The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-11-10

or three hardy males, of whom Carew
was one.
As he passed the door of the stairway
toward the evening of the second day,
he saw Miss Neville, who had just
struggled so far, and was clinging to
the door to windward. She was look
ing white and i'll, he thought, but when
he told her SO she only laughed
do you care to come for turnY'
he said. 1T doesn't rain now, and |
will take good care you don't fall, - he
added.
She consented, but the steamer was
pitching so heavily that after few
turns Miss Neville said she would rath-
er sit down
So Carew provided her with shell
tered seat. brought warm rug to wrap
about her feet and seated himself beside
her. 1t was now almost dark. A few
stars shune here and there in the stormy
sky.
The wind shrieked and whistled
drearily. The deck was deserted. For
quite long time both were silent.
Then Carew said in n half whisper:
lyon are trembling. You are not
afraid of the storm, are your 1t is moth
ing for the bay. ! assure you.
Mo- am not afraid.
lyon feel quite safe here with me?'
he went ON, sinking his voice lower yet.
Yes" she answered somewhat
TREMENDOUSLY.
After pause he laid his hand On
hers as it rested on her knee and said
in an odd. deliberate kind of way:
"Will you let me take care of You al
waysI l mean as my wife. | have
grown to love you very dearly, and l
think l could make you happy"
For perhaps Il minute there was utter
/ silence
Then Carew withdrew his hand, say
| ing hastily and in an indetinably
changed voice. "Ah. you do not care
for me. Perhaps it is as well, and per-
haps had no right to ask you to do so.
/ I forgot for a moment that l am man
under cloud-a cloud that i'll all prob
/ ability will never be lifted, for | tell
YOU honestly | have no means of right
ing myself. Forget what | have said. "
/ The words and tone We're hardly lover
like. but there was slight, almost i'm
perceptible CULVER in the deep voice.
a small hand stole softly into his.
Il do care for you, said happy lit
tie voice, land l would take your. word
against all the world.
Another pause. Carew did not even
press the hand he held. Then he said
harshly: But suppose | cannot give
you my word! Suppose / tell you that
l am what our fellow passengers think
| am ~
Il should not believe you, was the
confident answer.
But if tell you that you must be-
lieve me- His face as he looked down
was very pale and wore an expression
she could hardly fathom.
She uttered half suppressed little
cry. but she did not take ner hand
away-only nestled it farther into his.
He grasped it almost painfully; ther
let it go.
Foolish, trusting little woman" h,
: said in strange voice. Must l Civ,
: you proof that your trust is-mis
Z placed!'
He held out his other hand to her
, In its palm lay the ring. Even in tn
9 dim light she recognized it at once.
There was curious, breathless pause
2 during which Carew never took hi
eyes from the girl face.
$ "Well?" he quietly said at last H
S felt her little fingers close tightly o.
D his.
S II cant help it" she said brokenly
S 81 love you'll love you. -"
g And will you be my wife,
9 She could not see his face, but hi
r voice shook.
, Yes" she whispered, hiding he
2 face in both her hands.
But the hands were gently drawn
t In the semidarkness she felt his arm
come about her, and his mustach
3 brush her lips.
Darling, he murmured passionate
= ly, you shall never regret it
swear" and in his eyes glittered some
thing that looked like tears.