The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-04-04
IN DUST and ASHES

Hazel Manners was a very populai
school teacher in working hours anu a
heartless coquette at her leisure. Hei
personality was magnet-l1ke. IL ""o
not only that Hazel was pretty tna'
men were attracted to her Her III
difference to their love-making anu
her daring in conduct had much 10 w
with her vogue.
Withal, Hazel was designing. 10
her men were mere instruments to car
ry out her will, to arrange her pleas
ures. And she used them freely anu
rcklessly. She was not discreet. ohe
made little effort to conceal her mo
tfves. Her suitors were constantly
changing. They paid gallant court "
her at first, but they did not remain
long. But Hazel only laughed ana
tossed her blonde head smartly, Inc
world is full of men! What care l!
When Ellis Wingate laid siege to
Hazel's heart, it was said that he gave
his soul to her. He was her slave
No cut was unkind enough to lessen
bravely, and Hazel was pleased. Here
was one with whom she could "sho"
off" her power. Here was one VINO
would always be at her service Here
was one upon whom she could depend
in any crisis. Her friends said that
she would break his heart" Never
would he recover from her cruelty
they declared. Some went so far as
to say that he might be a suicide
when she finally discarded him.
"Why in the world do you hang
about me?" Hazel asked in contemptu-
GUS tone one day before group OF
admirers. Cant you see that you an
noy me?"
yes, I see that" replied the faith
full Ellis, "but l love you
Hazel laughed as If it we're a joke.
II want you to stay away from here
until send for you
VERY WE'LL" answered Ellis, and
went away.
From that day on, the tide in Ha-
zePs fortune began to ebb. She was
losing her control over her pupils.
They did not regard her with the
same respect and love. There were
difficulties with the school board.
Rumors were afioat that she was seen
too much with gay companions.
One evening when Hazel was motor
ing very late with merry party along
a lonely road at high speed, some
thing unfortunate happened. Their
automobile collided with another auto
mobile, and prominent man was kill
ed. They tried to suppress the story,
but were unsuccessful. All the details
were headlined in the newspapers.
Hazel was asked to resign from the
teaching staff of the school.
She turned to her men friends to
extricate her from the blight of the
unsavory publicity. One by one, she
asked for advice and help. But none
was interested. None was ready to
help her in her extremity. Hazel in
tears was quite another girl from Ha-
eel in coquette's mood. She thought
of Ellis Wingate.
"Ah, why didn't 1 go to Ellis be-
fore! He is the one to help mel"
Then Hazel began to think. Ellis
Wingate took on a new light in her
eyes. She was cured of flirting. She
had had enough of gay companions.
She was afraid of the future that
stretched so menacingly before her.
She needed a strong mans arm to
lean upon. What arm was there so
strong as Ellis Wingate's? Was he
not a splendid type of man? Would
he not make an excellent husband?
Would he not shield her from the
voice of scandal? And she liked him.
She had always liked him. Now that
she was tired of flirting. she was ready
to-love him. Yes, to-love him!
She telephoned to him. The an
swer came that he had moved. Where?
He did not leave a forwarding ad-
dress. Hazel was surprised Ellis
Wingate had lived in the same room
for ten years-ever since she had
known him. It wasn't like him to
change-not even in the matter of
residence. She telephoned his bust
ness address the next morning.
"Mr. Wingate is out of town for a
few days. Will you leave number"
Here, indeed, was a changed Ellis!
Several days passed, but Ellis Win
gate did not answer her summons.
Hazel cried. She did not sleep at
night. Money matters were crowd
ing her. She must have help. In des-
peration, she called Ellis Wingate
again.
us this you, Ellis?"
eyes"