The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-26
A STOLEN PIE.


hours. He was absolutely penniless. As
he walked up Fifth avenue, clad in fash
ionablc suit of clothes, with shiny silk
hat on his head, few people could suspect
that he was suffering for want of food
He pursued his course up Fifth avenue
and finally reached Central park
Weak and faint, but still maintaining
an Indifferent micn, he entered the park
He strolled along its shady lanes, pausing
mt some water fountain to quench his
thirst
He sat down ut intervals and rested his
weak limbs, but the act of sitting seemed
to remind him more of his hunger.
1t Is hard trial for young, vigorous
and healthy man to go for any great length
of time without food, and especially so in
a rich, populous city. If he had been
dressed in rags he would have begged, but
1t was utterly impossible for him to do
that with his present appearance.
After awhile he found himself in very
secluded part of the park. He seated him
self on n bench by the lake. The birds
were gayly singing overhead, there was q
fragrant scent of flowers in the air, the
waters were ripping and sparkling, and
the swans and ducks were disporting
themselves on the breast of the lake. The
sounds of childish laughter and merry
shouts were waited to his ears. He felt
moody and Respondent; he wished he were
a swan or duck, or bird-in fact, anything
but human being. He cursed fate; he
cursed everything. My God, " he thought
chow l would like morsel of foodl' He
felt like committing robbery, a murder,
any crime at all, only something that
would bring him food
light footstcp near him aroused him
from his reverie. There before him stood
fat, chubby, rosy checked little child,
gazing at him with wide, staring eyes. In
his plump little hands he held large
homemade pie.
Driscoll started up. The sight of that
pie was most tantalizing in it's effect upon
him. How he would like to eat It'll
There was no one in the immediate vi
cinity, no one to observe him. The child
was fat and well fed, and he (DriscolD was
starving.
He arose and approached the child. my
little man." said he, smiling as graciously
as it was possible for him to do, "come
here"
"What have you there, my dearH' said
Driscoll, "pie?"
eth, thir" lisped the little one.
LET me see it, baby" he said, but the
little one shook his head and held the pie
behind his back.
Come, said Driscoll, "wont baby let
me see it's pie?'
The child gravcly gave negative shake
of the head.
"Plcase let uncle see it." said Driscoll
coaxingly ard at the same time making
an effort to take it,
"No, no; me ANTS it, said baby
"Let me have it, said Driscoll impa-
tiently.
The little one made movement as
though to run away.
Tired of importuning the baby and fear
full lest its mother or nurse should appear
and spoil his opportunity, he suddenly
bent his face close to that of the child. AS
Stunning the most diabolical and forbidding
expression it was possible for him to do,
| he Kissed out, "Givc me that pie; give me
/ that pie quick, or I'll murder and eat you,
quick"
The child gave terrified scream let the
! pie drop at Driscoll's feet and scampered
down side path as rapidly as his short
little legs could travel. Driscoll quickly
picked the pie up held it in one hand
which he placed in the breast of his coat
and sauntered nonchalantly away. In a
! few moments he heard in the rear of him
the little child: "There he goes nussey;
there he goes, nusscy. He got my pie"
Nonsense, child" said female voice,
"that gentleman did not take it. 1t was
some one else"
The child persisted in his statement, but
the nurse refused to believe it, and mean.
while Driscoll had passed beyond hearing.
He wanted to find some quiet spot where,
unmolested, he could eat his stolen pie,
but everywhere he went he found one OF
more persons. AT length he reached a
very secluded out of the way corner, and
sitting himself on the grass, drew forth
his precious pie
The righteousness of the thing now
struck him, and he burst into n hearty
peal of laughter. He held the pie Mt arms
length and looked at it. He was just about
to place it to his mouth; but, alas and
alack, there is many IA slip 'twixt cuJ
and lipn A great, large Newfoundland
dog at this juncture jumped from a clumI
of bushes, snatched the pie from his hands
and bounded swiftly away.
Poor Driscoll. All the merriment flee
from his heart at once. His pie was gone
I am afraid he gave vent to his feelings IL
rather more profane language than 4
would be well to record here.
"Fate is against me, he sadly mutteret
as he arose to his feet and walked away.
"My God" he thought, "have 1 got t.
starve to death surrounded by plenty? l
is pretty hard. Well, 1 will hold up as lon,
as l have strength, only it is II hard death
When he turned out of the park, it wa
well along in the afternoon. He wandered
aimlessly along the streets, scarcely know
ing in which direction he was going.
AS he passed certain house he heard I
childish voice in his rear exclaim, Papa
papa, there is the man that took my pie'
Turning, he beheld the identical LITTLE
child whose pie he had taken clinging t.
the hand of n gentleman, evidently just re
turning from business.
The gentleman's face seemed familiar
and no sooner had he scanned Driscoll'
countenance than he cried out, "Johi
Driscoll, how are your and at the sam
time held out his hand for the other T.
take. This Driscoll did, and as remem
brances came to his brain he recollecte'