The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-09-14

[ have scarcely had time 10 sleep. Every
night since you were here L have gone
to bed so weary that l went TO sleep as
soon as my head touched the pillow.
BY mother has been sick, too, most of
the time, and my hands have been full,
l assure you.
l suppose she must have seen my
blank look of Disappointment, for she
added in her softest tones-and no voice
could be softer than hers: Come, John,
be a good boy now, and 1 will send you
my answer tomorrow by letter"
And thus we parted. 1 went home
with hope deferred. The next day came
and went and 1 heard nothing. The sun
sank in the west, and my heart sank
with it. Ny heart was in my boots for
many day, but pride finally came TO
the rescue, and determined TO try &c
forget Mary and the whole female sex.
Feeling that it would be impossible
to have any peace of mind with Mary
so near, l planned long trip to Europe.
1t had always been my fathers wish
that I, his only son, should take this
trip, but had always opposed it, think
had two daughters, both younger than
myself, and l longed to see them take
that position in society which a good
education only can give. And, while
this European trip would not have seri-
ousIy interfered with my wishes for my
sisters advancement, 1 knew that it
would entail an amount Of economy at
home that I did not like to think of.
But, seeing my depressed spirits and
perhaps guessing the cause, my father
renewed his persuasions, set forth in
glowing terms the advantages to be
gained, which none knew better than
he himself, as he had been quite a trav-
eler in his youth, and finally overcame
all my objections.
My trunk was packed; passport and
guidebooks were provided; arrange
ments were made for the necessary
funds to meet my expenses, but not a
word came from Mary, although she
must have heard that I was ready to
go. Father, mother and sisters babe me
a sad goodby, and L was gone.
A few days after leaving home l
sailed from New York and in due time
landed in Ireland. It took me month
country, and / spent two months in
Scotland, three months in England and
proceeded to Paris, determined to stay
long enough in France to learn the Ian
guage thoroughly. l spent six months
in Paris and the rest of France, and
/ might have spent six more If l had
thought my father could afford it. But
l knew his resources were not abundant,
and SO I hurried on into Germany, de-
voting year to that country, SwitZer
land and Italy. 1 was on the point of
winding up my trip with few months
in Spain, when slight incident caused
me to turn my face toward home with
as much haste as if a legion of devils
was behind me.
Preparatory to going into Spain, I had
taken a Spanish grammar out of my
trunk with the intention of brushing up
my knowledge of Spanish, which had
become quite rusty from long disuse.
AS L opened the book small letter adj
dressed to me in Mary's we'll known
handwriting fell out. It was without
postmark and was sealed.
I tore it open, with beating heart,
for her image was as fresh in my mem
her door. It was very short, and l OBJ
served that the date was on the next
day after had last seen her. This was
the whole letter:
May =. IS.
DEAR JoHN-Yes. MARY.
Only four words besides the date.
I then remembered that l had been
looking over my Spanish grammar on
H.
had dozed off into a nap of a few min
utes' duration and had left the book
open on the table beside me. I had been
reused up suddenly by some one call
ing me, and as it was nearly dark when
1 awoke, must have shut up the letter
in the book without seeing it.
Everything was now clear, and Mary
had done all that l could have wished.
I took the first steamer for New York,
and never did a man cross the Atlantic
ocean with greater anxiety. Well might
Mary have remained silent after such a
note. I reproached myself hundred
times for never mixing any inquiries as
to the causes of her silence and cursed
my foolish pride along with my re-
proaches.
As Soon as I got to the end of my
journey 1 went directly to Mary house,
even before going to my own home. She
was decidedly cool toward me, though
"a had been years since we had seen each
other. But when explained the matter,
she seemed fully satisfied, and we were
married in a few weeks.
I afterward learned that the letter
had been duly sent by q trustworthy
messenger, who had come into my rooln,
and, finding me asleep, had left 1T at
my elbow, supposing, Of course, that I
would see it when l woke up.
Many years have passed away since
these events took place, and there is a
little Mary now running in and out as
I write, who bids fair to equal her
mother in beauty. And nothing pleases
her so much as when 1 telIher the story
Of my finding mammals letter in my