The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-09-16

there you know her health is not
very good. Remember what pale
pretty little thing she Isl"
Yes" said Rose, sleepily, and the
next time Ella spoke, Rose made no
response at all. But while Ella slept
Rose did not. Her eyes were. wide
open the whole night through and it
was the longest night she had ever
known.
She was aware OF something that
Ella had no knowledge of, that once
| upon a time-before he had met
Rose Dick Hayes had thought he was
In love with Louise Payen; but he
had met Rose in the very nick of time.
She decided to call Dick on the tele-
phone the first thing in the morning
and say that she would be quietly mar
| ried that very day and sail with him
the day after! Then-it would be just
as she and Dick so often planned;
they would sail away over tropical
seas into beautiful fairyland of love
and romance!
The next morning Rose was singing
like lark in spite of her sleepless
| night She accompanied Ella Dunning
TO an early train, and on her way
nome from the station stopped in a
telephone booth to talk to Dick in
New York.
Mr.. Hayes is not in this morning
perhaps you will leave a message
for him." suggested the voice at the
other end if the wire.
| Rose hesitated. How could she
word her message so Dick would I'M
derstand and there would be no mis-
take? Her face blushed crimson as a
thought came into her head, but there
was no. time to be lost.
Please tell Mr.. Hayes to come up
to Sweetcliff this afternoon. 'Tell him
his-his wife has decided to sail with
him." faltered Rose.
| Very we'll, Mrs. Hayes. l have
written down the message and will
see that your husband gets it as soon
as he comes in,' was the courteous
reply, and with hot cheeks and shin
ing eyes Rose stole out of the booth
| ana hurried home.
Once at home she hesitated to tell
her stepmOther of her decision. What
| if Dick should not receive her mes.
cage after all? She had no father
or brothers and her stepmother was
kindness itself, but too much absorbed
in her own affairs to wish to be turned
| topsy-turvy by hurried wedding that
did not come off, She would try to
catch Dick at his hotel--perhaps they
would know there.
This time she went into the library
and closed the door. When the hotel
operator responded. she asked for
Dick.
"Mr. Hayes went out about an hour
ago." was the response "No we don't
know just when he will return-it is
understood he is to be married this
morning and sail with his bride tomor
row. have just been told that Mr.
Hayes will not return to the hotel"
Rose sank back in the chair with
white cheeks He had lost no time
in finding another bride! An hour
ago, he had gone forth to be married
and it was only brief 20 minutes
since she had talked with the man In
the company's Office. What would
Dick think when he received her mes
sage to come to Sweetcliff for his
wife?
With a strangled cry of misery and
dispair Rose flew up to her room and
locked the door. She remained there
the whole day, pleading headache
Every nerve on the alert, she listened
in vain for the sound of the telephone
bell or the click of the gate latch. A
few hours longer and the steamer
would sail away with Dick Hayes and
his bride-but the bride would be
Louise Payne instead of Rose!
| Just before sunset Mrs. Welkes
knocked hastily on the door. Rose
dear, let me in-you must!"
| Dry-eyed, but pale and worn, Rose
unlocked the door and admitted hel
stepmother. The elder woman was
flushed with excitement she could moi
conceal.
my dear-why did you not confide
in me that you expected to marry
i Dick tonight? 1t has upset me ter
ribly-it is hardly fair, you know
Rose stared doubtfully. Il expected
to, mother-but something happened
and my plans were changed. Yor
see-Dick has married some one else
this very day." Rose broke down
| and sobbed her story on Mrs. Welkes
comfortable bosom.
When she concluded, that lady was
smiling broadly. THAT may be. my
dead-but I am sure you have mixed
i matters up in your poor little head
Dick Hayes is downstairs with your
| own minister to perform the cere
mony; and he has fetched alone
Louise Payne and her new husband
she was married this morning and
i they are going to sail with you to
morrow-to form the wedding party!
Now, you let met help you dress
What will you wear? The white lace
gown will be just the thing and Il
| you will tell what you want to take
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