The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-11-26
HIS PRIZE STORY.

cold. Snow had been falling all day in
London, and the streets were conse-
quently covered with mud and slush.
A pedestrian tramped along the wet,
slippery pavement without feeling any
inclination to grumble at the weather.
His blue eyes were shining with delight,
and his hard, round hat was pushed back
on his curly brown hair, as though, in
the excitement of some pleasant thought
he had found its weight oppressive.
He walked along the Strand until he
came to Wellington street, when he
crossed Waterloo bridge, and eventually,
turning down poor little street beyond
Waterloo station, he stopped at the third
house in row of dilapidated buildings,
and letting himself in with latchkey,
dashed up the stairs and burst impetu-
ously into room on the third floor, cry
ing out:
GOOD news, Murlel--the best of good
newsl My story has been accepted"
"Oh, Jack, is it trueS How thankful
ann
ave shall get along swimmingy now,
darlingi You shall go to Brighton or
Hastings for a week with Lulu, and get
some color into these poor, pale cheeks"
and John Taylor stopped to kiss his wifes
delicate face and caress the golden hair
VI MniIu uc was 81 piOuu. ihtJ WSiO
lovers still-those two, although they had
been husband and wife for nearly three
years.
"Tiss me too, daddy-tiss Lulu" inter
rupted a sweet childish voice, and u
small maiden toddled across the room.
Jack caught her up in his arms, seated
her on his shoulder, and galloped and
pranced round the ROOM in imitation of
some warlike steed, until he was out of
breath.
Jack, darling, when will you get the
prlzeS Is it really eighty poundsP How
wonderful that you should have won it
when there are so many competitors"
Muriel said, presently.
"Don't deery my literary powers, Mu-
riel am afraid my repeated failures
have made you distrustful," laughed
Jack. "Let us hope this is the beginning
of better times may yet become shin
ing light in the literary world. AS to the
prize, of course, ii is $50 l will read you
the advertisement again.
1t was a well-worn scrap of paper which
Jack took from his pocket book and from
which he read aloud:
"The directors of the North London
Temperance society offer prize of
ESQ for the best temperance story show
ing the value of personal abstinence, and
the misery and crinH caused 10y intoXi-
eating drinks. The competition is open
to all. For further particulars apply at
the society's Office, Strand, W. c. In the
ordinary course of events, | should have
had to wait until tomorrow to know my
fate" went ON Jack, but Harry Balfour,
my old college chutn, is secretary to
the society; and knowing how anxious
was he managed to ascertain yesterday
the name OF the prize winner. You can
imagine my delight darling, when he
told me that was the lucky man"
"By-the-bye, Jack, you have not told me
yet what all these parcels contain" said
Muriel presently, "and my curiosity will
not be controlled any longer have not
seen so many up here for long time"
well, Muriel," and Jack laughed
gayly, II thought as had earned $50
we could afford to be gay and festive for
once. Here you See" proudly Indicating
the parcels, "all the materials for night
of revelry sau ages, huury pota-
toes; two bottle OF Bass-I wonder what
the directors would say to that--a Vienna
LOAF, and lastly, SOME grapes for that
troublesome cough of yours"
Murlel was preparing supper, and the
shabby room looked quite coy by the
light OF the lamp. liie faded red cur
tians were drawn across the window
white cloth was laid on the table, and the
common plates and glasses were ar
ranged with dainty precision which did
Muriel credit.
What happy supper it wasl Surely
since pork sausages were invented none
have been fried so beautifully brown; no
gravy ever 30 deliciously made; no pota-
toes been so white and fioury! Such q
supper is fit for the gods-at least, when
the sauce of happiness and hunger accom-
panies it.
The ESQ had come most OPPORTUNITY,
for Jacks little patrimony was exhausted;
he had only an uncertain engagement on
the staff of third rate evening paper,
and no help could he expected from
Muriel's father, who disowned his daugh-
ter when she ran away with-to repeat
the old gentleman's words-"that good
for-nothing scribbling fellow who was
Drought up In such an eXtravagant style,
Sir, and then left with few paltry hun
dreds." Jack says that now he will be
able to devote some time to his novel,
upon which he has been engaged for
some months, instead Of being driven by
stern necessity TO write nothing but "pot-
boilers" When the clock struck IL, the
light was put out, ana soon no sound was
heard in the room but the quiet breath
ing OF the happy sleeper
Breakfast over, Jack hurried away, for
he was anxious to receive his prize money
as soon as possible.
"Sit down, Jack, and have look at
The Times for five Minutes said Harry
Balfour when the two friends had shaken
hands IL have one or two little matters
that must be at ended 60 at once.n
1t did not appear rs II BalfOur could at
tend much to the business he mentioned,
for his glance wandered continually to
his friends bright face, aud he pushed
his papers about with nervous, i'm
patient hand
"Is this eighty-pound prize great mat
ter to you, old fellowy he asked Jack at
last
II should think it IL, Harry My wife
has been awfully seedy laIely--London
never agrees with her, but | could not af-
ford to send her away, and now she can
go TO Hastings for week with Lulu, and
have everything the doctor orders. Yes
indeed II is godsend to me IN every