The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-10-15
A Gentleman of
The Old School
~O~~~@~~~


Sir Deans Cosway stepped out of the
French window on to the hotel veran-
dab, looked to the left and to the
right; then, espying red parasol, ad-
vanced on rather lottery legs toward
1t. His age was doubtful, but he could
hardly have been less than go, despite
his we'll preserved figure, his mobile,
expressive countenance, and keen,
bright eyes.
You have spoken to herr" asked
Mrs. Stephany.
He nodded. YES"
What did she say?"
Nothing"
'Nothing!" Mrs. stephany's eye
brows climbed her forehead. What
did she do, then," she inquired with a
sigh.
Laughed" answered Sir Deans
ruefully. Il had looked for little
tender regret, at least, and :"
she laughed"
''She Is very young" murmured
Mrs. Stephany consolingly.
Meanwhile. in distant part of the
hotel gardens, Ella Stephany was
talking with tall, erect young man,
named Richard Havers. That they
were perilously near the verge of q
quarrel was plain from the ugly scowl
on the young mans face and from the
girls look of flushed expostulation.
How can / help it?" she was say
mig.
1T seems to me-" he said morosely.
you don't try to help it.. But, of
course, he's baronet and rich and all
that. And l."
You are most disagreeable boy"
she pouted And unreasonable, too"
she added.
I'm not disagreeable," he protest
ed, "or unreasonable. I'm just sick,
that's all. Why, he wears stays! He
is old enough to be your grandfather.
He ought to be thinking of the grave,
not marriage Fatuous dotard!"
HE is not really old at ALL" said
Ella. "And Cosway Park is a para
disc. simply"
HE being the old serpent in It,"
muttered Dick. He faced her, frown-
ing darkly But will not stand 1t,
Ella. l will go straight to your moth
er-she at least likes me-and tell her
just how / feel about you. She was
young herself once. She"
Il shouldn't begin by saying that to
her" said Ella. Don't be cross, Dick.
Haven't l refused him."
But you don't send him away"
How can l send him away? The
hotel is open to him as well as to us.
And" she went on, with sudden OBJ
stinate contraction of the lips, II don't
see why l should send him away, even
If | could. He amuses me. He talks
most wittily. And he pays me the
most delightful compliments
=
That night she flirted shamelessly
with Sir Deans.
There was an open air promenade
concert held among the hills, 500 feet
above the cleaning lake in the wooded
valley far below The air was hot and
STILL The moon hung in the sky like
a lamp of pearl. There were few
torn scarves of silver-edged cloud in
the nocturnal blue, wound mistily
about the higher peaks. The scented
softness of the air, throbbing with
poignant strains of music, seemed to
weave spell of enchantment over the
senses Elias bosom yearned for Dick,
whom she passed and repassed again
| and again in the chattering crowd;
but she chung to Sir Deans arm and
only bestowed the most perfunctory OF
chilly mods upon her black-browed
young lover, whilst to the elderly bar
onet she was all sweet, maidenly tow
ardliness.
Presently they sat down and Dick
seized on this opportunity to come up
and acc0st them.
Good evening, Mrs. Stephany." he
said In strained, husky voice, to the
apprehensive mother. Ella he ignored
pointedly. "sir Deans. may have :
] word with youN D.