The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-01-12
A MODERN NOVEL.
which shows In the Present style the Court
ship of Homer Fort.

Which shows In tnt ifpScnt Ntylc tine tOurts
ship OF Homer Fort.
Homer Fort sat in the parlor nervously
toying with an ivory paper knife She had
not yet come down. lie was in evening
dress, and as heleaned forward and caught
glimpse of his face in a mirror he was sur
prised to sec that he was pale. But he felt
1t to be the supreme moment of his life-the
one on which his whole future hung-for
had he not decided to ask Beatrix that even
ing to be his wifeY He heard the rustic of
silken skirts and drew quick, involuntary
breath. But it was Mrs. Hildehart, the
mother of Beatrix, who entered. She was
widow and lived alone with her daughter.
"Ah, Mr.. Fort" said the lady, extending
her hand graciously, you are quite desert
ed here, are you notf"
NO. not that, Mrs Hildehart," answered
Homer. 81 found the place deserted and
colonized 1t and base my claim on priority
of settlement But encourage immigra
tion," he added quickly.
The lady smiled Ms she sank into a chaiI
and looked at the young man.
your daughter" continued Homer; 'sh,
is wellfr
quite so and much interested in hei
charitable work. We have had very hare
! winter, and, alas, there are many poor. BY
the way Mr.. Fort, there is matter OIL
which | wish to speak to you"
"lndeeds" said the young man as he fel
the color again flying from his face. Tn,
lady sat up on the edge of her chair, ad
justed pair of gold trimmed eyeglasses ant
looked at him narrowly.
YES, a matter of great Importance.
have had it in mind some time, and al
though it is an awkward and painful sub
iect it cannot be avoided longer"
Homer fatered an inarticulate reply ant
swallowed lump in his throat.
You have now, Mr.. Fort, been visiting
my daughter Beatrix for almost a year
Your calls become more frequent, and the!
grow longer. You do not deny this, fancy
Mr.. Fort?"
. Poor Homer shook his head and chung t,
! the arms of his chair. He could feel hi
heart throbbing In his bosom like som,
great piece of machinery.
II apprehended that you would not. BE
atrix does not Mr. Fort, as you know,
have been to considerable expense during
the past year in visiting the Worlds fai
and repairing my carriage house. This
added to the notorious stringency of tn
, times, has seriously reduced my purse
Now, Mr.. Fort, you must know that in sit
ting up here so often and so late with Bea
trix you have burned out great deal O
wood during the winter. ] do not ask you
, Mr.. Fort, to furnish this wood; but, m
dear young sir. must insist on your saw
ing it in the future You will of cours
comply with my wishes in the matter"
She swept out of the room. Homer For
hid his face in his hands.
How long he sat thus he could not CUES.
but he was aroused by soft touch on hi
! head. He started up, and with little or
Beatrix shrank back.
II thought you were asleep, Mr.. Fort,
she said, bushes jostling one another o
, her face AS she stood there in the mello'
: light she seemed more beautiful than evel
l and she was known to be the most beaut
full girl in Binghamton.
With strong effort Homer spoke.
do you kow alls" he asked.
. AL" she replied, and her eyes sough
the floor.
What can says Tell me-"
She tapped the toe of her boot impatien
ly on the soft carpet, but did not raise ht
eyes.
Say nothing" she replied, with intens
earnestness. Say nothing, but saw wood!
She turned and walked to the sofa, an
from under it drew large red bucksav
with a glittering blade and great, Jagged
, savage teeth. She held it up toward I'll
young man.
Saw wood" she repeated.
He sank back in his chair and looked 6
her as in "a dream.
, See" she cried, speaking rapidly an
i controlling herself with an effort as sh
reached behind "a little bronze Barge on tn
, mantel and took up bacon rind daintil
between her thumb and finger-"see, it wi
grease the blade struggled it from til
breakfast table this morning in my bonbo
box" She rubbed the rind up and dow
the blade with nervous haste. saw wood,
she said again. You know you were Gel
ter rush at college n year ago, and the rim
will help, oh, so muchP'
Homer Fort, though young, was a ma
of resolution. He rose and drew himse
up to his full six feet.
81 am ready" he said slowly, scarcel
parting his lips. The words came from I'll
very depths of his soul.
He followed her through the kitchen an
into the woodshed. There he found pi
=, of shellbark hickory wood aud sawhors
= Beatrix held the lamp. Then for two houl
q the saw rasped and tore and ripped till IL
cool air of the wood shed was foggy wit
4 sawdust. Sometimes he would stop for
|
4 con rind to the hot and quivering blade.
would hiss and sputter, but in a momer
the saw would be leaping like living thin
through a hickory knot. At last it pause
q for lack of food.
a He stood by the young girl, with his ia,
= flushed.
"Beatrix," he said softly, but his vol,
did not falter. my Beatrix, with you
my side coyld saw wood-foreverl"
= She looked up into his face. trust an
happiness deeper than words could te
shining from her eyes.
AS they went into the house he saw f
ture as in vision stretching away befo
him, but through all the years he could 81
no parting from the woman by his sid
. The hoarse growl of a cat followed the
from the wood shed.
"Tom has found the bacon rind," viii
pered the girl.-New York Tribune.
Not Unreasonable.