The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-03-22
A STRANGE WOOING,

l am Casper Athwold. / was born beau
tiful, but one day nurse dropped me from
her arms down the whole length of the
oak staircase. There is no need to say
more. Yet I was a happy child. AS
grew up 1 built such castles in the air as
other youths build, and in my castle he.
gan to see Kate Norman's figure, Katie's
dark eyed, crimson checked face smiling
on me from visionary flresides there and
hear her voice singing lullabies in the far.
off future. We met often. She was al.
ways kind aud friendly. had fancied
something more.
One day went in the heat of the after.
noon to IA shady spot by the river side, my
own ground. l lay upon the grass, read.
ing book, when behind the glossy leaves
of the plants which the little ones called
"bread and butter bushes" heard the
sparrowlike twitter of girls voices
"She'll have him" said one
Fancy such bridegroom" said the
other. "All his money couldn't buy me- F"
"He don't want you, but Kate" said
the first.
cone must be at ones last prayer tc
want such an admirer. No one could like
Casper Athwold.
"Of course not,' said the first "But
then he's rich and Kate poor enough"
"You are right. No woman could love
him. But money will marry anybody"
There was n rustic, u sound of feet on
TIE grass. The chirping voices died away
In the distance.
just for ten minutes / hated the world
hated the jolly, broad shouldered farmer
tramping alone the Bride path, hated the
red faced boatman on the river, hated the
yellow haired child in the bottom of the
boat at his feet, hated all who lived and
breathed and walked erect under the
sky. Then my heart softened, and wept.
/ had loved Kate, and l loved her still.
The girls chatter had awakened me tc
the truth. Just as lived now, alone in
the old homestead among the marbles,
so must live unless bought wife with
my gold-a wife who could not love me.
Such had been my brief wooing time.
went no more to the cottage in the lane.
met Kate no more "by chance" in quiet
places. 1 did no more of those foolish
things.
shut myself up in the old house among
my books and Stunned the sight of faces
and the sound of voices 1t was the bes
thing that man whom no one could Low,
could do.
".
1 had met her, but 1 always looked anoth
er way, and our pleasant greetings hat
come to an end. had seen hurt flusl
on her face and taken no heed of it. I hat
even been discourteous-bu loved hel
just as had loved her all along.
One day l went to the old lawyer wht
had had charge of our estate for 40 years
and babe him draw me up IL will in which
left all that possessed to Kate Norman
with letter which only her hands We're t.
unseal, only her eyes to read, after 1 ha(
| gone.
This was the letter:
Kate Norman:
You never cared for me. You could not
| Once 1 heard a woman say no woman could
| but loved you. Had cherished one faint ra,
of hope would have striven to win you
heart, but learned in time what folly it wa
and in pity for myself held aloof from you
| As it is, it gives me some pleasure to thinl
that you will dwell under this roof. Whel
you read this. you will pity, not deride, TIN
love of CASPER ALHwoLp.
This note lay unsealed and directed, ct,
be given to Kate Norman after my death,
and the will was also signed and scaled
and 1 walked home.
At my door the elm shadows lay thick
and in them stood bent, crooked figure
clothed in rags, beggar, who began hi
dolorous whine as l came up:
"a little help; just little I'm not
strong man, sir. l can't work like tn
same Yer ian't strong yerself. Ye'll b
KNOWN what that is. A wakely ould cray
ter that wouli be thankful for onything-
u penny or an ould coat, or sup or bite
yes, sir"
l tossed him a coin.
go" 1 said. Don't loiter here"
The man looked at me curiously, a
though he had expected more pity from
me. The COLI had fallen at his feet. II
stopped and picked it up.
Eyes, it'll buy bite" he said "Gooc
luck to We. It's not always ate before
Shape"
was miserable also.
"Come in, ! said. en- give you som
clothes. You need them sadly"
cts nothing but needing with me, sir,
said he. The likes of me can't work. y
"You have had an accident?"
"Nly father threw me out of windoy
for joke when he was not sober"
l took from my wardrobe garments
had worn and babe him put them on. Aft
erward l gave him food. / called no serv
ant in. No one saw him come or go saw
myself. He departed, blessing me.
watched him out of sight. Then l burs
out in II laugh.
"He had best go and offer his hand Il
Kate Norman / said. "They woul,
make u well matched couple. Does h
look like me in my clothes, wonder
They fit him well. "
Then l remembered going out Of tn
door and down toward the waters edge
A boat lay there with the oars in 1t.
stepped in and rowed up the river. TIL
twilight faded; night came on-a dark
moonless night. l had dropped the oar
and was drifting seward, lying at the bot
tom of the boat. L knew that l was il
danger but che knowledge did not affec
me.
Suddenly glare of red light fashe'
over my face, heard heavy throb of ma
chinery, then a shrieking whistle and
steamer was hard upon my little boat
After that knew nothing until l cam
to myself in a strange room, in strang
hotel at Albany The captain of tn