The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-11-26
CHAPTER X.

and, besides this, she had felt for some
time what she would have termed an
aching void" for want of a conf
dante A confidante had always been
necessity to her, as it generally Is
to persons much taken up with them
selves. Her last devoted friend, the
depositary of her secret troubles, pro-
jects, and love affairs, had lately mar
ried brutal husband who had taught
his bride to laugh at Mary Dacre's
storms in teacup and two-penny-half-
penny tragedies; so her heart was
empty, swept and garnished, and
ready for the occupation of another
faithful friend and counsellor" when
fate threw Hope Desmond in her way.
In Miss Dacre's estimation, she was
eminently fitted to fill the vacant post;
there was just the difference of station
between them which would make the
condolences of the future Baroness Cas-
Teton f1attering to their recipient, to
whom also her friendship might be
useful. There was short pause. Miss
Desmond's eyes looked dreamy, as If
she were gazing in spirit at some dis
tant scene, and not as if she were
quivering with Impotence for the
revelations about to be made to her.
The silence was broken suddenly by
somewhat unconnected exclamation
from Miss Dacre: "He is certainly
very nice-looking."
who? Lord Everton?" asked Hope.
Lord Everton! Nonsense! He
might have been forty years ago. 1
mean Captain Lumley. There is
something knightly in his look and
bearing: one could imagine him go
ing down into the lions pit for ones
glove, and that sort of thing"
II do not think I could" smiling.
II do not fancy Captain Lumley or
any other logical modern young man
doing anything of the, kind He might,
If extra-chivalrous, bring you dozen
new pairs to replace the one you had
dropped"
"Ah, my dear Miss Desmond, fear
you are not imaginative Or perhaps
you have only known prosaic men,"
81 have only known very few of any
kind"
"And 1 have had such a wide expe-
rience!" said Miss Dacre, with sigh,
you can see l am no beauty; yet l
have the fatal gift of fascination in an
extraordinary degree. Yes really it is
quite curious" Another sigh. II feel
in something of a difficult position
just now, and I have no friend near
with whom to take counsel. Now.
dear Miss Desmond, l feel attracted to
you. 1 am certain you could be
faithful friend. and silent as the
grave"
II should be very happy to be OF
any use to you," said Hope, seeing she
paused for a reply.
II knew you would. I am so tired
of feeding on my own heart! l want
a friend Now, dare say you are sur
prised to see how earnestly advocate
Hugh Saville's cause. All, there Is a
little tragic story which will color my
whole life"
Indeed" with awakening interest
II trust your life will be free from all
tragic ingredients"
"Ah, no; that it cannot be. You
must know that saw a great deal OF
Richard and Hugh Saville when l was
little girl; my father worried great
deal about politics, and l used to live
% ho that
might see me sometimes (my mother
died when / was a baby, you know.
Well, as soon as I left off playing
with dolls and began to feel, l was in
love with Hugh; and he was very
fond of me. Then he went to sea, and
we did not meet for years, until after
had been presented and had refused
half a dozen men. I shall never for
get our first meeting when he return
ed from-oh, I don't know where. He
was so pleased to see me; but soon,
very soon, | saw that he who was the
light of my eyes was the one man of
all had met who resisted the attrac-
ton l generally exercise" Here she
paused in her voluble utterance and
pressed her handkerchief to her eyes.
Hope was so amazed at these unex-
pected revelations that the bright col
or rose in her cheek-it seemed to
her delicate nature almost indecent
to thus lay bare ones secret expert
ences to a stranger-and a look of
embarrassment made her drop her
eyes; but these symptoms were lost
on her companion, who thoroughly
enjoyed holding forth on the delight
full topic of self and exhibiting her
own fine points.
THAT must have been very try
Ing" said Hope, feeling that she ought
to say something.
Awful, my. dear Miss Desmond. BY
the bye, may l call you Hope? 1t is
good omen, your name"
Certainly, Miss Dacre."
well, my dear Hope, | nearly went
mad; but 1t is curious that l never
looked better. I flirted wildly with
every one; still Of course Hugh knew