The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-08-29
A BROTHERS. BEARD.

".Ioe Rose, will you let this chance slip
through your fingers? Are you not wild
over? DO l understand you to say that
! you nr2 | do. Then, sir, ask, what is
Jour first duty in the present crisisH'
| Here my sister paused, but as she dis
covered that Twas unable to reply she CON
t!nued in the following strain:
! 81 see you realize, Joseph, that Miss
| Durang, your daughters governess, Is
| possessed of excellent qualities of mind and
heart. She will grace whatever position
she may be called to occupy. But she IL
scarcely % years of age and is surrounded
by lovers Do you know, Joseph that II
only for your daughters sake 1 consider
| it your duty to marry herr Do you know
that L should consider it very wrong in you
| to allow her to marry out of this familyS'
/ had thought until this moment that
my love for Miss Durang was unknown to
every one but myself Now l discovered
my mistake.
MOLLY" said l, remember my age. |
am II years her senior / admit that love
her as man never loved-a love without
decay, and my heart-my heart is break
ing, Molly; but, notwithstanding, 1 doubt
II she loves me, 1 doubt If she ever could
love me, l doubt if she would marry me. "
"Molly, murmured, 81 will attempt"
"Then you will succeed "
She might have said more-I dare say
she would had not Miss Durang entered
/ the room at this moment, with an open
letter in her hand, when Molly Immediate
ly arose and withdrew
"Mr. Rose" Fadilla began, 81 have a
letter here from my brother Roderick,
whom you have often heard me speak of.
l think 1 told you that he was the only
relative l had in the world He has been
in California for the last ten years, and
has just returned. He writes this from
New York to ask if it will be agreeable for
me to receive visit from him here. You
are master of the house. What answer
shall l make him?"
looked up into her sweet face while she
was speaking and then, as Il wave of emo
ton swept across my breast, l took her
hard in mine. She made no attempt to
draw her hand away
"Fadilla." said l in my falsetto voice
| (my natural voice is so grum that l should
as soon think of singing madrigal in the
tune of "Old Grimes" as of using it in IA
declaration of affection). "Fadilla, l am,
indeed, the master of this house, but did
you ever think that the house needed
MISTRESS
Her countenance assumed the sad, sor-
rowful expression that l had noted at our
first meeting.
ooh, my friend, do not trife with my
feelings"
"Tride, Fadilla?" l cried "No, never!
Believe me, my dear girl, l love you truly,
sincerely and would make you my wife"
Can l trust you, Mr.. RoseS" looking
into my face so longingly, so lovingly.
'Only do trust me--only say you will
be mine, Fadilla. 1t is all 1 ask, >" re-
turned, drawing her toward me.
'Oh, do love you, Mr.. Rose" she
murmured, falling upon my bosom.
Call me pct names, darling-call me
Joey" whispered.
Il have always been sorry that could
not have had this scene photographed
When the first deirium of the moment
was over, we returned to the subject of
her brothers visit.
"Send for Roderick Immediately, my
darling, said "You might have known
that any friend of yours, much more a
brother, would always be welcome here "
She was sitting on my knee with one
little hand laid caressingly on my Shout
der, while her dear head was pillowed
against my cheek.
II know a great deal more than did
when 1 brought this letter to you,' she
answered, with charming naivete.
Within Il week he was with us, and a
capital fellow he seemed too.
but when is the wedding to take
place." inquired Durang Il day or two
after his arrival
"We have not vet decided upon the day,
but wish it to take place soon. Tomor-
row intend to go to New York, where |
shall purchase IA few presents for my wife
that is to be-a diamond or so; perhaps a
necklace of them. l have drawn 50, 900
from the bank, and as l am not a connois-
seur of precious stones-and as dare say
you are-if you will accompany me upon
this expedition 1 shall esteem it n great
favor
That evening L spent with Fadilla alone
At 10 o'clock we all retired, Fadilla lin
gering on the stairs to give Inc good
night kiss, L remember after her brother
was out of sight and hearing.
When at last did awake the bright god
of day was glaring fiercely in at my cham
Der window, and some one was calling
Fadilla.
Dressing myself as hurriedly as possible
l fastened down stairs, and there in the
hall found that remarkable woman, my
sister, with little Molly and all our sery-
ants collected about them.
"Wheres Fadilla?" inquired Mrs Cal
/
dignation upon her face for it scems-as
she afterward told me-she had suspicion
that we had been married privately the
night before
"Fadilla? Isn't she in her roomY'' ask
ed
No, and she did not sleep there last
night" returned Molly, her eagle eye Dor
ing into the depths of my soul
With cry of anguish delivered in my
falsetto voice l bounded up stairs and
sprang into the room sacred to the beloved
of my heart.
1t was empty.
Whats this?" cried my sister. She had
taken something from the dressing table
and now held it up before my eyes l
gazed upon it fondly, but tearfully 1t
was set of false whiskers, long and heavy,
and there was note attached to them.
Read the note" said Molly.
"Mr Joe Rose, beloved friend, / take
this opportunity to inform you that my
| wife Eadilla hearing that IT, was vour ia