The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-02-26

| Miss CarrlngtOnS mlnu, Ior sue iooAe"
as all young faces should look-the very
essence of sunbeam.
ooh. Aunt Di, the dear, lovely room
| And, oh, that is the new picture" spring
| ing TO the easel to gaze delightedly on
| golden cornfields, with scarlet peoples
struggling among the wheat, like gaudy
PROMISES never to ripen into fruit, and
under the hedge a little brown baby
| sleeping, with its dimpled hand full OF
weeds. and sheep dog watching Its
slumbers.
"Do you like the picture, Allie? 1t is
sold already. Lady Franklin fell IN love
with it, but 1 want it to hang In next
years Academy. The baby is painted
from life; the original belongs to Barby'
an old servant"
Aunt Di, it is perfectly beautiful !.
| Roger, come here and tell me If you 90
not think so"
Nonsense, Allie; Roger is far too hum
CRY for art criticism at present. come
away. YOU foolish child, and let me give
YOU something more satisfying than paint
ed canvas. The chickens came from bar
by's farm. with the strawberries and this
| jug of delicious cream"
Alison looked round rather bewildered,
for none of these tempting viands were
] in sight but Miss Darlington, who knew
her love for meals al frescO, had had the
supper table laid in the wide veranda,
and not only chickens and Strawberries,
but other delicacies were provided for the
hungry travellers.
'"This is better than your tea table I'M
der the lines at home, Allie" exclaimed
| Roger, as he carved for the ladies. mo
wonder she was spoiled, Aunt Diana, and
| did not take kindly to the sooty ivy and
| the music of the crane"
'Roger, l shall impose forfeit IT eth
er you or Allie mention the MILL" OBJ
served Miss Darlington, as she handed
| him a cup of coffee enriched with Bar
| by's yellow cream. Il want you two
| young things to forget everything but
how you are to amuse yourselves. Allie,
shall we have our breakfast here, as we
did last year, while the blackbirds and
thrushes take theirs? Roger looks as
| if he wanted to live in the open air. Do
you know you have got thin, dear boy?'
"Never mind that, Aunt Diana; there
is no fear of rusting, that is one bless
ing-work never hurt man or woman
yet"
NO." she said, thoughtfully, "but mod
Grafton in all things was an apostles
maxim; but you are right in principle,
Roger. Now for the home news. What
is really your fathers condition? Let
tiers are so unsatisfactory, and they never
say half enough"
'Dr. Greenwood is delighted with the
gets across the room quite nicely on
clutches, though he is not to do more at
present. OF course, the long confinement
| has made him look pale and delicate, but
| his spirits are first rate. DR.. Greenwood
| told me the other day that in another year
or so he might hope to be as we'll as
ever. He says he is an excellent pa
tent"
"And how does the book go on %
"Very we'll, l believe; he manages to
write without difficulty with the help of
| a sloping board"
''That was Rogers clever contrivance,"
interrupted Alison.
aunt Diana does not want to know
that; you have broken the thread of my
discourse. Father does seem happier ly-
ing there with all his books round him
than he did at the MILL
And a very good idea, too," observed
Miss Darlington, looking at her nephew
with decided appreciation. "How does
| Murdoch fulfill his duties?''
Admirably; he is a very steady fell
low"
''Then Allies plan will answer" she re-
| turned in her practical way. There is
no reason, Roger, why you should not car
ry on the business, and leave your father
| free for his literary pursuits. He was
never fitted for business man he is too
| dreamy and impractical. Believe me, he
will be far happier and less irritable if
circumstances allow him to- follow his
own particular bent.'
| Il am quite sure of it, Aunt DIANA"
returned Roger, quietly; land now have
worked alone all these months l feel
more competent to carry on the business
single handed. 1t has been hard pull
Ferguson had done so much mischief, but
| things are righting themselves now, and
| with Murdock's help we shall get on
capitally."
''That is WE'LL" replied Miss Caring
ton, heartily, ''and now, how does Missile
| go on?"
This time Alison answered.
| ''Her arm is quite right, but she still
looks rather thin and delicate. Mrs.
| Hardwick-Mrs. Forbes, / mean-wants
to take her to Torquay, in October, for
two months; she says she will be such
a nice companion for Anna. Papa insists
that she is to co.
''And how does my little friend Anna
| get on with her stepfather?"
''He is very kind to her, Aunt Di.
Roger is rather pleased with him on the
| whole"
''Dr. Forbes is one of those men whose
bark is worse than their bite" observed
Roger; The rather prides himself on be-
ing bear, but 1 think Miss Anna has
proved there is soft spot in his heart .
Il am glad to hear this. Then the
poor little girl is happy on the whole?''
Il don't think Anna is to be pitied,
| Aunt Di" returned Alison in rather a