The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-09-29

| more than 10 true" Mrs. McBee oroKe
in. III thought you were telling
truth I'd never have another minutes
peace until things we're Strengthened
Then get to work right on" Mrs
Brant demanded.
How can ~. her hostess asked.
Mrs. Brant turned scornful eyes on
her. "You. a woman and widow,
ask me that?" she said. when you
know better than anybody. all you've
got to do is to tell Asa Gray unless he
treats his daughter right, you'll say
yes to Steve Murray
Il never named him-you can't say
l did," Mrs. McBee cried. flushing
deeply.
Inetruth. Mrs. Brant had come to
her at the psychological moment
Steve Murray had all but rejected the
McBee farm and its mistress only the
evening before. Both had been Offer
ed tentatively. but in way he could
not choose but understand. He had
been brutal In a seeming of misunder-
standing-judge. then, what balm Mrs.
McBee found in her friends assump-
tons.
Mrs. Brant pursed her lips. Il
reckon nobody needs to name him
not as long as they've got eyes to
see," she said. It'll serve him out
fine, you taking the squire. Steve's
made his brags all along; he had just
to say the word, and any woman
would marry him."
HE Is a conceited thing" Mrs.
McBee admitted. But l can't think
about my own concerns-rm going
right straight OF to see poor little
Milly. And II l get the chance, her
pail get one good talking to-Tm go
ing to tell him to let her marry JIM
my Hinton right of, and send them
out to California, where Milly can get
strong again. Patience knows, he's
got the money to do it-and If he
hasn't
you have. And you can't put it to
better use." Mrs. Brant said heartily.
Maria, you talk like mother and
Christian love you better than
ever did before"
The very next afternoon Mrs. Nc.
Bee drove away from the Gray place,
her face wreathed in smiles. Milly
had chung to her, weeping tears of JOY
as they parted, and the squire had
handed her into her buggy, with an
air of devotion wonderful to see. you
say l may come over tomorrow morn
ing?" he had asked. Good! Well
settle everything. And l can't thank
you enough for making me see the
right
He was not so old, not yet fifty,
moreover fine-looking and of a good
presence, much more personable than
Steve Murray at his best, she decided.
And the Gray place was certainly
home any woman might be proud of.
She could queen it there as she had
the late Silas McBee had held that
money was to be kept, not spent. To
do her justice, her heart warmed
more at the memory of Milly's face
than at the thought of all the material
gain such marriage meant to her.
She was radiant-with a radiance
that went far to making her hand
some. Steve Murray realized it sud-
denly-they met in the road a little
way off his own gate
"Howdy, Miss Marie. / guess I'll
come over tonight" he said off-hand-
edly. Seems like I recollect some
thing you said when l was there last
that I didn't answer right"
Nov wonder what it could a-been!"
Mrs. McBee said ref1ectively. ooh! ]
remember now-it was about the Blue
Games. You forgot to tell me wheth
er or not you wanted them-if you do
want them, you're just in time to be
too late-SQuire Gray has spoke for
all I've got-as well as everything
else on the place.
A meaning droop Of lids carried
home the last words. Steve wheeled
his horse and galloped angrily away.
Manlike, he had found out that he
wanted the widow badly in the mo-
ment he knew her to be beyond reach.