The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-31
KATIE'S ENGAGEMENT.

"You might have knocked me down
with a feather, Charley" 1 said, "when
Miss Kate asked me to accompany her
abroad
cit would require pretty strong
you say?''
t'Of course 1 wanted your permission.
She quite understood that; and it is
arranged that tomorrow 1 am to call at
the house and let her know
eff you want to go, Lucy, go by all
MEANS" said he, taking up the news
paper.
''It's not so much that, but you see we
should gain something for the winter.
The child wants clothes; I want few
things myself, and your shirts, Charley,
are fraying out dreadfDily."
''That's right bring me in and get
your own way. You're fine diplomatist,
Lucy-a trile transparent, but quite the
right thing"
''Then I may go, Charley?' I asked.
Certainly" he replied. ST win try to
manage without you for a month";
I kissed him over the paper, and he
laughed. Indeed, 1 am not quite sure
that he didn't rather enjoy the prospect;
but held my tongue, and next day made
my arrangement with Miss Katie, who
had asked me to accompany her into
Switzerland, where she was to stay awhile
with her aunt and cousins.
'"Thank you so much, Mrs. Farmer -
she said ''Father would not have been
so satisfied if you had not consented to go
with me. I hope Mr.. Farmer does not
mind much
"Not much, miss. When do we startP''
next Monday she replied; and that
day we quilted home, coming through
London to Dover, where we slept that
night.
Tt was in the spring, should have told
you; and the passage was little rough;
the day was chilly too. It wasn't natural
that Miss Kate should travel unnoticed
and before we reached Calais a gentle
man and his sister, pleasant spoken
couple, were talking to her. They were
also going into our part of the country
some place ending in 'berg''-but whether
Iceberg or Snowberg, or some other name,
/ can't distinctly say think it was
Zweiberg, or Two Mountain valley
The young gentleman and his sister
were going in the same direction. Their
name was Neville. They had no servant,
so it was well was there, and waited on
Miss Neville, who was, 1 must say, liberal
in her notions; SO Charley's shirts were
soon paid for.
We travelled quickly enough, but one
day, as we were waiting for a steamer to
carry us on from some place which for
get to another that l can't exactly now
remember, / got q shock which nearly
turned me into the image Of Lots wife.
Close to Miss Katie, unseen by her,
stood desperate man knew too we'll
Gideon Grasper! Yes, the man she had
refused-the man who had sworn to be
revenged-the INSCRIPTIONS Grasper him
self!
He had disappeared from our village
after that wreck business, which no one
could rightly fathom, when Miss Katie
repulsed him. There was some talk-foP
our folk are rare gossips-but no one Of
us, so far, had even seen him until now
l was alone, bag in hand, watching her
as she stood on the little landing stage,
deep in thought, while Miss Neville
watched the steamer, and Mr.. Neville
was hurrying down with the big bag
after me.
1 was in a terrible fright for fear Miss
Katie should see Grasper. He kept aside
and watched; he meant mischief; yet in
some respects he was changed; his hair
and beard were long, his dress was almost
Germanlike, and he was smoking china
pipe. But his eyes were as cruel and
vindictive as ever; and l shuddered as I
saw him fasten them on Miss Katie.
Fourteen months had made deal of diff
ference in his appearance; 1 doubt if he
had altered in himself.
Up came the little steamer, and we all
went on board Mr.. Neville attached
himself to Miss Katie, and could see him
whispering to her; and she laughed, but |
blushed sall the same, and said, 'Just |
fancy such q thingr' a favorite saying Of |
hers. Gideon Grasper was forward and |
made no sign until 1 went near the en-
CINE, when he came behind me and whis- |
pered:
.'Are they engaged, eh' Tell me,
Quickl'
'sHow dare you address me like that"
I asked, turning on him in English plain |
as his face.
ssYou're not the queen of England, nor
vet the empress of Russia, so suppose I
can talk to a country woman. Ny dear
Mrs. Farmer, you are looking younger
than ever-ten years at least.''
ssNGr. Gideon Grasper," said, 81 can't
return the compliment, and require
none OF yours. We are strangers since
gou wrecked that bark
ssHold your tonguen' he Kissed, ''or it
VIII be bad for you and your baby faced
girl yonder. suppose you know she is
sngaged to ne?''
SsTo your exclaimed. sob, heaven
orgiye you such storyi Why, she hates
7oul''
sDoes she2 Then she'll have to change
Ter nnirl. 1 have her promise, in writing,
more than eighteen months old; and it
vas never retracted. can claim her
Dri'- T.
stCr what?'' I asked, trembling at his
yes as they searched me through--"Or
Vhat2''