and laxative, making much sport
of the supper, all the courses of which
were spread before us at once, and Of
our having to wait upon ourselves.
When we had finished supper, 1 asked
Miss Graham's permission to light a Gig
arette and pushed my chair little back
from the table. There was a new moon
in the sky. and 1 pointed it out to her.
"This is the finest hour Of the day."
1 said. IF only the Ship would up an
Choir and take us for a sail !"
IF your pirate doesn't come now, just
after supper, with crescent moon hang
ing right side up, 1 don't believe he ever
WILL" put in the girl pensively.
Her playful words, combined with the
ingenious voice and the far-away, child
like dreaming of her eyes, aroused some
thing of my old resentment. Almost be-
fore 1 knew what l was doing l had fall
len a victim to an impulsive temptation,
and was leaning on the table with my
eyes fixed on her.
(ro be continued.)
Sickroom Mirrors.