The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-04-12

TI uur. v Dr DHuv. aul Hi
uho lIHs oI N..I1 v.In Do. was o.
passenger m bound tH. ErHl nHl
steamer Cobra .1l.t iHm0vUl voyage
from uu.us Atr.- to t.uthamutUu %
wus bate in thH ,.lr HHl tho passengers
were comparatively fw. 7 canuUt
with truth say chat Carsv was reunr-
Al n,Urite u BOARD Dc was tleitum
O. 70 me. aud when ho WINS mot tact
turn he was apt t1 hO logwItg.
Among the male pa. ugDr ho was
usually spoken Uf n- "H decent fellow
pnuusI. but queer The feminine pur-
Hmsf tho community thought or said
they Thought him undressing.
Among their number was % tall pretty
blond who had gradually pierced the
rmur of his reserve, and I'M whose COM
p8nv ha had even been seen Co smile.
They became very good lrieuds-so
much so indeed as 90 draw down upon
the ing lady head various maternal
Hectares u the folly of encouraging
youn men who were uoh1dies But as
Carey, of course, did not hear these
laltu os. and u- Miss Ida LcnnuX was a
self yillcd young person. their friend
chip uttered $40 interruption.
Tb.ro was o. certain Mrs Buvgrie ON
loars m sytromoly handsome widow,
in WON Nlrew for some unknown
reas. had aroused "a violent dislike.
SybD tfs clever ls well as h1nds1mo,
Iut 8s possessed of passionate aud
alma hat uncertain temper which
last .Uwuyor. I'm virtue of her many
count balancing good qualities, was
univ. sally candoned.
ono evening at dinner Mrs. Bouverie
was .xpatatng to those nearest TO her
on On. value and antiquity of a very
curious and beautiful ring which she
wore. and which she had picked up in a
tour through Italy. She affirmed it TO
be at least 300 years old. 1t was a broad
gold band, chased richly and with mar
vel0us dtlicacy and set all round at
regular intervals with large diamonds
of exquisite brilliancy. Inside We're
two capital letters n. c., each letter
formed of tiny seed pearls sunk into the
gold. Mrs. Bouverie, who was of a
romantic turn, was of opinion that II
had been an ancient betrothal ring.
There was "a half effaced date inside,
which the widows right hand neigh
Dor, pale, consumptive looking clergy
man. was in vain trying to decipher
through a small magnifying glass.
Presently a lady opposite begged to be
allowed to examine the ring, and from
her it was passed from hand TO hant
pretty.well up and down the length o
the table.
But strange to say. it did not com,
back 30 its owner. It had apparently
disappeared. Every one declared il
had passed safely ont of his or hel
hands Where was 1t then; There
was s great cOmmOtiUn, of course; ev-
eryhsiy rose, and a thorough search
was pade, on and under the table and
from one end to the other Of the long
saloon
The ring, however, was not forth
coflslg It's owner had by this time
become somewhat excited and "A rather
disagreeable scene ensued. In point of
fact. Mrs. Bouverie insinuated that
some one had appropriated her ring.
Upon this, some of the male passengers
angrily suggested that, if Mrs. Bouveri'
entertained suspicious of that nature
all present had better turn ont theii
pockets To this proposition there wal
a general assent.
All resumed their seats, and there
was a hurried disentombing of keys
letters posket handkerchief, etc, but
no ring.
Carew, to the surprise of all, quietly
refused to exhibit the contents of his
pockets.
But merely as a matter of form,
Mr.. Cprew, eXpostulated the captain.
The young man, however, repeated
his refusal courteously, but mole in
fexib'y, if anything, than before.
There was an awkward silence.
Then Mrs. Bouverie forgot herself.
May ask, sir, " she said, address
ing c rev in an excited tone, why
you refuse to do as all your fellow pas
sengel have done?"
"You may, madam, " was the briel
and ughty answer
w 81, sir, and why not?"
"B cause l have very special reason
for MT doing SO, he answered in 1
carefully depressed voice.
And that reason?"
Il fear / must decline TO give it, ,
he answered quietly but with an ON
nous lash in his gray eyes.
"Tken you are aware of the imputa
ton yonr refusal casts upon your char
acteri' inquired the lady scornfully.
THAT is matter of the utmost in
difference to me, was the icy answer.
But the speaker hand, as it lay upor
the table, opened and shut in quick
nervous fashion which showed that HI
was less unmoved than he looked.
Wkareupon Mrs. Bouverie waxeC
more and more indiscreet, and all bu
accused Carew of having the ring il
his possession.
Mrs. Bouverie, Mrs. Bouverie, re
monstEated the captain, this is reall..
not qmite fair "
Hove Carew, who had been growing
whittier every moment, rose from hi
seat
Il regret that you should have sucl
an opinion of me as your words imply
Mrs Eouverie, - he said in queer, un
certain voice. May l suggest tina
you drop the subject for the present
My temper is not all that it might be
and Il should be sorry to be guilty 0
discosI1esy To lady"
Ths,fhe left the saloon and went O
deck.
Ast< this day, however, Carew oil
served a gradual but marked ditferenc
in his fellow passengers demeanor tC
ward kim. His greetings were receive
coldly, though with scrupulous polite
ness. Groups began to melt insensibl
away al his approach, or his advent wa
signal for dead silence.
II this general boycotting affecte
the object of it, he did not show it, br
simply withdrew into himself an