The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-12-23
CHAPTER VI.
THE DARK HOUR BEFORE DAY.

.Youu take Bet" Tom whispered
hodrSely in my car.
How long slept | know not, but
was lying only half awakened when !
heard very gentle tap at the door.
The moon had risen, and her great
white disk shone clear over the trees,
throwing broad light into the room.
Tom heard the tap and sprang up on the
instant BY the moonlight | saw that
he was dressed as when he first threw
himself down, and could not have been
to bed. AS he opened the door gently:
"Sh-h, dear Tomr' said soft voice
in the hall 1.-The moon is up, and l
heard Bosley take the sleigh over the
snow about ten minutes since"
I'm all ready, Bet dear; won't be
minute"
al couldn't trust the servants, of
course, and fearing you'd be too late, /
thought I'd call you myself" Bette an
swered.
Great heavensl what an escape had
made! How had l misunderstood that
girl! Here was a bride elect on the very
verge of runaway waking her lover
herself, urging haste in his movements
and generally being as cool as cucum-
Der,
''That's right" she added coolly
"Annas all ready, and the old lady
sleeps like William Tell; so hurry, dear"
l breathed fraction more freely. AT
all events, she was to have another fe-
male in the escapade. That would be
more respectable, perhaps, when the af-
fair came to be talked of. But how had
she persuaded that little milk and-water
thing to brave her Argus and the pro-
prieties at such an hour and for such
purpose?
actually pinched myself to see if
was really awake. The whole thing
seemed like an ugly dream, and | could
scarcely realize that single day could
have crowded into it the overturn of all
my hopes that had almost grown to GER
tainties: the substitution of so unex-
pected rival; and, more than all, the
unheard of fact of Anna Bolton stepping
SO far out of her modesty as to make me
formal declaration of love!
No! | was wide awake. The whole
series was only too real, and there was
Bette Blythe standing at our door in
the gray dawning She was really going
W I'LL AWAY Nllu uGI COllSlu. lldN
in very fact driven me to desperation,
and she had actually persuaded the
White Mouse to rebellion.
1t was really remarkable what Won
derful sway she could exert over all who
came within her influence. And yet
there was no tremor in her voice to show
the slightest agitation. By George, she
was going to clandestine matrimony as
she would to her breakfast!
"He's ready. He's going with us, of
course" Miss Blythe definitely said
"You told him would settle that?
An irrepressible groan of rage and
despair burst from me. They did not
notice it as Tom answered:
"Oh, yes. But you must be careful to
explain fully as soon as you can"
'Leave him to me-" was the short an
swer. Now wake him."
SIN one minute; he's all dressed, Tom
replied, cheerily. "But you ought to
know that he thiuks"- He stepped into
the hall and drew the door gently behind
him.
He was only gone moment. A sound
of whispering and a half smothered sob
came over the transom; light step
tripped up the hall, and Tom re-entered
with his hands pressed over his face
Then knew he had told her how had
spoken. | felt thrill of triumph that
she heard had borne the news SO calmly.
Awake up, old fellow"
Tom stood by my bedside, and saw in
the moonlight something Of the express
sion on his face it had worn the night be-
fore. 1t died out, however, as l spoke.
Il am awake. / have no dressing to
do" L said, gloomily.
We were soon ready. Walking stealth
lily as burglars, Jones and reached the
foot of the broad stairway. The back
door stood wide open, and the moon
light, family reflected from the dark
panels, showed two muffied and yelled
figures awaiting u.s.
"You'll take Bet" Tom whispered
hoarsely in my ear. Once more he
pressed both hands against his face as If
to repress his feelings,
Like an animated statue l advanced
and offered my arm to the yelled figure
nearest me. For / was resolved! She
should never have one ray of triumph
over me TO brighten the blackness of the
wrong she was about 10 do her doting
father.
noticed the little hand she rested on
my arm trembled slightly, She had
some feeling, them II was more than
had suspected, but | only grew stonier
and stonier | set my face like flint.
Tom approached her companion very
quietly, drew her arm through his with
more Difference thau thought necessary
with such a weak inano little brides
maid, aud lod the way ont Of tho hall on
tiptoe, Silent ~ the grave wo followed
AS we stepped out into th0 moonlight