The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-10-20


But, bless your heart you can't es-
cape destiny by getting outside an ON.
nibus. / hadn't been up there three
minutes, the rain had only just com.
menced to soak through the knees of my
trousers and trickle down my legs,
when the conductor came up with sig.
niflcant grin on his face.
IF you please, sir, he said, there's
young lady inside wants to speak tc
you.
climhed down the ladder with which
buses in those days were furnished.
There she sat in the corner, half
smiling, half blushing. There was no.
body else inside.
won't you get wet if you go out.
side?" she said.
81 was afraid you might think was
nuisance, - answered.
~ guessed as much" she said frank
ly. but it would be very poor return
for your kindness if 1 drove you into
consumption.
think that upon the whole that was
the most delightful bus drive in my ex-
perience. The conversation flowed in
torrent, and l believe we exchanged as
many condolences and opinions in half
an hour as some people do in a life
time. 1t was wonderful. 1t was like
touching by accident the hidden spring
of some secret door which opened into
new atmosphere, new fairyland. We
were more like old friends than chance
acquaintance, and it seemed as if
neither could tell the other too much.
| Points of agreement and disagreement
were noted eagerly. We had read the
same books, visited the same places, and
/ wherever we turned there was new
ground of sympathy.
She had only been in London week
and had not visited any place Of amuse-
ment. | wondered if l could find a
chance here of pushing my advantage
and approached the subject with deli
cacy and caution.
But at this point it seemed that the
mutual confidence stopped, for she de-
clinod to understand my tactics and re-
marked that her time was too fully &C.
cupied to 60 about much.
Only too soon we reached the place
. L
shook hands warmly and thanked each
other rather vaguely and nervously,
and then ! found myself once more on
nasty, wet London pavement.
had had glimpse of fairyland, but
it was only glimpse. was back
again i'll the practical, uncomfortable
world, with a living to be earned and a
will to make.
The gates of fairyland were closed,
for, like a donkey, had omitted tC
find out the fairy's name and where she
lived.
1t seemed impossible to bring ones
mind back to the legal subtleties Of
willmaking, but it had to be done, and
trudged heavily on my way to oul
clients house, finding, to my infinite
disgust, that had got out of the omni.
bus much sooner than need have done.
Imagine my surprise when, on reach
ing the house and being shown into the
dining room, / found there the heroine
of the lost shoe.
That settled it.
felt that heaven had decided was
to marry that young lady, and formed
the pious Intention then and there o.
giving heaven every possible assistance
and made such delightful hash of hel
} aunt's will that it required some six o.
seven visits to put matters straight.
Curiously enough, though, from thu
moment we met i'll the house her friend
} illness ceased. Every time 1 came sh,
was more cold and distant, and wa
almost in despair. The conversation
which had flowed so merrily in an un
: comfortable omnibus seemed impossible
over the dining room fire, and she re
} fused to go beyond the most common
place civilities.
; She calmly ignored that drive, whicl
had found 80 delightful, and treate'
me with ordinary politeness due to tn
representative of her aunt's solicitors.
l The position grew desperate, becaus
J l couldn't continue to make blunder
\ over the old lady's will forever. Alread
the firm had reprimanded me for stu
pidity, though, to be sure, the old lad
3 herself bore with me with wonderfu
patience and good temper.
: The crisis came.
IL was my ld6U VlbiU duOuI tno Will
: which was now ready-absolutely col
rect-and the dear old creature had az
proved of every word of it.
1t only required to be executed. Sh
, said she would like her niece and me
Q be the witnesses, and as she was muc
. better and able to get up we assemble
s solemnly in the library. But she was
o funny old character and secuted til
l idea of solemnity, ringing the bell fc
Q the servant to bring up some champagne
Il SO that we might drink success to hi
t will"
I'm thankful to say that, though
a was by this time helplessly in love wit
g the niece, had sufficient presence
y mind to say, Success to the will, an
d may it never have to be provedp' whic
y pleased her immensely, and before
left was invited to dinner the follow
!. ing Sunday.
- L