Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-05-24
WHITE GRAPE.

small three rooms ana O Kitchen, | guessed
from its outward appearance, and painted
reddish brown.
II stood back few feet from the sidewalk,
and the little strip Of yard between it's front
door and and the gate was a waste Of grass
and weeds. An umbrella china tree grew be-
side thegate, whose principal function seemed
to be the holding up to view a red placard set
ting forth that the premises were For Remit
They had been for rent for three months at
least and the red placard was well nigh
washed away by the winter storms before ii
met the predestined eyes which were to look
upon it with favorable consideration.
It was in early April The china tree WINS
coming into leaf, and the tall gypsy cousins
of the aristocratic daisies were camping in
the weedy waste of the door yard.
had been out for my accustomed morning
stroll, looking after my roses in the uptown
gardens, and passing the cottage ON my way
home, was struck by the novel fact that the
inefficient little gate stood open CHANGING
under the branches Of the china tree, / saw a
young woman standing ON the mouldy steps
looking critically about her, and n young man
on the tiny portico in the act of locking tho
door,
l halted beside the gate, looking away, as
If interested in the hosting Of a kite by some
urchins in the street, and in a moment they
they came out, their faces glowing with the
joy of satisfied quest
1t needed no superhuman penetration to
discover that they were newly married and
about to set up their first housekeeping Her
accurately matched hat and dress simple and
unpretending as they were, bore the unmis-
taxable stamp of the trousseau, and the con-
fidence with which she took his arm and the
earnestness with which they spoke, turning
their faces toward each other, told of hap
piness some months old, and beginning to de-
scend to practical considerations
believe pass among my acquaintance
for rather cynical old bachelor, and sup
pose my best friends would hardly think me
capable Of the warm glow that suffused my
heart as l saw this young husbands tall,
strong-limbed, manly fellow. by the way
pat the little hand that lay on his arm and
laugh fondly down into the upturned face Of
his girl wife
The furnishing Of such tiny shell is not
an affair of many days, SO was not surprised
one morning toward the end Of the same week
to see the young man come out of the little
gate and close it behind him, waving his hand
to somebody within as he turned away. Imet
him at the corner, and could well fancy that
siit%o hio oiihiiAB lpo Suiil ttib Uue warm press
ure of the parting kiss
As l reached the deepening shade of the
China tree saw her standing on the portico
her head resting against its square wooden
pillar, her dropped hands clasped lightly be-
fore her, and her eyes fixed upon vacancy
trying for the thousandth time to make real
unto herself the strange newness Of the situs-
ton. At the sound Of my step she broke
away from her reverie and turned into the
house with brisk air of having duties to
perform. The next moment a window was
thrown up and voice broke out in a gay
lifting song like that of glad bird In a blue
summer sky
10 pass the cottage soon became a fayorite
feature in my daily promenades, and | sell
dom tailed to catch a glimpse of one or both
OF Its occupants. Sometimes she was about
going to market, and it was delightful to no
tlce the assumption of matronly dignity with
which sho now tied her bonnet on, instead of
plnnlng 1T as formerly, and covered her
shoulders with little cape with long flowing
ends
Sometimes she sat sewing near the window
and once the door being open, looked into
the very heart of the domestic arcan,in. and
beheld her with upturned sleeves and wide
apron, viciously beating something in a great
yellow bowl
1t was some time in June, | think, that I
babe silent farewell to my unknown friends
In the cottage
1t was moonlight night remember: tho
air was heavy with the odor of night-bloem-
ing jessamine, and moelting bird was sing
ing somewhere near
The china tree was black with its full clus
tered foliage, and the moons rays could not
penetrate to the little portico
could see two figures seated there how
ever, IN the shadow, and their attitude, and
the low murmur of their voices, accorded well
70 my mind with the Jessnmine odor and the
bird-song.
l stayed abroad unusually late. found
myself well Accommodated and well amused In
Florence and these conditions fulfilled. one
place is as good as another to bachelor with
out ties.
1t was late in December when landed in
New York, and u series of long promised Wis
its to some distant relations occupied another
two months, so March had come round before
again unpaeksd my trunks in my familiar
room and fell again into the lettering routine
of my life a. home
had not forgotten my cottage people. and
one of my first engagements with myself WAC
to pass Their gate and look in upon them
IL was bright sunshiny day when | set
out to keep this engagement, though the east
winds and the clouds Of dust amply fulfilled
the traditions OF the month AS approached
the place the leafless trees and the closed
blinds recalled its aspect year ago. only
there was no red placard.
But what was this fiuttering from the door
knob in the needless March wind2 Crapai
For moment the sky seemed to reel, and the
fair young wife dreaming upon the portico
that April morning swept like phantom be.
fore my dazed eyes
Collecting myself, | looked again. The
Grape was white; all pure white. like tha
Easter lilies, white as the dear hopes thai had
conferred in the little life whose going ont n
signaled to all the passers, pleading with every
human heart for sympathy in the tenderest Of
human griefs
1t was some days before gathered courage
to pass that way again, though my thoughts
knocked frequently at the door The east
wind was laid that morning, and the sun
shone with genuine spring Temperatures.
there was a sound Of birds in the trees and a
scent of roses In the air. that it seemed must
speak of hope to the newest grief
walked slowly by on the opposite side Of
the way at about the hour she had been ac-
customed to go TO market, but no matronly
little figure stood on the steps
The door opened when had nearly passed.
and the figure of the husband appeared. He
came slowly down toward the gate, which he
had almost reached, when the door was
again thrown open, and smothered voice
called:
"Harry."
In a moment he was at her side, clasping
her in his arms and stroking her hair sooth-
ingly, with sad, comforting kisses.
All we'll well, the lonely heart does not