The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-11-23
A LEAP YEAR LETTER
DWELL, l am blest"


bore the signature Katie Armstrong. "
Katio Saucy, charming Katie, who had
refused IA dozen at least.
Poor little thingl 1t must have been
hard for her to write, he thought. mo |
doubt she wished to help me BY Jovo, |
I'm lucky fellow"
my darling Kate, he began, "I'm a
blunt, stupid fellow and never could say
what l felt, but 1 love you and have loved |
you longer than you have any idea of. Ii
you will have me, 1 shall be the happiest |
man alive. May call this evening? Yours. |
Bob. +"
Meanwhile Miss Armstrong was going
about her daily avocations as If there were
no such disturbing elements as lovers and
proposals In the world She was the only
lively individual at the breakfast table,
for Tom and Will, her irrepressible school
boy brothers, were not in their usual spir-
it's Kate rallied them on their abstraction
as she prepared their lunch.
you needn't tell me, Tom. 1 know
better" for the youth was earnestly pro-
testing that his conscience was perfectly
clear You'll both be wanting me to help
you out of a scrape. Now, I've warned you. 7"
And she shook her pretty head at them as
they departed with guilty countenances.
"Kate, dear?"
1t was her mothers voice The girl look
ed ruefully at the blackboard and -four bar
rel, then ran up stairs.
~ want you to run out to Browns to
match this wool, dear. can't get on with
my knitting.
"I'll get on my hat at once, she said
brightly, and presently looked in again
with face so sunny that one hardly no.
ticed how shabby was the little hat coquet-
! 4. Il L. ,INaI, 10
"Katiep'
"Bcbp'
| Her brown eyes met his as frankly as
usual. Her smile was unembarrassed. 1t
| was the gentleman who blushed and look
ed conscious
"You-did you get my note?" he STAN
mered then, noting her look of surprise:
"No, of course not What am 1 thinking
| off,
"Your note?" she repeated innocently.
"No what was in it, Bob Anything par
ticular?"
Anything particular And Bob felt her
letter at that identical moment cracking
in his breast pocket Kate looked at him
with wondering eyes.
Cit is impossible TO explain here,n he
said, with heightened color "Are you TO
be at home tonight, KatieS"
"Yes, certainly. Come to tea, Bob. III
have scenes and marmalade. -
Scenes and marmaladc! Bob wondered
vaguely as he sat at his desk few mo-
ments later whether he had dreamed it
all And Katie wondered what made Bob
so unlike himself and what on earth he
had been writing to her about.
"Heres your wool, mother-the exact
shade, and here are some flowers. Icouldn't
resist them. was tempted with cowslips,
butt
"Cowslipsr'
Gin the milliner's, )" laughed Katie.
"Ohl Did you meet Prince Charming"
with n smile.
"No, only Bob Kirk. He is coming to
tea, so must make scenes"
Just then the doorbell rang.
The post" Thought Katio and opened
the door. 1t was Bob's letter Wondering
much, she tore it open.
"My darling Kate''-
She looked round startled, the rich color
dyeing cheek and brow, then quietly shut
herself in her little room and read the
short note through. She was not mistaken
then 1t vas a proposal from Bob-just
the kiud of proposal she might have ex-
pected from him, dear old fellow, if she
had ever thought Of such thing. But he
had never said Il wur,. Of love till today.
Ton. and Bill were Lot often particular
about their toilet. AS q rule they threw
their caps in the hall, tumbling over each
other in their eagcrncsS to be first at tie
tea table.
On this particular evening they wero
late but when at last they made their APP
pearance their faces shone from recent abb
lutions and their entrance was decorous.
VIII came first, urged from behind, but
stopped short ON the threshold, his eyes
round with establishment.
Mind your eye, growled Tom. You
needn't tramp on fellows toes" Then
, he too opened his eyes.
Hello! l sayp'
Its all right, youngster," said cheer.
5 full voice. 1t was Bob, sitting in Toms
: particular chair, beside Kate and the tea
kettle He was holding her hand in his,
and, what was more astonishing, Katie
seemed to like it, and the mater was beam,
t ing approval.
"This is my seat now" explained Bob
and Tom meeIly drew his chair to re
spectful distance.
2 1t was all right evidently, as Bob said
but Tom and Will were not easy in theil
minds and haunted the loy ers throughout
the evening, to their great discomfort, un
til Bob had fairly said good night Ther
: they slipped out after him
Il say, Bob. p"
"WellY'' Bob felt amiably disposed t
all Katie's belongings, even to Tom anC
e Will.
' cts all right with you and Katie"
: IAN right? l should think 50" witt
emphasis.
ibid you-did sho-I mean Ton
V had difficulty in finding words. "Was i
n her letter that did it?''
"What do ycu meam'
Because, Tom blurted out the words
e "she didn't send that letter 1t was vii
4 and that did it. "
The murder was out. Bob caught TIN
culprit by the collar. Tom squirmed.
Don't, Bob She wrote it, really ant
S truly, and viii and found 1t and put TIN
. names and sent it to you for fun. We wer
:, sorry this morning when we thought o
" it," said Tom remorsefully in conclusion