The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-01-25
MISS LANlER
By MARTHA McULLooH WILLIAMS.


benches an res while l fetches yo' some
cool water.
Darragh came timidly forward, the
red still pulsing in her thin, withered
cheek. The old negro stepped in front
of her and said entreatingly: go back
ter yo' pappy, Miss Darragh, honey.
Yo' kin trus' old Isaac ter ten ter
things right. >"
Darragh answered him steadily: 81
know that, daddy. l will go i'll min
ute. Perhaps these gentlemen have bust
ness. l represent my father and must
hear it if they have"
Tanning stepped forward to say, with
his finest courtesy: Our business is to
find rest and quiet for few summer
weeks. Here you seem shut quite away
4 from tho world of noise and hustle. If
you will let Us share for brief while
your paradise, you will earn our ever
| lasting gratitude.
Oar, now, It'll mistes. yo' run long
erway. Let Isaac ten to de gentemens.
He knowed dey warn't none er dem Ian
hunters mint he sot eyes on 'em. Here
you stays, gentemens, an welcome while
you chooses. Darraghsmount do amt
nebber yet been shot ter folks whar gut
de right ter come through it, an it'll
company will chirk up Marse Darragh
an It'll mistes des wonderful, wonder
full. Des lem me show um de way roun
ter waush der faces den I'll fetch UNI
in, an yo' two mus retain um till
dinner done get ready" Isaac said, ad-
vancing Hospitality to possess himself
of the knapsack and sketching outfit
lying upon the piazza floor.
Darragh said with face full of
doubt, Isaac, are you sure
Eyes, yes, It'll mistes certain, sho, "
the old man broke in, then going close
: and half whispering: Miss Darragh,
honey, for de lands sake, let um stay.
Dey means pay money, an whar else
we's ter get it fun maybe de good
Lawd knows, but po' ole Isaac don't.
l been tryin ter wuk-ter plow-but de
, weeds is gut de best Of all de truck
an de hot sun DIES is twis in hit all up
to nuthin. We won't make seed, much
less bread an yo' know yo' said las
winter der warn't nuthin mo- i'll de
house ter sell as would pay fer carryin
: erway."
"Iknow," Darragh said quietly, "but
-but-to open our doors for money! |
never thought Darraghsmount would
come to that "
"Honey, hits fer him, Marse OAR
ragh, Isaac said, nodding toward the
back, whence now came querulous
calling.
At sound of it Miss Lanier got very
white, but walked bravely to her Wis.
itors, who had withdrawn to tho piaz-
"a S farthest angle, and said, try ng &c
speak steadily: Tiff you stay, sire,
| can promise you only the very sim
plest fare and 10 attention save what
Isaac can give you. Indeed you Will
have to depend on him for everything y
"He looks dependable. We will be
but too glad to risk it," Bertram sale
, cheerily. Tanning looked his hostess
full in the eyes till her cheeks grew
damask roses, then without wore
! followed his comrade at 1saac's heels Il
the wide, bare upper chamber the tw'
were to share.
Though not directly over Major La
nier's apartment, doors and window
all stood so wide that the newcomer
could not choose but to hear the blint
man rating Isaac for his negligence
"leaving strange gentlemen to stan'
for SO long unanswered at the door.
The negro answered with the humbles
patience:
Deed, Marse Darragh, l neve
thunk nobody was comm. l des wen
out ter de stable count er seein 'bou
dem mules. Late corn done got so bi
an heavy down in dem bottems IL
plum feared some triflin niger will
get one er de critterr oberhet, else 81
i'm too much feed an founder i'm. "
"Ah, then, the crop is heavy if W
did have high waterp'
Corn DIES er bulgin an er boomin
Marse Darragh, ter kill an ter Grip
ple''-
Never mind it, man. About thes
strangers, be sure they have every atten
ton
81 will, Marse Darragh. Dey come
frem up norf"-
= THAT makes no difference, Isaac
while they are under the roof Of Dan
raghsmount. Away from it,
Goose, of cose, Marse Darragh, de
I mought not be much OBJ nobody, bu
while dey here-nebber you min, de
pwi,a fin ont what It's ter be company.
PRAY heaven that we do," Bertrall
said soto voice. 81 was company ono
for six weeks down in Virginia. / re
member them as long delicious dream
of waffles, broiled chicken, fresh Der
ries, real cream and coffee fit for tn
gods. "
Tanning held up finger of silence
The voice below went on: "Darragh
my daughter, we have in some way un
accountable fallen out of our habit o
hospitality. 1t must be year since w
have had dinner company, but / hop
you have not on that account neglected
your wardrobe. Put on your newes
gown, something simple, yet elegant
as becomes southern lady offerinI
hospitality to her hereditary enemies
A cheap or old fashioned gown Nigh
seem the manifestation of clownish re
sentiment, something more than impos
= sible to a Lanier under her own roof
Do these strangers, by the way, seer
men Of parts and breeding?'
"1-hardly noticed. They are differ
"A ent, though, to some-some-'nost-
u northerners that | have seen, Il;
daughter answered in the high Ike
necessary to reach her fathers dulle
ear.
'Ah, yes, those impertinently persist
ent Spectators who want to spoil Dan
raghsmount's fair face with their dirt
mines and furnaces l shall be glad I
T, find out that there is better sort anon
our conquerors. 1t would take ava
half the bitterness of defeat to kno'
that we surrendered to gentlemen.
Bertram looked at Tanning to say
We with laugh: Listeners are not Ell
titled to hear even good wishes of then
selves; but, do you know, in nv min