The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-04-09

about It. Gus Brisden was nice, and
Charlie Tollamache-he's a dragon Of
some kind, you know-he was great fun,
and valsed very well. Then there was
Mr.. Handley, not very young. but 1 got
on very well with him. think, though,
l liked dancing with Gren best he can
valse-and then we had such laughing
over other people; but he got sulky to-
wards the finish, I'm sure don't know
why. I'm very fond of Gren, you know,
mother, but he DULLES me and can be
very nasty at times, and the finish Of
that ball happened to be one Of those
times. don't know why" continued the
girl, meditatively, unless it was my dane
ing with that Mr.. Pearman; what could
that matter to him?'
"And did you and Gren part on bad
terms?"
coffee before he went away, and lie
kissed me-and so we parted friends"
I think, had been Grenville Rose,
should have preferred Maude being a lit
tie more reticent about the kiss. Still,
the slight hesitation in her speech, the
slight flush chat crossed her cheek as she
alluded to it, were favorable signs to an
astute observer. He had kissed her as
his cousin all his life-why should the
recollection make her blush and hesitate
now? Young people situated in this way
may like each other for years; the ex-
plosion of some aesthetic force suddenly
awakes love. More often than not the
train is lit through the precautions taken
nf orok4
is in high favor among chaperones, but
they often forget that when using it
with a view to a contrary result.
But you don't say anything about
Mr.. Pearman, Maude; did you like him?"
"Well, he was pleasant and amusing
enough. l only had one quadrille with
him, you know. But Gren scolded 50
about my dancing with him at all and
said he wasn't form or bad FORM or
something or other-meaning, in short,
that I ought not to have stood up with
him. If he wasn't fit to be danced with,
mother, why did they introduce him to
me?" and Maude raised her pretty eye
brows, as if she had propounded regu-
lar poser.
Il see no reason in the world. He is
not one of the old county families, but
his father is very rich, and he will take
his place, ere many years are over, in
the county. 1t depends, of course, a good
deal upon how he marries. Suppose he
fancied you, now, Maude-we are very
Door, you know-what would you say to
it?"
"I!-Mother, dear, what makes you ask
such a question? I'm sure l don't know.
Glinn is happy home enough for me at
present. But don't think, if did mar
ry, I should like there to be any doubt
about my husband being a gentleman; and
they-that is, 1 mean Gren-didn't seem
to think he was"
"Gren, my dear, is prejudiced. Young
Mr.. Pearman has had an university edu-
cation, and though his father was a no
body, he mixes, I'm told, with all the best
people round"
"Well, it don't much matter: I'm never
likely to be called on to decide. l think
I'd rather not, if it was so. But you
don't mean to say, mother, you are try
ing to fit me with husband out Of my
ball partners! Oh, you scandalous
matchmaking mamma "-and Maude
laughed merrily.
"But suppose I was, whom would you
choose?"
ooh, dear, none of them. If It came
to the worst, l should say l was engaged
to Gren."
"My dear Maude!"
"No dear Maude never had the chance
vet; he never asked her, and 1 don't
think it at all likely he ever will. But
tell YOU what, mother. if 1 really was in
such a quandary, think l should ask
him. 1 could tell him afterwards. you
know, it was only to get myself out of
scrape. and Gren's been doing that for
me always
"Stop, Maude, and listen seriously to
what have to say to you: Mr.. Pearman
has asked in earnest to be allowed to
nav his addresses to you. Your father
recommends you to think over it quietly
and soberly Bear in mind that we are
very poor. and that he will be very rich"
"Mr Pearman wants to marry ME ="
and the girls face changed into a stare
of blank establishment; why, 1 never
saw him but once"
"No. love: but it is true, for all that"
"Well, mother, 1 can hardly believe it.
On my word. I'm obliged to Mr.. Pearman
fruit, are a mere question of what you
will give for them. Best let him know,
mother mine, that your daughter is neith-
err to be wooed nor won in that fashion"
(To be continued