The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-02-19
A SURPRISE.


that Of a 4-year- old child, as she stood IN
the window, with the afternoon sunshine
upon her face and form. Mr.. Erroi sat
opposite, watching her with quiet; Cd
servant eyes, in which lurked shade OF |
annoyance.
Are you in earnest, Olive"
ayes quite in earnest, George.
GAnd for the sake of your cousin Sarah |
EveIyn's children, you are willing TO give |
up your future-our future, Ollve, as L
may call it,"
George, you nisinterpret me, s" she
said, pleadingly. love you as dearly as
ever did.
when for the sake of two miserable chill
dren, who are really nothing to you, you
are willing to overturn all our bright Wis
ions of happy, mutual homer"
%They are orphans, George, and desti-
tute.
"Then let them be sent to an orphan
asylum. -
idly to Olive Merton's cheek, you surely
would not have me deprive my cousins
little ones of the sweet influences OF a
home of their own-you would never con-
denim them to the harsh, sunless life OF
charitable institution"
"That's all sentimental nonsense, said
Mr. Enrol. coldly. THE upshot of the
"Georgel"
eyes. 3 the embittered lover went on,
almost rudely; Sine words and fearful
looks are all very eloquent, 1 don't doubt,
but prefer to judge by actions only 1t
isn't particularly flattering to me that you
prefer these orphans to my love.
George you know it is not that-but
ought l shrink from my manifest duty?"
"Just as you choose, he answered
coldly; "but has it ever occurred to you
how you are to support these two pre-
Cious proteges of yours2 1 believe you
have no Independent fortune of your
own.
Olives eyes fell, and troubled express
sion came over her face.
II must try to obtain situation as
teacher, :" she said, softly.
"rPhat will be pleasant, remarked Mr..
Enrol, ironically.
"Our duty should always be pleasant,
George.
The voice was subdued and panied Mr..
Enrol rose.
Since you have chosen your path l
know of nothing that is left me save to
bid you good-byel"
Goodbye, George; try to think kindly
of me, she faltered, her little hand
trembling in his palm as frightened bird
hutters sometimes beneath the human
grasp.
And so they parted, these lovers who
brief while ago had been all in all to each
other And Olive Merton dropped into
a chair, burying her face in her hands as
soon as he was gone
She had hoped, she had fancied, she
knew not what-perhaps that George
would approve her self-imposed duty, and
cheer her with his love in its perform.
ance; nay. it had even crossed her mind,
as a remote possibility, that he might even
take the poor little orphans as well as her
self to his heart.
Yet she checked herself, even in the
thought. What right had she to expect
him to burden himself with those cares
and trials, simply because they came to
her as a charge which it was impossible
for her to put away. No; it was folly,
and worse than folly, for her to sit brood
ing here when the matter was fully and
irrevocably decided. The brief glimpse
of sunshine which had frightened her life
in the prospect of George Errol's love
and q home of her own should shine no
more for her; there was no use in turning
away from the leaden gray pathway
which stretched out before her girl foot
steps. There was one comfort; the poor
little orphans should never feel the loss
of mothers love while she lived to
cherish and toll for them.
Duty is often bitter cup to drink, but
it seldom comes in quite so pninviting
guise as was now held to poor Olive Mer-
TONS lips
Miss Agatha Enrol, her former fance's
sister, dropped in few days afterward-
a stout, bustling maiden of 20, who kept
house for George, scolded him, mended
his stockings and put all the loose buttons
on his shirts.
packing your trunks, eh?" said Miss
Agatha "GOing to mover"
s"Of course; cannot continue to board
in so expensive place, " said Miss Merton,
sadly. Il shall soon have to maintain the
children as well as myself "
.~.Humphl" said Miss Agatha; so you
still persist in setting up an orphan
otto business l think. "
Olive was silent.
"When do you expect 'em from the
west? pursued Miss Enrol.
ION Tuesday of next week.
"What train?"
"There are two, but I shall not look for
them until the latest, which comes at 6. !"
Il hope they are nice children" said
Miss Agatha, doubtfully.
zone cannot help loving children, said
Olive, earnestly.
"My dear, you are an enthusiast, 3"
'SPerhaps / am, said Olive, smiling
family, but L can't help it.
We'll, said Miss Agatha jumping
briskly up, AZ must be going; l wish you
Joy of your new undertaking, Olive.
on will come and see me sometimes?"
said Olive, wistfully.
"Y-yes," said Agatha, rubbing her
chin. 4 will come sometimes.
And, Olive hesitated, "you have not
told me yet how George is. "
"George? Oh he's pretty well, said
Agatha; good-byel"
And eway she went.
Tuesday evening of the next week came,
and Olive Merton tied on her hood and
waterproof cloak, for it was dismal
drizZly twilight and went down to the
depot to meet the little western travellers,
whom she called "her new children "
But though she stood on the platform
and watched every passenger descend
from the long train, there was no little
Evelyns there.
She asked question or two of the sta
ton master.
rs it Miss Merton?" he said, touching
his cap respectfully.
eyes.
"The little ladies was took away by a
gentleman and lady in the evening train,
miss, and their compliments, and you'd
find lem at No. street
Olives eyes widened in establishment.
She was not aware that her cousins or
phans had any living relatives except her
self. There surely must have been some