The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-07-13
N0RW EGiAN COURTSHIP.

word TO be in any way applied TO the
heroine Of this little tale, whose lean,
scrawny figure looked for all the world
like series of badly connected angles.
and whose STOPPING shoulders and mar
row chest We're clad in a faded black
jacket.
This garment, with its rusty surface
and pulled seams, suited well the sad
looking woman into whose dreary life
came one little bit of color, which shall
try to describe.
Her face correspondent well with the
rest Of her appearance, for it was faded
and worn, and surrounded by fringe OF
straight, dusty brown hair, pulled tight
| ly back from the sallow, weary face,
whose one redeeming feature was the
eyes-dark gray, and oh, so sad!
She had that expression of wigtfuI
waiting sometimes seen in the eyes of a
faithful dog who has lost his master, and
seems ever to wait, always patiently, and
TO watch ever expectantly for the beloved
! face.
She was Norwegian, named Eta,
and lived in our family as cook for near
| ly a year.
Weeks passed by and early autumn,
which had brought her to us, shed leafy
tears, and departed suddenly, leaving
us all unprepared for winters advent,
which announced itself in cold. dismal
rain.
Up to this time Eta had never re-
celyed letter or any communication
from the ontside world. She never left
the house, and scorned the idea of an
afternoon out. However, on this drizzlv
day, there was surprise, a great sur
prise, for Eta was discovered holding
an open letter tightly grasped in one
hand. But when she found herself re-
garded, it was hastily thrust into
voluminouS pocket in her skirt.
Now this pocket was a marvel in it
self, as it could hold lnyriads of things.
Why, one day | saw her produce pill
low case, workbOx, scissors and brass
thimble at cUa fell swoop; at another
t11ne-but | am wandering far away
from the letter and its consequences.
The mysterious epistle was seen sew
eral Times again, and these glimpses
showed it 10 be worn and rulnpled with
much reading. No doubt it would have
been read and reread out of existence
had lot another, fresh and clean. re-
placed the first.
Ibis took from the postman, and Sc
had chance TO see the uneven, char
acteries5 writing, the Christiania post
mark and Norwegian stamp. 1t was
followed a week later by another. then
another
l became interested, for felt was on
the track Of u real, live romance.
The pale, tired face seemed 10 crow
brighter IN those days, and Cor tn, first
time Eta made frequent trips to the
city, returning laden with bundles of
every size and description. All her spare
time was now employed in sewing. Cali
Goes and prints were made ana laid
aside. For some reason or other Eta
was replenishing her clean but scanb and
somewhat dilapidatei wardrobe.
Another link III the chain! thought |.
and began to imagine the arrival Of a
stalwart Norwegian lover left in Nor
way two years before, when she had
come to try her fortune in America.
Letters came more frequently. and
Eta grew correspondingly brighter and
cheerler-she even seemed 10 tn to hold
herself more erectly, for often the bent
shoulders were suddenly Strengthened az
she went about her work. Her voice.
formerly so tired and hopeless, took on a
more cheerful tone.
Not the least remarkable Of Etta's |
pecu!iarities was her manner of sneak |
ing; slowly and lispingly came the |
broken English, which was at first so
hard to understand. Such Il sad mix |
tnie OF her mother tongue AMI this new,
strange language, such verbal combina-
tons and misplaced plurals were never
heard before.
About this time | mentioned nv ro-
mantle notions to my mother, bnt she
only laughed, being entirely unable to
connect -Etta's sad appearance with a
lover, Norwegian or Of any other land.
She called me a romancer, but still felt
sure was right.
Sooner than expected came the chance
to indicate myself, for the next day as
sat idly by the window, watching the
oaSsers by, my attention was attracted
Oy queer little figure way down the
street, which came on toward the house
1t rafting pace, gayly swinging huge
cane and putting vigorously Mt a NAM
moth cigar. At a distance it was i'm
possible to tell whether lie was boy or
nan, such q comical, little figure lie was.
dressed IN snuff colored suit. with =
'ose IN his buttonhole AMI the tiniast
ierby imaginable tilted over one ear.
Gazing laughingly at him, I was lust
cling my mother to look at that absurd
little creature, when what was our sur
rise to see Eta, the staid. the ouiat
lash wildly across the lawn. rush down
o the gate, and throwing her arms
bout the little fellows nec: kiss him
IrsE on one cheek and then on the Other
he man, after a few quiet but ear
est struggles, managed to free himself
rom her long, thin arms, and looked up
1to her face, so high above him. with
leasure surely, but without a trace Of
overlike ardor. .
On closer inspection it proved to be =
1cn funny, rosy, childish face that il
'as impossible to look at it without
Eta seemed to find it so. for.
Milling happily, she escorted him back
the house, her long arm linked in his
hort one, almost lifting him from the
round at every step, and presently We
card the low monotone Of their voices 4
the kitchen below.