Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-12-07
CHAPTER VIII.
R0sEATE VIEWS OF THE FUTURE.

hODhAAN NAAWp VI NhH AOAOh&
The silence was soon broken by
Ralph.
"You will name an early day?" he
queried, In tho same voice with which
he would have asked the price of q
bushel Of potatoes.
"Yes-of course" simpered Alma as
she raised herself up and looked sharp
ly around to see II her father were
sharing her joyous triumph, or If the
providing Kanaka we're threatening to
disturb it. "We island girls, you
know, are simple in our tastes, and
shall not want great deal of time to
get ready. My wardrobe will be sim
plicity itself, Of course, although l shall
6ndeavor to make it worthy of us. Sup
pose" and she dropped her head upon
Ralph's breast, and inserted one of her
foreAngers into her mouth, suppose
we say to weeks from tomorrow"
Gust as you choose, love-"
"Then it is settled" breathed Alma,
more simperingly than before, that
we will be married two weeks from to-
morrow. Would you prefer to be mar
Tied in the morning or in the EVENING""
II shall leave you to arrange all that
just as you please, love-"
Then we'll say in the evening; no,
In the morning; at eight o'clock-no,
at ten o'clock In the morning. Had /
better be married at home, or shall
say at the missionary rooms or the
church at Honolulu?
ITS all for you to decide, dearest"
"Then perhaps the church is the best
place." unused Alma aloud. "It's too
public on some accounts, to be sure;
but then no girl of spirit likes to be
married In an out-of-the-way corner. /
think we may decide upon being mar
ried at our church in Honolulu and
that father will approve of our decis-
ion. ! want all the girls to envy me,
you see, and being married at home is
out Of the question. But you don't
seem to be interested -delighted?"
ooh, yes, am-perfectly charmed,
returned Ralph, with a sigh like that
of force-pulnp. Il was merely think
ing taking leave of my bachelorship,
YOU know, and he smiled gloomily and
distractedly. "As to all the details of
our wedding, it is your privilege to ar
range them to suit yourself, and in
case of any doubt upon any point you
can refer to your father"
1T is all settled, them" cried Alma,
joyfully; two weeks from tomorrow,
In our church at Honolulu, at 10 o'clock
In the morning"
Here Bullet popped upon the scene
as suddenly as he had left it. A glance
at the flushed and jubilant features of
his daughter thrilled him, as he caught
her observation
what is settled?" he demanded,
looking searchingly around
"Why, my marriage with Ashley"
Marriage? Ashley ?" repeated
Bullet, Stimulating the greatest aston
ishment. 81 don't comprehend YOU"
mo, of course motifs all so sud
den so unexpected" returned Alma.
"BGt the fact is, Ashley and l have
just betrothed ourselves to each other
subject, OF course, to your approval"
The idea seemed at last to get through
Bullets head, and he lost no time in
entering upon an elaborate display of
his approval and blessing.
"This Is as it should be, he declared,
after he had signifed the general tenor
Of his sentiments. Ashley is good and
noble, and has long been to me as o
son. You are the sweetest and most
charming of girls, Alma, and have al
ways been the most affectionate of
daughters. I am sure that you will
both be happy. But let us go into the
house and talk over the matter at our
leisure. saw nothing of Keeri," he
added with final sweeping glance into
the adjacent bushes. He has certainly
just been here, but he seems to have
gone.
The old man led the way into the
house, and the couple followed him,
shutting them elves in, They had
scarcely vacated the door-yard when
the Kanaka entered it, advancing from
the bushes nearest the entrance. His
face would have been a study for q
painter, it was sofull of hopeless love-