The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-11-04
notnine can change that Can II Nav.

nothing can change that. Can II, Mau
rice: oh. can It. Maurice?"
Nothing but the will OF God" he
told her gravely. II would not have
you break your word"
But Hugo had no such scruples, and
when he came back at the end Of the
year he brought a necklace OF pearls
and ring with blue stones for Co
rinne.
I have the house In town." he told
her, and the servant to work for you.
Luck has been with me, Cosinne."
Il do not love you" she told him.
"and besides made my promise to the
pine tree"
He laughed and caught her hand.
"A woman's promises" he said, ARE
like thistledown; they blow here and
there with the wind"
Can you think that OF met" Corinne
demanded, "and love met"
I want you for my wife," Hugo said,
and the pine tree has nothing to do
with it."
In your case" Corinne said with
spirit, the tree has nothing to do
with 1t. I wouldn't marry you If you
were the only man on earth, but love
l Maurice e. Is that answer enough.
At the look on her face he turned
on his heel and went away. knowing
that here at least was one woman
whose will was not the winds will.
A little later. as Maurice came along
the road from his evening toll, he found
Corinne at the foot of the pine tree,
sobbing.
oh, what am going to do?" she
said to him. Must l live my life
alone, Maurice?'
They were simple folk. holding on as
best they could to simple faith. More
worldly people might have felt them
selves absolved from a promise given
In q At Of temper. but Corinne, having
given her word, would not go back
on it.
After little while Maurice said: II
am going away. You must learn to love
some one else. Corinne. Your oath per-
tains only to Hugo and to me. When I
am gone you will forget me-"
No. she whispered, mo-"
She chung to him in the gathering
darkness. but presently he said: Dear
heart. we must go. hear the roll Of
thunder In the west"
As they went down the path the play
OF the lightning showed them the way.
The wind. coming up. first whispered.
then sang, then shouted, through the
pines.
I'VE must rum" Maurice told the
girl: there Is the old shepherds hut
at the foot of the hill"
They gained the shelter as the rain
came. Maurice found bit Of candle
and in the dim illumination each
could see the despairing face of the
other
When l go away" Maurice said,
you will marry some one else-but
shall never forget"
She came over and knelt beside him,
laying her head against his arm. Il
shall never marry" she murmured.
"Oh, Maurice, shall never"
Her words ended In a shrek as she
flung herself In his arms. Save mel"
she begged. "Oh, Maurice!"
Half stunned by the. glare and the
crash that frightened her, Maurice
rose and went to the window.
"Corinne," he cried sharply, as an.
other flash lighted the hill. come here
and look!"
A third flash, and again his exultant
voice rang out:
ut struck the pine tree. See. 1t has
fallen, Corinne!"
When the storm was over they view
ed the havoc of wind and storm.
Broken and burned, the pine tree lay
PROSTATE on the ground.
1T is the will of God" Corinne said,
as her lover kissed her; "he will not
let you leave me, Maurice, for you are
mine and am yours