The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-10-09
TIE PACIFIC
G0mmer1lalAobGrt1se
o 9.
A FORLORN HOPE.

dInoy and narrow ana wear a peIlndnen1ly
blackened look-where the houses are cum
ously jammed together, clinging to one an
other like irregular teeth. Seatarlng mel
stood talking in groups at the corners OF the
crossings and beneath the awnings on the
sidewalks. Every pair of trousers vas more
or less daubed with tar, and the men bore
on their ruddy cheeks the kisses OF the sun
of every clipe under high heaven.
Thews and sinews were to be seen there
toiIing doggedly and perpetually. Steam
engines Of various forms and uses were
toiling also after their fashion-hoisting
goods, pumping water, driving piles. Horses
were dragging enormous loads, calmly, as II
they Were used to the engines, and cared less
than nothing about the noise. The workers
were pushing out groins and breastwork and
piles and dams, which must have astonished
the river as they gradually forced it out of
its old landmark. Here and there might be
observed thoughtful looking men, standing,
watching keenly and with contracted brows
the progress of things.
Standing apart, with folded arms and a
profoundly discouraged sir, a young man
was likewise gazing around him. He was
broa~d-shouldered, tall and muscular. He
had full blue eyes, a quantity of hair OF a
tawny red, a large mouth out Of which gilt
tered a superb set of white teeth. Natural
w his smile was constant, bright and jovial /;
but now it was considerably overcast. He
walked up to the contractor with the air OF
a man who had made up his mind to a last
effort. ..r
Then there is no chance for me on the
Job, Mr.. Broadslip p
L guess not, Berthfeld.'
The other was silent.
.You see,' continued Broadslip, 'Podford
manages it all, and he has the stamps
The position would have just suited me-
Down to the ground but you amt Pod
ford's nephew. It's not the right man in the
right place, Joe. But the man is in the
place, and right will not turn him out while
might keeps him in. 1t amt my fault you
amt fixed, Joe, and I'm real sorry. If | was
boss I'd FIX you right off
lin obliged, Mr.. Broadslip. I'll see you
at E~ngledell Sunday and Joe Berthfield
turned on his heel.
1t was Sunday in EngledeIl and on the
Hudson-the quaint old town of Engledell
that Overlooks the North River from a snug
little aerie up in the rock-ribbed Palisades.
The cracked bell of the church was changing
forth its open doors. H
1t was an old church. The windows were
cob-webbed and dirty, with here and there
a pane of stained glass in strange pattern.
These were distributed with perfect irregu-
larity. These windows looked on the worn
gravestones where the forefathers of those
who now stood there slept.
Long, tangled, sickly-looking grass twined
about the gravestones, and one or two were
ornamented with rose bushes and oyster
shells. Some trees of smoked, dried green
slowly grew and slowly decayed by the side
of the old church.
The bell rope hung into the body of the
building, and a stove reared its '%unsightly
pipe in the centre, supported by iron bars
that radiated from it in every direction.
Just as the service commenced a pretty,
dark-eyed girl glided down the aisle, with a
rather conscience-strcken air, opened with
some difficulty one of the doors, and hid her
self Immediately in one of the pews, her
blushing face closely pressed against her
hands, which lay on the woodwork in front
Of her, as she knelt dow to say a short
prayer. l
The two behaved very well during the
services, taking only stealthy, innocent
glances at each other, and even then at long
intervals.
But when the service was read and the
benediction said, the girl remained a little
longer than usual on her knees, and Joe was
waiting for her when she arose. They walked
silently together out of the church and turn
ed into a broad walk, shaded with trees,
which lei down zigzag fashion to the river.
As they got further and further away from
the departing congregation, Berthfeld being
an enterprising youth in all he undertook,
possessed himself of her hand, and put his
face so close to her hat that she could not
choose but look at him. And he looked long,
but not apparently making himself the hap
pier for doing so, for at the conclusion he
gave a great sigh.
Hattie, darling he said, I've no good
news for you. I've been to the dock works
at the North River, and the position Broad
slip hoped to give me is filled, and there's
10 chance of another opening. They don't
want young, untried hands there, yet they
might have given me a trial" .
But, Joe," said the girl, and her voice
as she spoke, you know what you
wish cannot be. You wish me to take the
of life. 1 cannot leave my father.
He is ageing sadly. l think his poor eyes
are growing dim, and now he would rather
nave all his beautiful music played to him
than to do it himself. Joe, my great hope
is that | may be able to take his pupils for
You would do well. Hattie. You have
wonderful knack of managing people,
The girl smiled, and in her smile there
a peculiar hooking expression which
seemed like a ripple about the mouth. She
became grave again. T4 !
He has worked for me, Joe !; it is fit that
I should work tor him. e ID
But, if l could get work near, you need
not leave him, Hattie. We would marry
and all live together
No, Joe /; we are too young to fetter our
selves with such uncertain prospects. Alone
we may struggle, and if we fall we fall
and drag down no other but were we
and your employment SO uncertain,
cares would come on us more quickly than
we could meet them. Believe me, Joe, we
are best single" -ts tt. sft taw b
There was no sel6shness about the young
fellow yet, man-like, he could not forbear
the answer. .. .r.. H urr