The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-10-06
SILAS' RAPTURE.

One of the most familiar figures TO the
permanent residents of Kennersley and
one which never failed to attract tho notice
of the casual visitor was that of a middle
aged man. dressed in a sccdy frock cont in
all seasons of the year, with loose black
necktie flarping in the wind, and black,
soft felt hat, shupeless with indoent wear
and grey with undisturbed dust. A stout
staff of orange wood, unadorned and with.
out fcrrule, assisted him in his walk.
though his figure was vigorous in spite Of
the slight stoop of a thoughtful man, and
a common string bag completed the more
noticeable features of his appearance.
This bag, often containirya packet of
manuscript for the post on the journey in
to the township, usually carried homeward
small parcel from the butchers or gro
GERS, and not infrequently book or two,
or a review from the library. He usually
walked in the road under the shade of the
trees skirting the pavement, apparently
preferring that portion of the thoroughfare
as being free from the jostling of other
pedestrians or the arrogant demands upon
the footpath made by the exigencies of re.
tail trade.
Though not long past the middle years
of life, so being yet post on his life's
journey invisible by half decade, he wore
look of age His face was pale and thin,
deep lines marking out clearly the heavy
brow, the deep set eyes, the sensitive
mouth, grey threads already blanching his
long dark hair about the temples. He had
the air of lonely man, taking but small
heed of those he passed, exchanging nc
more than a civil greeting with any one
claiming acquaintance, though he never
failed to stop and his face brighten as some
small child, who knew the heart of the
man, stood smiling in his path. Then
would Silas stop, and with hand quickly
dipping into the depths Of his bag, ex
claim. as if with u novel inspiration
"Lolliesy All, yes, let me see now Ana
sure enough. lollies or fruit never i,.ilt3
the cXpectant urchin.
His morning visit to the tradesmen tbs
library or the postotlice completed, he re
turned TO his home by the way he h.,
come
1t was a pleasantly situated little cot.
tage, nesting among trees and shrubs 81.
a gentle slope, its wide verandu command
ing an extensive and beautiful panorama,
of the distant city, with its spires and
domes, the river with it's shipping, ard the
Here he lived placidly with his old house
keeper, II servant of his parents family
as his sole com panion and servant, nor did
he desire other society, and his needs werc
few and of the simplest
His most welcome compan Mons were his
thoughts and his books, his occupations
the weaving of romnnces, essays and occa,
sional verse, for all of which LIE had u
ready market, and his sole recreation The
cultivation of his garden in which flow
ers, fruit and vegetables grew abundantlv
and supplied the needs of his neighbors Ia
well as his own
That his thoughts were for the most
part pleasant enough was evident, for
Silas Seabrooke was of u reflective but not
of u brooding temperament His memory
contained much of happiness, and one
great disilluson which he had long since
compelled to give up its sting. He per.
mitted himself. while suffering secretly,
only to dwell upon the pleasanter aspects
of that remembrance, excluding all of pin
In loyalty to the woman who caus d it,
his love for whom he permitted nolhine
to impair.
The memory of his marriage, brief, IL
advised, i'll fated, was to him full of thu
qualification of conquest-the capture of {
beautitul woman IA nucan np,ono har GOV
in har nhrSicoI attr,h,tos ~ ,ba s,,,,ro,,.1
,nom1sn, 81 hor nr;da ,rhon hor hno,,,,
doyy,ed and ons,.rad ~, ,vhn oa,,o ,ri, hi,
its inGuence That bn NJ MI thosn ,ynr
sb,n.rs ,yoS oboson nc bor hnsbnnd ,cos ,
pride to his simple sonl, which, blind II
Srbseou.nt events n,i,bt have disiIim
stoned him he wranned b;s heart nhon
with tbe mer,orv NJ that brief tine of man
feet iov. the Short venr of nhvsirnI h,nni
ness in the union with her nerfectinn
seeking to retain latter exceeding in ,
little sweet" of memory and succcedin,
| in idealizino every word every net of m,
tragic comedy of his disastrous marriage
To the faithful Margaret. his old house
keener that neriod of @bIind inf,tnation (,
as she called IT bore oltoqetber nnotbe,
aspect. She knew that the oueenlv beaut,
of this woman was her only wealth II
all attributes but that of pbysicnl perfec
ton she was deplorablv deficient. and TN,
! shre,vd old yvoninn yuessed thar tho FINN,