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

| "But, Aunt Dr." almost whispering,
"are we not too young? Greville will
have to be at Oxford another year, and
| and"
TOO young to marry just yet, Allie,
but I think, under Greville's peculiar cir
cumstances-his grandfather's great age
and precarious health, and his loneliness,
having no parents or brothers and sisters
belonging to him-that an engagement
might be allowed. 1t will make him nap
pier, and give him heart for his work. IN
| general, Allie, I do not approve OF long
engagements for young people, they are SO
unsettling: but you know Grevilles CIR
| cumstances as we'll as l do. He IS his
! grandfather's heir; in two years he might
| we'll marry"
"Then YOU approve?" raising her eyes
| at last to her aunt's face.
Don't you know Greville is my own
| bow? He is even dearer to me than you :;
YOU must not be sorry to hear that. One
! day / will tell sad little story about
mvself how q girls self-will and temper
| lost her the noblest lover a woman could
! have" .,
81 guess who it was; 1 always knew"
| murmured Alison.
"Greyille is dear to me for his fathers
sake" returned Miss Darlington, almost
| solemnly. "No more of this just now,
Allie. If you love me, dear child you
| little know how happy it makes me TO
| know my two darlngs are to be united.
| Really and truly happy, Aunt Dl!
eyes. surely, dearest; and this mas
been the wish of Mr.. Moore's heart. All,
here comes Greville: he looks almost as
shy over it as you do, Allie
But, shy or not, there was no mlstaK-
| ing the expression of proud happiness on
the young mans face. A look passed be-
tween him and Miss Darlington, and then
she held out her hand.
SWELL Greville, have you come to be
scolded?' she asked, playfully.
Eyes, but you would not have the heart
to do it," was his reply. Cara" with a
pause on the old name, chow could help
itY' And his glance was sufficiently elo-
quent.
"Well, Greville 1 think you are wor-
thy even of her" And now something
like the glimmer of unshed tears softened
the keen gray eyes. God bless you, my
boy. you have fulfilled the great wish of
my heart"
There was little more talk after this,
and then Greville said, "Alison, 1 think
we ought to go to my grandfather; this
will make his very happy" And then
Alison obediently rose.
There was a touching scene with the
old man. ''When the messenger comes,
bo lofk ho
have Sunny to comfort him." he said.
And again his hands were placed on her
bright hair to invoke q blessing.
Rogers turn came next. He had been
out all day on fishing excursion, and
on his return Greville had waylaid him.
and told him the news. Alison, who was
sitting at her window, trying to compose
her futtered spirits, saw them coming up
the garden walk together, and a few
minutes afterward there was hasty step
at her door, and Roger burst into her
room.
She knew how glad he was by the way
he took her in his arms and kissed her,
even before he had uttered a word.
But it came at last.
"Allie, l never was so pleased in my
life OF course l knew it was coming.
He is fine fellow; you are giving me
just the sort of brother 1 wanted, and
am greatly obliged to you"
HE told you then?' little bashfully.
Eyes, he had been waiting ever so long
by the river bank. 1t is my belief that,
like King Midas, he had been whispering
his secret to the rushes. l wish you
could have heard what he said about you.
He has thoroughly convinceds me that he
fully appreciates you"
81 am so glad you will be friends"
returned Alison, simply, quite ignoring
the latter part of Rogers speech; in her
modest opinion of herself, she never ceas-
ed wondering at Greville's lover-like
speeches it was dear and kind of him to
say such things she thought, but she did
| not deserve them.
She said as much to him one day, when
| their engagement was but week old, but
| he turned decidedly willful.
Il shall think of you just as I like, "
| he said, quietly, land l know l shall
| never alter my opinions. I don't care
| what your faults are you are perfect in
my eyes, just because you are Alison"
Anu dllcT ILLS BIC gave up tuC punt.
But on the evening before she left
| Moss-side she and Aunt Diana had one
| of their long talks. Greville had just
| left them, grumbling, in spite of an in
| vitation to breakfast the next morning,
and though he knew that he was expected
| at The Holms in six weeks time, to make
| acquaintance with Alison's home, and to
| introduce himself to Mr.. Merle. But
Miss Darlington paid no attention to his
boyish discomfort; this hour belonged to
her, she said, in decided manner; Gre
| Vile might talk to Roger, but she wanted
Allie to herself.
| So while the two young men paced up
and -own by the river, Alison and Miss
| Darlington sat in the dim studio, looking
out into the moonlight. There was so
much that they had to say to each other
on this last night.
| "You do not think me too hard-hearted
to insist on a two years. engagement,
| Allie?" Miss Darlington said presently.
"Mr. Moore has begged me over and over
again to reconsider my decision, but, in
deed, think Grevile is too young for
/ II, T. L.