The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-10-25
their hair was ertnkled and frizzied

Wa WonQotIul 20 D0nOt0.
One lady. whose hair was won
deful shade OF yellow ana whose
gown was Of e. shade the old ladies
termed magenta, = exclaimed petu-
lantly to her companion, # shall be
very uncomfortable without my hand
kerchief. Is It not provoking TO have
lost it,"
Forgetfu1 Of self in her anxiety to
relieve the grand lady's discomfort,
Mindy, with an alertness born OF ex-
element. jumped from her seat and
held out her embroidered handker-
chief to the lady. with q polite, II
would thank you If you would let me
give you NINE"
I thank you." she said gently, but
will you not need 1t yourself?"
"Oh, no." Mindy pleaded. please
DO take It, for after today.I shall
never need 1t again"
Then sweet, wonderful thing hap
pened. The woman impulsively put
her arms around the weakened form
and implanted kiss upon the wrin-
killed. cheek. 49,
But Mrs. vandemere was not going
to let her benefactress escape 30
easily. and as she followed the quaint
little figure.
Nov we must get acquainted" she
said cordially, "and you must intro
duce me to your friend.
Now my dear friends" the lady
cried gayly, II have set my heart
upon your company for this after
noon. you are too kind to disappoint
me. know" and tucking the old. frail
arms within her plump ones, they en-
tered the theater and were ushered to
q box, where were seated a smartly-
dressed gentleman and a ,sad-faced
lady, whom Mrs Vandemere intro
duced as her husband and mother.
After removing their bonnets and
smoothing out the ties with their Gus
tomary care and precision the two sis
tiers sat with hands primly folded,
waiting for-they knew not what
AS they looked upon the stage with
its gorgeous settings and superb
scenery, Mindy, blissfully unconscious
of her surroundings. caused ripple Of
amusement to spread through the
house by murmuring ecstatically: "Oh,
Jane, it seems just like heaven. doesn't
it,"
Never did players on the stage por-
tray the comedy or tragedy of the lives
of those whom they impersonate SO
truly as did the faces of these two sim
pie country folk portray the pathos Of
their lonely existence. To the other
occupants OF the box the drama at
their side became more interesting
than that On the stage.
During an intermission they were
adroitly led to talk of themselves, and
| finally Jane poured into interested
ears the story of their setting out"
going back to the cold night of last
winter, when they saw CHASTITY face
peering in at them through the win
/ dow.
! I'VE didn't have the heart to leave
the poor unhappy creature out in the
cold" Mindy chimed in as Jane
stopped to take breath, 80 opened
wide the door for him, but he looked
surprised like at me, as II to run away,
so went out and, taking him by his
ragged sleeve. led him In"
Yves, sister led him in" continued
Jane. "and settled him comfortably
upon the lounge before the fire. One
look into the young dissipated face
told us that he needed our love as well
as our care. set about making some
/ ginger tea and Cruel, while Mindy,
who loves to coddle folks. talked to
him comforting like, and smoothed
i back his hair from his temples.
HE was very i'll and Mindy stole
j down many times during the night to
battle his hot face and try to ease his
i hacking cough. We kept him with us
only month He got better, and at
times seemed cheerful and light-heart-
ed and tried SO hard to amuse US by
/ telling about big cities and great men
and lovely women and concerts and
i theaters.
"He did not once mention his folks,
/ and we asked him no questions, and
when the hemorrhage took him SO sud-
| den he placed his ring in my hands"
i anu L6AAu8 I'll WOAA-0oA AAO0 6AOvO
Jane displayed magnificent solitaire
! in unique setting, upon the inside OF
i which was inscribed date.
".It is all have to give you.' he
said. MY mother and sister gave me
this ring on my twenty-first birthday.
They were so proud OF me. but ]
proved myself unworthy Of their love.
throughout all these years ! have
treasured 1t.
When Jane ceased speaking the
mother and daughter. strangely tense
and pale, stared at each other. but the
lowering OF the lights concealed their
agitation
my dears," said the stately woman,
smiling softly, II must not let you go
until 1 have told you Of the happiness
| YOU have brought me today, for you
have eased q mothers heart OF the nm
certainty regarding the fate Of her
only son"
aYou mean that you are. that you
are-why. OF course how could be