The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-01-31
A MODERN NOVEL.
which Shows In the Present style the Court.
shin of Homer Fort.


-. - -, 80.
sup y, ',o
honer roro sao III Vne parior herVousiy
toying WIN an IVORY paper kniie: one mao
not YET come uowh' ne was IN evening
dress ana as ne leaned forward ana caught
glimpse oil ms lace IN mirror ne was sur
priseu tosee thao ne was pare. buo ne ieit
u 10 ne the supreme nioneh. Oh MS lie-the
one on which ms whoie future nung-tor
nau ne not ueciueu 'oask nea,r'N 'nao even,
ing 10 pe nus wl,et ne nearu the rustic OF
silken shirus anu ure" quiIA, in,oiunoary
breath. But u was Mrs. Hiiaehsrt, the
motner Oh beatriN, VINO entered. one was
WIDOW anu iiVeu alone WIN ner uaugnter'
An Mr.; fort,' said the lady. extending
her hand graciousiy, you are quite desert
ed here are you notF
NO, not tnat' Mrs. hildehart, answered
Homer. u found the place deserted and
coionized IL ana base my claim on priority
OF settlement. But l encourage immigra-
ton" he added quickly.
The lady smiled as she sank into chair
and looked at the young man
Your daughter" continued Homer; she
Is wellY'
Quite so and much interested in her
charitable work. We have had very hard
winter, and, alas, there are many poor. by
the way, Mr.. Fort, there is matter on
which / wish to speak to you"
"1ndeedr said the young man as he felt
the color again flying from his face. The
lady sat up on the edge of her chair, adj
justed pair of gold trimmed eyeglasses and
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
ject 1t cannot be avoided longer"
Homer faltered an inarticulate reply and
swallowed lump in his throat.
You have now, Mr.. Fort, been visiting
my daughter Beatrix for almost year.
Your calls become more frequent, and they
grow longer. You do not deny this, l fancy,
Mr. FortF
Poor Homer shook his head and chung to
the arms of his chair. He could feel his
heart throbbinE in his bosom like some
great piece of machinery.
81 apprehended that you would not. Be
atrix does not. Mr.. Fort, as you know, l
have been to considerable expense during
the past year in visiting the Worlds fair
and repairing my carriage house. This,
added to the notorious stringency of the
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 OF
wood during the winter. do not ask you,
Mr.. Fort, to furnish this wood; but, my
dear young sir, must insist on your saw
ing it in the future. You will of course
comply with my wishes in the matter"
She swept out OF the room. Homer Fort
hid his face in his hands.
How long he sat thus he could not guess
but he was aroused by n soft touch on his
head. He started up, and with little cry
Beatrix shrank back.
II thought you were asleep, Mr.. Fort,
she said, bushes jostling one another OF
her face. As she stood there in the mellow
light she seemed more beautiful than ever
and she was known to be the most beauti
full girl In Binghamton.
With strong effort Homer spoke.
DO you kow ALP" he asked.
"All," she replied, and her eyes sought
the floor.
What can say' Tell me-"
She tapped the toe of her boot impatient
| ly on the soft carpet, but did not raise he
eyes.
Say nothing" she replied, with intens,
earnestness. Say nothing, but saw woodr
She turned and walked to the sofa, ant
from under it drew large red bucksaw
with glittering blade and great, Jagged
savage teeth. She held it up toward tn,
young man.
Saw wood" she repeated.
He sank back in his chair and looked a
her as in dream.
See" she cried, speaking rapidly ant
controlling herself with an effort as sh,
reached behind little bronze Barge on tn
mantel and took up bacon rind daintil,
between her thumb and finger-"see, it will
grease the blade! / struggled it from tn
breakfast table this morning in my bonboi
box" She rubbed the rind up and dow
the blade with nervous haste. Saw wood,
she said again. You know you were cen
ter rush at college year ago, and the rim,
will help, oh, so muchr'
Homer Fort, though young, was maj
of resolution. He rose and drew himsel
up to his full six feet.
~ am ready" he said slowly, scarcel,