The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-08-10
A RETURNED LOVER

The naughty village boys called them
the two old maids of Lee, most inap-
propriatc title, for who could be more
sweet tempered or contcnted than the lit.
tie sisters? They lived in the tiny cot
tage, not far from the parsonage that you
have so often admired. They had lived
there ever since their fathers death, and
pretty little nest it was, with its rose
covered porch, low thatched roof ard
bright, shining windows Their little gar
den was always neat. am sure no cater
pillars, or other grubs, were to be found
in their cottage and strawberry beds. The
bright eyes Of Miss Sophia would have
spotted them at once, and the swift fingers
of Miss Josephine have pluckcd them
away.
Any morning in the year, save perhaps
on Sundays, you might have seen the lit
tie ladies hard at work among their plants;
any afternoon have met them walking
quickly up the village street and received
bright smile from two happy faces as
you passed. They dressed alike in soft
material of q sober color that Miss Joseph
inc, the younger, sometimes frightened
by a smart bow or lace ruflle. Their bon
nets closely fitted the small shapcly heads
with the bands of smoothly brushed hair,
from which an unruly lock would some
times escape and hang over Miss Joseph
ines check, to be at once reproved by the
elder, and brushed back with blush, by
the younger sister.
Miss Sophia was five years older than
Miss Josephine, of whom she always spoke
Ax,I,i No H. ~. -
was always "sister," never Sophia
that would have been too familiar. To
her she was obedient in all things, though
she had passed girlhood, and even young
womanhood, long, long ago Truly, she
was an example to the forward young gen
Grafton that now spends its days in direct
ing parents, and even grandparents, and
in kicking its heels against our best parlor
sofas.
To Miss Josephine belonged the hum
bier duties of the home life-tho feeding
of the chickens, the busting of the house
hold gods, shrined in the dim, curtained
parlor; the washing Of the dainty eggshell
porcelain in which the little ladies served
their tea. With such tasks Molly, the
maid of all work, was too clumsy to be
trusted, but the delicate fingers of little
Miss Josephine never soiled or damaged
anything.
Often, when listening to her sweet, gen.
tie voice and watching the tender pink
color mantling in the fair, old maidish
face, l wondered why no man had ever
claimed Miss Josephine for his own. With
Miss Sophia it was different. Her sharp,
angular figure and her stern, sallow face
had but few attractions, Had the forbid
ding aspect of the elder driven suitors
away from the younger sister? l wondered.
Once, in moment of unwonted courage,
after had duly admired the wonderful
Chinese figures in the drawing room and
the beautiful porcelain, l ventura to ask
Miss Sophia whether Miss Josephine and
she had never thought Of marriage. This
drew from her the story of their unevent-
full life
She told me of a motherless childhood,
through which the older had cherished the
younger with more than sisters love, of
a father whose life as u merchant in China
separated him from the two little girls.
OF two cousins, nephews of that father,
two young men who, before journeying to
the far east to help in their uncle's firm,
had won the hearts of tho two girls,
And Martin, my lover" concluded Miss
Sophia, "died of fever three years later,
but Willie, who was to have married the
child, wrote to us for many years. Then
his letters grew gradually fewer, and in
the end-after many years-we received
the last. But Josephine loves him still, 1
know. She cannot forget Willie" The
father died shortly before the little ladies
settled in the village; he had left his
daughters we'll provided for.
The story interested me. I wondered
whether the tagging lover would return
before little Miss Josephine WAS an old
lady. l hoped SO, and my wish was grant
ed. Early one summer morning, as Miss
Josephine was gathering roses in the little
garden, the postman entered by the wick
ct gate and put letter into her hands
At the sight Of the handwriting Miss .Jo-
sephine trembled, her face grew pink,
then white as snow. Leaving the basket
of dewy roses In the middle Of the path,
she hastily passed into the cottage and in
to the darkened parlor. How long she sat
there before she ventured to open the let
ter the little lady never knew. A thou
sand memories, hopes and fears, passed
through her mind ere she broke the seal
and knew her fate. When Miss Sophia,
returning from some village expedition,
entered the room In search of her sister,
she found little Miss Josephine sitting by
the darkened window, the letter lying in
her idle hand. "Why, Josephine-you
herei l have been looking for you every.
where" Then Miss Sophia paused. Even
In the dim light che noticed the pink,
sgitated face, and the dewy eyes. "What
Is it'" she asked. "Has anything hap
pened" "Sister, something is going to
happenP' Then the little creature sprang
to her feet, and threw herself, letter and
all, into the elder woman's arms. "Sister,
do look oldp Am 1 much changedP Will
he know meS For he's coming home
Willie's coming back to mel''
Miss Sophia gasped.
She told me afterward that she felt as
though the day OF judgment were come.
But she remained outwardly calm and
merely said, "Show me the letter"
Then those two dear old maids seated
themselves side by side on the sofa, and
together read the words that Miss Joseph
Inc already knew by heart. He wrote
that he had returned to England; that he