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

"A L ALI i OMN lDUO.
I think everybody gets touch of ro-
nance some time i'll his life. The
green glade of olden days is probably
replaced by busy street, your arInor
clad knight by city man in a frock
coat and silk hat, your distressed damsel
is practical, level headed. energetic
little typewriter, perhaps, The actors
are changed, the scene is changed, but,
believe me, the element of romance is
Just the same as it was in the days of
chivalry.
Now, dare say you would scarcely
believe that bald headed, middle aged,
stout old solicitor like me-getting ev-
cry day more engrossed in business, and
more and more apt to be a trifle crusty
in my temper, owing to tiresome liver
was ever sufficiently interesting to
play the part of modern knight Grant.
Let me tell you all about it, and how
it ended. It's commonplace enough,
know, and dare say most Of you have
gone through something similar, but if
it does nothing else it may perhaps serve
to stir up pleasant memories
had nearly completed my articles,
and was reading hard for my final, +"
when one morning the firm told me to
go to client who was i'll and take in
structions for her will.
She was an old maiden lady living in
Paddington, and our people had trans
acted all her business for her for some
thing like 40 years.
1t was a wet day-one of those days
that we get from time to time in Lon
don, when you feel as if you would like
to go to bed and not get up again until
things have changed.
Holborn was like a little river, and
the traffic stopped and splashed along in
way that made you feel damp even tc
watch.
stood on the curbstone waiting for
chance to cross without being smoth.
cred with mud, when 1 noticed girl
standing near me. She, too, was trying
to cross.
1t was very funny to see her. She was
evidently from the country, and didn't
at all understand the London traffic.
Three times she started, and three times
she turned back in despair
watched her with interest. There
was an amusing expression of good tenn
pered misery on her face. She was pref
ty-very pretty-and daintily dressed
and-well, / seized my opportunity like
an articled clerk who is worth his sail
| is bound to do.
Excuse me-" I said, raising my
hat, "but think you want to cross the
road.
! She looked rather startled.
| II think l shall get ON all right, ,
she answered, ''if you would kindly
tell me when to start. "
Suppose we try together? Give mi
your arm.
She did not give me her arm. tool
it, and we started on our pilgrimage
In and out the cabs and omnibuses
guided her safely until we got to abou
the middle of the road, which, as yol
know, is very wide opposite Furnival'
inn. Suddenly she imped and gave
funny little hop.
"I'm very sorry" she said, laughing
"but-I'm afraid my shoe has com
off. 1t stuck in the mud"
looked around. Sure enough, few
yards behind us was a shoe lying il
the mud, looking very lonely and get
ting horribly wet.
''Can you stand here for moment,
I said, "while fetch it?'
l left her there, standing ON one foot
with the tip of a little stockinged to
just touching the ground to steady her
A cab driver who happened to pas
found the situation amusing and said s
candidly, but I'm proud to say that
managed to keep grave face The sho
was such small one that l marvele
how human being could ever get
on, much less get it off again.
Now saint from heave2 can't put
lady's shoe on for her without seein
her ankle. didn't try to. l thorough
enjoyed that little ankle and lingere
over the task with becoming solemnit
in spite of the weather.
At last we were ready to start agar
'It was very kind of you not to laug
at me, " she said, with a little blush. 9
must have looked very silly, standin
there ON one foot. "
you looked very charming, sale
with a young mans bluntness.
landed her safely ON the path, an
she thanked me.
asked her if l could be of any ful
Their service. She thought not. She onl
wanted to get into Paddington bu
and then she would be quite safe.
Now I wanted a Paddington bus, bI
I didn't say so. AS soon as one came u
stopped it, put her inside and wei
ON top myself.
Perhaps you will think me quixott
for going outside in such miserab
weather. Well, l believe you woul
have done the same thing after all. Yo
see, was afraid she might think WI
Fostering her if followed her inside