The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-16
MATED ON LOVE ROCK

"That's the rock, sir" said the weather
beaten old tar.
Ted Rivers looked up and laughed u
little bitterly.
=" A nice place to propose to u lady," said
he. Ut seems to me that it would not be
SO easy as you think to get up there"
The old fisherman Looked shrewdly at
Ted and wirked to himself
"Well, sir, If you'd like to try for your
self''-
"1'In not thinking about myself at all, "
burst out Ted with SO much Indignation
that his companion Immediately drew lis
conclusion.
II never thoughtas you were, sir. 'Tv-qs
only my little bit of joke But yone
the rock, and the gal as is asked there l.
had for the asking It's gospel truth,
what's more. And it's there got my old
woman, which wouldn't SO much as look
at me until l caught her a-sittin on the
rim Of that there rock.
Essays l, Betsy, I've come to ask you to
marry me-, and she looked round sorter
scared like, and 1 says, 'Youm a-sittin on
the love rock Betsy and it's hore as I've
lOlipicu ypu, lOI NOu tDb OUly Hul Whit
l wants, I've set my heart on marin
you, says l, and you're on the love rock. :
"Then she looks up as meek as lamb
and she says Yes and falls a-cryin as
IL her heart would break, for Betsy, she
always did admire that young scamp Pete.
But she knew as well as me that she'd got
to marry me, because asked on the rock.
ave was so took up with what hap.
npnp1 thut NIL cnI1ubt NV hn
but we got off in time. The rocks niyer
quite covered, but twould be an ugly
place to pass night, and next to unpossi
BILE to be got off. There's nasty breakers
in the best weather, and some sharp bits
of rock around, SO as no boat can get
near. "
Ted bad fixed his eyes ON the love rock.
He was not listening to the garrulous old
man, and he certainly did not believe the
superstition about it; but, all the same,
he felt inclined to compass the difficulties
in the way and get Mile Lloyd there. 1t
would be as good place as any he knew
for telling the secret which had been his
torment for months, and which he now
felt was impossible to keep to himself even
if the telling of it meant the ruin of his
hopes.
He could not endure to see her chatting
by the hour with old Fielding, who evi
IDENTIFY admired her and was quite equal t.
asking her to marry him, old villain tina,
he was. And Millie-who could guess
what she would dos
cts time to be going back, said Ted.
pulling his watch out. "Good morning
I've an idea that this would be rather Il
nice spot for picnic-not half bad"
Old Jack Grice bent nearly double with
laughter the moment Ted's figure had dis.
appeared around the cliffs, and then he
went home to tell Betsy the joke. She
was shrewd old woman and gave it rs
her opinion that Ted was in love.
Meanwhile Ted hurried back to tho hotel
in sort of panic. He felt uneasy sudden
ly because he had been absent for several
hours, and Fielding might he taking the
opportunity.
A set of tennis was being played on the
asphalt court Mile was not there. He
went and leaned on the fence that guarded
the cliff and gave a sweeping glance from
right to left, taking in the long walk
from the top of the cliff to the shore below,
both visible from this point. Neither
Mile nor Fielding was in view.
So he went in and looked for them in
all the public sitting rooms. There was
not sign of either Until the gong sum-
moned all the visitors down to the table
d'hote he was unable to find her, and then
he heard casually that she had been out
for drive with her mother.
1t was Ted who proposed picnic and
Ted who suggested the best spot for one.
That's close to the love rock, isn't it,
asked some one.
"The love rock?" said Ted, with the ut
most innocence. whats that"
With the Impotence of young folk the
picnic was fixed for the next day, weather
permitting or not. A storm had been pre-
dicted, but the objections of the elders
were talked down with many arguments
as unanswerable as they were Illogical
Its not at all the weather for pionics, -
growled Mr.. Fielding, following the group
of enthusiasts and looking sourly on Ted
and Mile, who happened to be talking
together.
1--WE don't mind the weather." said
Mile. Her face was radiant, and she en-.
tered into the plans with all her heart.
Ted saw her smile and stepped back aghust.
Il should much prefer quiet day on
tho shore" said Mr.. Fielding in lower
tone.
Mile glanced at Ted, and then she slip
heart with the picnic AS for Ted, there
was nothing he would have liked better
than to take MIR. Fielding by the throat
and throttle HIM.
The next morning broke bright and
sunny. A brisk wind that afterward be-
came boisterous was blowing from the sen.
With baskets of provisions and long sticks
which they called their alpenstocks-the
party started for the love rock.
They took their lunch In the shelter OF
the cliffs. The tide was out, and the love
rock stood up gaunt and jagged in full
view. They intended to explore 1t that
afternoon.
| The tide had turned before the party
reached the rock, and now the wind was
SO strong that few less daring spirits
turned back. Ted kept close to Millie,
who refused to give up the object of the
! picnic, though MIR. Fielding advised aud
almost commanded her to desst.
| The rest were too intent upon tho diff
culties of their way to notice that Ted and
/