The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-09
FOR 4 CENTURY.

popular than his ancestors. But lattcrly
he had become heavily involved in debit
leaving hDhind him nothing but the prac.
ticc and the long loasohold Of the house
During his lifetime no whisper had as
sailed his integrity. But that very morn
ing his son had seen in ncighboring So
licitor's Office certain documents which re-
NealCd cvcrything--darll records there,
which although they could not harm the
dead, would if once disclosed, forever dis
grace the living.
Glib 4 Shaken knew the value of the
papers they held, and meant TO get it. For
n consideration, they said--ycs, for a CON
Fideration-the documents would be Civ
en- up to DR.. Ringwood But the price
demanded was % heavy one. He must he
prepared to quit The Cedars, of which they
were the ground landlords, ut the ensuing
term.
His child wife slips to his side. Sooner
or later she must know the truth. So he
tells her all. Only once, when he speaks
Of a neighboring town as their likely home
for the future, does she start instinctively.
ooh, Maurice, to leave The Cedars and
go to Newingtun-to live thcrel"
As the business is far too important to
be trusted to u subordinate, it is Mr.. Glib
himself who is seated next morning in the
/ library at The Cedars, his black bag by
his side. After few commonplace he
comes to business.
Here DR. Ringwood, ~ he says, handing
over n foolscap envelope with some inclo
surcs; "here are the documents you have
already seen. Better assure yourself that
they are all right. And this, again, is the
formal notice to quit these premises at
Lady day, which requires your sigma
ture by way of acceptance. AS you arc
aware a clause in the deeds of the lease
hold provides for its termination at any
time in this manner"
Poor Ringwood soon satisfies himself
that the papers are in order. He pauscs
mCditatively, however. A strong tCmpta-
ton assails him at that moment to seize
the papers and eXpcl their rascally posses
sor on the spot But he restraints himself.
At this moment his wife comes into the
room, with the slightest of bows in Mr..
Gibbs direction.
"Nou don't mind rne, do you, Maurice"
she asks shrinkingly.
Certainly not, love-" answers her hus-
band. So she leans over his chair. While
he is looking over the other papers she alb
sently toys with the notice to quit, which
lies open on the table. Whether her hand
tremblCs as she fingers it,, or whether n
slight breeze from the open easement
causes it to fall from the table, no one can
tell, but the paper fluttcrs fora moment
in the air then falls on the blazing fire.
ooh. what have l done2' cries Dot dis
tractcdly.
Don't put yourself about, ma am, - in
terposcs the solicitor blardly Its of no
consequence whatcvcr-only simple no.
tice, which can easily be replaced"
In ordinary circumstances he would at
once have returned to his office and had n
fresh notice written out But delay IN
this instance may bc dangerous DIR. Ring
wood seems to be in hcsitating humor.
Better, then, to strike while the iron Is
hot
IF you will ohliqe me with a sheet OF
paper, ma am" he continues, Il will draft
a fresh notice. Il mere memorandum viii
serve" he adds, turning TO Ringwood
And, if you wish, it can be extended
afterward."
Dot silently pushes stationery case to
ward him, from which he extracts a shee,
of note paper. 1t is headed 1.-The Cedars
Nottingham" and ruled space is left un
derneath for the date. He rapidly draft:
, notice to quit, "as at Lady day next en-
! suing after date hereof, " appending the
usual form of acceptance, to be signed by
the tenant.
The surgeon looks over the paper handed
him with a mist before his eyCs-his hant
trembles as he writes his signature, "Mau
rice Ringwood."
Silently the surgeon locks the documen
, in drawer. cat last" he says to him
, self-'at last but at what pricer'
"This is your birthday, Maurice" say
his wife at the breakfast table next morn
, ing. $50 here is your cadeauW
| She laughingly hands him an oblonl
packet. He opens it. Nothing within bu
: goodly number of quircs of note paper
t printed with the familiar heading of eth
Ccdars."
, He looks up inquiringly, why, what i
, this darlingp"
"You foolish boy, you haven't looked a
! it. Read the heading"
t 1.-THE Cedars, Hedingham," he begins
"Why, what is this? The date line i
printed for next century, 49, What doe
3 it meanY"
"Just this, Maurice. l found lot O
| this paper in the old escritoire up stairs
You know you told mo once that your ia
? Their used to buy enormous quantities O
| stationery-suflcen to last for years.
) is plain that he did so-there are ream
> upon reams of it up stairs, and do yol
know, he actually made provision for tn
5 coming century by storing up paper head
{ ed like this, 10 Now, don't you see?"
, II confess I'm rather dull" he begins.
"Why, love, don't you see that our no
tice to leave is written on this very pape
by Glib himself, and he never noticed tn
l printed date figures, but just added 81
- So perhaps, after all, we won't have t
| leave till pretty distant date comes round
= say Il century from this-1997 is what tn
= notice says anyway"
"And you-you'- he stammers.
II took good care, of course that tn
| original notice fell in the fire-on tn
| chance of his using this paper instead.
- had put lot of 1t in the stationery case
Q just in fun. But the idea struck me tn
( moment l came into the room. You ar
! not angry with me, Maurice, are your"
The RingwOods are still at The Cedars
n very prettily laid scheme having beel
p frustrated by a womans stratagem. Al
f though the surgeon had his doubts at first
thpv NVprp soon uut In FIGHT for tho I on