The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-03-04
HIS PROPOSAL.

she actually hummed little us ;. nung
her hat up and began to dust the top of
her typewriter Mr.. Jones, the junior part
ner of the firm, couldn't see any outward
grounds for this oxuberance and felt'corro-
spondingly hurt that she did not see fit to
voluntarily explain her causes for JOY. 1t
was to him an especially dull morning,
9nd her sweet coolDess was irritating.
Jones wasn't generally n villain, but the
sight of u companions unnecessary happi
ness when oneself is undeniably miserable
has been the cause of many little TRACE
dy since the world began. He tried first to
disconcert her by half groan, half sigh,
but he was ashamed of himself and hasten
ed to explain that he had headache She
pursed up her lips in pretty sympathy,
proposed sending the boy for some drug
stuff and then proceeded to hum over her
typewriter again. He endured it half an
hour longer, then swore softly at the boy
and began to pile her desk high with n
mountain of work. She merely smiled a
trifle and went on looking as cool as a
wayside daisy in her fresh blue waist and
her soft hair staying exasporatingly fluffy.
Unrewardcd effort has made many a
man heartlcss, so Jones in sheer despera-
Gion announced that he feared there
wouldn't be time for her to go out for her
lunch And this most MISREPRESENTATION
of women actually lifted Her eyes to his
and acquiesced with all the grace possible.
That settled Jones. Any human, be it
even woman, who would smilingly con-
sent to be locked up that office all day
wasn't human, to tell the truth, and it
would take heroic measures to make any
impression on such peryerse nature. So
he savagely iammcd his hat over his ears,
rushed out to fortify himself with an am
pie lunch and appeared an hour later as
cool, calm and determined as any man in
the whole town. 1t was evident that he had
hit upon plan and that he had screwed
his courage several notohes above the stick
ing point. The sight of the last of a cream
puff which his cruelty had limited her to
for lunch made him waver little, but
when she went back to her mountain of
papers and began anew that exasperating
little song he set his teeth and began:
''Do you know, I've been thinking of you
all morning." This was said with most
tender intonation, and he leaned his head
on his end at just the right angle to
bring out the fine curves of his forehead
and chin. She glanced up moment, then
went on with her work with renewed
swiftness and replied innocently:
"Oh, you needn't worry, think. I'm
sure that If hurry can get all the briefs
copied at least"
~ didn't mean the work, 7" he answered,
biting his mustache to hide his chagrin.
II said that 1 was thinking of you
Miss Smith opened her eyes in finely as
sumed surprise and then said q little nerv-
ously, "Why?'
A hot flush rose to her forehead, and she
made II move to go. Then she changed her
mind and began her work again, though
he rejoiced to see that she tangled her copy
terribly. He was sorry that things had
grown so awkward so early in the scene,
but he was angry with her that she had
complicated matters so, and went on:
Did it ever strike you that you are aw-
fully pretty?"
| The anger in her eyes began to be dan
gerous. AT the same time there seemed tC
| grow all at once subtle, fierce determina.
ton to meet him on his own ground, and
he qualod a little before her straig htfor-
ward gaze rs she answered:
"Well, have a mirror at home" Then
hint of q smile crept up to her lips, and
she let her hands fall into her lap as though
waiting for the next.
Jones prayed that no one would come In
now until the little scene was played out,
and there was u heightened flush on his
face as he asked:
"Do you ever think of mes''
Miss Smiths eyes dropped in pretty
confusion rs she answered softly:
"Often, very often"
Jones at this lost his head completely.
! He had begun in fun, and his traitor Of O
heart played him false as early as this.
What had been farce to him five minutes
ago now grew to be dead earnest, and the
worst thing about it was that he feared
that she realized it. He had always beer
susceptible, but never before had he seer
anything that 10 wsnted so much as thi.
/ slip of a girl Eefcre him. He knew fully
| how the fellows would laugh at his sue
cumbing to his office girl, and he shud
dered at his mothers rage at such an un
suitable alliance, but the enhancing curve
of her upper lip and above all the girl''
carefulness goaded him on.
Miss Smith," he began hesitatingly
watching her face at every word, "Mis
/ Smith, you have made me miserable al
morning"
"Im so sorry cooed Miss Smith en-
couragingly as tho hand now wandering
aimlessly over the keys began to tremble
"And if you'd-you'd just say something
to make fellow feel lttle-er-encour
aged you know, why, I'd =
Miss Smith seemed to fully understand
all this disjointed statement with charm
ing sympathy, but she didn't say anything
with her lips, though poor Jones imag
ined that he could read volumes in he
bright, timid eyes.
He hesitated and was lost. So out wen
both his hands, and he whispered bravely
my dear Miss Smith, you must know
that love YOU"
She drew away just to escape his clasp
and the pink in either cheek spoke We
hement encouragement for his happiness
the frantic Jones thought Still he was
trifle staggered at her reply:
Eyes, IL thought So"
Was she fooling him, this innocent eyed
pink checked atom of femininity before
him? But, no. for she was looking TOT
glad, and he drove on to destruction.
miss Smith, will you mako me the hap
piest man in this world? Will you be M!
wife,
Tbap tho emilia c,I6oply ,,ravJ fric,i6