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

hef husoand5 memory ana she lTltd ID
drive the thoughts from her mind.
A low, tlEnid knock vac hear and her
maid entered and placed s"mt letters OF
the table Alice AiIIng turned over the
pile al letters, and opeIre TIA, M; they
all contained the same ste eotypr /
! phraseOlogy of coincidence, then IN hall
childish way she pushed them aside rose
and began pacing the room.
" Not word. not a word" she
myaned go, what are all the letters
to me If He does not write? In two
years | viii 90 to him, since he will not
come TO me-"
Slowly and mechanically she un
dressed and retired, and soon her - tire4
spirit slept"
Again it was Thanksgiving Day,
and to-day she was TO visit Harry
in his home, and offer him what
he had pleaded for four years be-
fore Weeks before she had LETT her
beautiful tropical home with its bAlmy
airs and Udor OF flowers for Michigan
with its ice and snow The miles that
lay between were neither short non
pleasant ones; seven days on the ocean,
six days overland, and these full OF I'M
expected difficulties and trials.
The day had dawned clear and bright,
the sparkling snow creaked under her
feet as she walked from the hotel TO the
cutter, while the keen air brought the
color to her face. She had dressed her
self with great care that morning, and as
she saw her reflection in the glass she
felt herself grow young again-the past
four years seemed blotted out, she was
again in her teens. and Harry Sladden
was her lover. She was going 10 reap
the reward of long months OF self-denial
and self-sacrifiCe. There would be little
to be said or done, she felt sure, no bar
rlers to be broken, no citadels to storm,
for did she not know his characteristics
as we'll as she did her own? Did he not
swear eternal faithfulness, and was he
not still unmarried? Surely her visit
to-day would end in complete victory
AS she thought OF her success already
almost achieved her whole being swayed
IN fashion that one sees in some
phrases OF that barbarically interesting"
native dance of the Hawaiians the
"hula." She had not known such real
Joy for years, "a delight enhanced perhaps,
by its very want of a surety that it would
be realized.
AS the driver drew up before his door,
she alighted and gave her orders in a
clear, steady voice. She gave the bell
two impatient jerks, and waited. Soon
pretty-faced woman of about thirty-five
answered her ring.
'Mr. Sladden lives here, 1 believe"
said Alice in her most conciliatory tone.
eyes, he lives here, and he is in.
Would you like to see him ?" she asked
in Inxr- 4
her through long hall to little recep-
ton room in the rear, took her card, and
bowed herself out.
Alice was not sorry for few moments
to herself; at last the time had come for
which consciously or unconsciously she
had shaped the last two years of her life
she felt no fear. no anxiety, and deep
down in her heart she felt a certainty
of success which ditfused strange hap
piness. She glanced around her with a
woman's scutiny, and her eyes filled as
she noticed several portraits of herself
carefully arranged over the mantel. The
room was small, and daintily furnished
On one side OF the room was series of
book-shelves with their well-worn books,
many of them poems that she had read
to him in happier days. on the table
stood a silver vase fnll OF white tea roses,
one of which had fallen on an open page
and served for bookmark.
Footsteps sounded along the corridor
then the curtains were drawn aside; her
heart beat faster and faster; only by a
mighty effort did she keep from crying
out. He came forward and took her
hand" Really, Mrs. Alling, this is an
unexpected pleasure, when did you ar
rive?"
To-day-yesterday, she stammered,
scarcely knowing what she said.
GO Pray be seated" he said, as he
pushed chair towards her.
She obeyed, feeling somehow like one
waking from dream, a little chilled,
little frightened. For moment she sat
there gazing intently at him, then the
tempestuous undercurrent burst through
the calm surface.
"Do not ask me why | came to you,
do not pretend to misunderstood mel
have come to give you back four years
ago you asked me for-Harry, don't be
cruel remember how you loved me
then, think how | love you now, " She
paused, tears filled her eyes, her delicate
nostrils quivered, and her pale cheek
glowed for an instant with pink flush.
She waited for him to answer. He
tapped the carpet lightly with his foot,
then he said in firm voice: -Four years
ago | gave you the love OF true, honest
heart; you have it still. | asked you to
be my wife, bear my name and be the
mother of my children-this you can
never do now l will never give you the
pain of seeing yourself supplanted. If
you ever need friend have right to
be called upon first"
She rose and stood before him, her
cheek was CHASTITY pale and there was no
color in the full lips. Her eyes stared at
him in mute appeal, but he was I'M
moved.
He had spoken quite gently, even
kindly but though he had tried to re-
press the scorn in his words it seemed
plain enough in his voice. Alice felt
much surprised by it; suddenly her own
acts and motives stood before her in all
their miserable smallness. She saw d
gulf yawning between them that never
could be spanned She stood mOtionless
for few moments then walked towards
the door; he came forward and held it
open for her. On the threshold she
turned and took his hand in her own and
| said simply, Good bye" Her dress
touched HIM and she felt his breath on
| her forehead, but she did not look up.
! She heard the door close behind her land
| it seemed to shut her out from all that
| life held dear.
Back through the crowded streets
| back through snow and cold TO the
| golden gate; back to her beautiful trop-
| zeal home. On, on! she would willingly
| have changed places with the merest
native woman bending over her straw
mats to be rid OF the remorse and self
contempt that gnawed at her heart. She
! saw long wears stretching out before her,