The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-11-27
TWO THANKSGIVINGS.

giving: not, lavish, gorgeous. Every
where flow ering " lantanas," and single
and double a. hibiscus" everywhere a
vegetation like an enchanted garden in
the green gloom under the endless vault
OF algaroba and palm trees
Oh that stiffness, that glory, that
faint odor of the soil and Of the flowers.
The day was dying; the light percept-
ably fading. A few golden torches still
fingered here and there on the tops OF
the palms, and then even the last CLEANS
were extinct.
The friends were gathering; the carri-
ages had deposited their burdens in the
great airy lanai. and here and there the
silent groups were becoming quite con-
versationaI. and seemed TO forget, in the
beauty OF the world outside what occa-
sion had brought them together.
There Is always something sad in the
death Of an old man, and especially
when he leaves a wife who has been for
years part and parcel OF himself. But
when he has Outlived the allotted three
score years and ten, is rich and pos
sessed Of young and charming wife, he
il not usually deeply nourned. Under
the-circumstances, unusual grief is not
to be expected, as an aspiring young
man whispered TO his neighbor.
In her own room, the newly-made
widow sat with clasped hands gazing out
into the night The full moon was sail
ing high in the heavens; its beauty
seemed to rouse her, and she walked to
the edge of the veranda and looked out
into the night. Her home stood on
Punchbowl, the fashionable resident
portion Of the city, and the scene that
stretched out before her seemed like a
glimpse OF fairyland She saw the long
line of palms, the houses, the windows
and even every clinging vine was as
clearly outlined as in mid-day-it one
could imagine city at mid day devoid
of hustle and noise. All seemed as still
as the grave; Fort-street Church, ordin
airy enough looking in the day time, was
now flooded with soft yellow light, and
held ones gaze like a spell; farther to
the left the Kings palace held its snowy
head far above all else, and it seemed
more beautiful than ever as it was out
lined against the dark wall of foliage,
like solitary star in the blue heavens.
Overhead rose Punchbowl, majestic still
even in its ruin; beneath, the sleeping
city beyond, the silver sea.
L" 1t needs nothing" she said to her
self, the picture is perfect. Can this
be Thanksgiving day, with the air heavy
with odors, and the smell of the soil?
All! am indeed an exile"
A low knock reused her from her re-
verie, and servant entered, saying that
the lawyer was about to read the will,
and when she was ready he would come
for her. He led her to the drawing room,
where the relatives and legatees were
assembled. As they entered there was
lull in the half-whispered conversation;
naturally enough she was the subject OF
no small interest and curiosity. All eyes
wandered to the girlish figure sitting
next the lawyer, looking SO pale and
pathetic in her widows mourning
Every ones thoughts as we'll as eyes
seemed to be directed toward her, till
his low, distinct tones turned their at
tention to the matter III hand.
Although possessed of the usual legal
intricacies and endless repetition it took
only short time to read the will. There
were a few legacies to old servants and
relatives-a few to needy friends, and
the balance was bequeathed uncondi
tionally to his young wlfe-Mrs. Alice
Allng Yes, there was a codicil duly
sworn to, which provided that in case
she married again she should be cut of
with Jew thousands, the remainder to
go to charity.
If the widow had been pale before she
was doubly so now her bloodless lips
We're pressed tightly together; her
bosom rose and fell for moment she
closed her eyes-that was all. Turning
to a relative that sat near her she said:
"Will You please take me to my room,
and attend 10 these people, l am lar
from we'll"
Certainly, my dear''-answered the
female addressed, as she led her away.
Alice Alling went back again to her
boudor, locked the door carefully and
taking off the heavy Grape dress she
wore put on dainty white cashmere
wrapper, seated herself in a hammock
on the veranda and closed her eyes. She
could scarcely believe it; that two years
had passed away since she had become
the bride of sickly, jealous old man.
Two years-and in that time she had
lived life. What long, dreary months
of self-sacrifice they had been. But they
were forever over now, and her reward
was greater than she had even dared to
hope. She had really tried to make his
life happy one even after she found
that her marriage had been mistake.
She had done her duty as wife, she
would do it as widow. Long she lay
there dreaming Of days 1t were better
she should forget. She clasped her
hands tightly together and her fingers,
came in contact with tiny ring on her
left hand; she took it off mechanically,
and vet withal tenderly and let it lie in
her lap, her hands folded above it. Its
touch brought back the memory OF an
other Thanksgiving Day beyond Homo
lulu, beyond the wide ocean. Someone
is by her side; and they are laughing
and saving sweet nothings to each other.
Again it is Thanksgiving Day, and the
same two are together again only they
are more grave than before. She is
standing still with downcast eyes and
bidding him good bye.
Poor dear Harry" she said in half
whisper; ''there are few men in the
world like him. | was so young, so
foolish, or | would have resisted the old
man and his money. o how he looked
when | told him l was soon to be
married, Does he ever think OF me now,
wonder?"
Oh! how inexpressably sweet it
! seemed to be with Harry again as in the
old days before Mr.. Alling had dawned
upon her horizon. 1t seemed to her
| then that she must have been very
childish, and very easy clay in the
| hands of those who tried to mould her.
We nearly always look upon ourselves as
! victims OF circumstances over which We
| had no control 1t was so with Alice
Alling; she forgot how she had given
her hand willingly to Mr.. Alling and
inwardly thought herself far-sighted and
clever, and substituted IN her mind d
creature of her own imagination-inno
! cnnt-nn ted and artleSS. Which