The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-03-19

ceased to be afraid Of Beatrice. she
seemed good friend and comrade, like
Tom. The two weeks Of his vacation
passed rapidly away. There were days
OF hunting and fishing, with the long.
cozy evenings, when they gathered
about the open fireplace and told sto-
rses. There were days of pleasant
loung1ng, reading and chat And there
were two more delightful mornings
when he went with Beatrice for water
lilies. When the time came to 20 back.
Dick babe farewell regretfully to his
friends, but secretly congratulated HIM
self that after being much with a
charming girl for two weeks, he re-
MANNED uncommitted and unscathed.
AS he sat at his desk, after his return
to the city, the pleasant memories Of
the last two weeks haunted him. Fig
ures and business correspondence were
dull and lifeless; the realities were
breezy lakes and swaying trees, water
l1lies-and most persistently Of all, a
| piquant face, with dark eyes, now ear
nest and again laughing, peered from
the pages Of the ledgers, and musi-
cal voice called to him, above the din
Of machinery and traffic
| Among his letters was an invitation
for that evening. "Just few friends"
it ran, quite informal. Please come
If you have not decided to desert us
altogether"
Dick thought he preferred a quiet
evening at home, but after he had gone
to his rooms, lighted his pipe, and set
| tied himself in an easy-chair with a
book, he grew restless. The story
seemed uninteresting and inane, and his
thought harped back continually to
sparkling waters and dancing black
eyes. He felt dull and lonely.
| "Confound it ALL" he exclaimed, ris-
ing impatiently. II went to the woods
to get rid Of society, and now it looks
as If I'd have to go back to society to
be rid of the woods and"
Dick went to the party, and was well
coined by his old friends with enthu-
siasm. In the course Of the evening
the inevitable young lady claimed his
attention and they sat In a corner of
the veranda, while she talked about her
| ideals.
"She probably knows my reputation,
and expects me to propose" he unused
gloomily.
But tonight Dicks attention wan
dered. The brown eyes and curls kept
interposing between him and the blue
eyed girl beside him, and he made but
poor listener.
Suddenly, across his mind flashed the
words of Toms prophecy:
when there is girl that you would
cross the ocean just to catch glimpse
of, then and not until then"
Dick sprang to his feet.
''I'll do tip he exclaimed aloud.
His companion naturally showed
symptoms of surprise.
Pardon me-" he said, II was Just
thinking Of something"
I'm afraid you haven't been paying
any attention to what have been say
ing" she reproved.
I'm afraid 1 haven't" acquiesced
Dick cheerfully.
THAT is very complimentary It
must be getting late, and 1 am sure
mamma is ready to 60 home. Will you
take me to herr"
Dick packed his bag that night, and
took an early train the next day. When
he reached his destination, he hesitated
not second, but joyously hurried to
the cottage and raped loudly. Beatrice
came to the door. Her sleeves were
rolled up, and I'm not sure whether she
had "a dab Of flour on her nose" or not,
but there certainly was some on her
apron.
| Beatrice" said Dick, ''I've come
back to tell you that I love you, and
that l want you to marry me-"
Beatrice opened her eyes very wide.
| "O-why-" she gasped.
| "And 1 want you to tell me that 1t
isn't quite hopeless"
| "Well, perhaps-not quite,'' she MUIR
mured.- Chicago Daily News.
Marriage Of the Future.