The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-19
4 FORCED PROMISE.

George RcGf,rn was wealthy and in
Cuprful LuuLrr IN v,,rs NJ uop rosprycd
I'm r.arrrr and ,vitb 81, irdisrpt,I,o
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'u'r'"' NhlIc hnDr't bvno was c"mINra-
iiN.l j. lo0r, haNin" only his salary as con.
it.niihI clerk In Che H'dicrn Iank-out Of
which hr supported a widowed mother
tnd was orc ui those merry, cheerful icl.
lows VINO somehow, perhaps from then
very love of COM any and pleasure. get
the E.I1c OF being wild without dcsCry.
1G it.
Mrs. Dove had been my dcnr dead moth,
cr's friend. Naturally often went to visit
her.
met Mr. Fcdfcrn at Mrs. Dcnc's cot
tagc one evening when he had stopped to
soak to Robert On some business.
| was at the window. leaning out and
he saw me. | knew afterward that was
the reason he astcnishCd Robert by accept
ing his invitation to come in.
| seemed to meet him everywhere. He
made the acquaintance of people whom
visited. He took to going to balls, thoaters,
operas, aud when l had met him good
many times he requested permission to
call on me.
Robert heard Of it and grew jealous.
One evening he came to me, his face look
ing gloomy.
1--WE have been friends for years." said
he, land l believe you like me well enough
to grant ne II favor. love you, Kate. That's
no news to you, is it? Well, never should
have told you so, never should have asked
you to become my wife, because you are
rich and / am poor; but, my girl, l can't
stand quietly by and see another take what
I'd have died to win, so l want you to tell
me truly If you intend to marry Redfern,
| ard if it's Yes / shall 20 out of it until
can get over it.
Next day Mr.. Redfern proposed to me.
My heart, in spite of its own happiness,
achCd for the bitter pain he showed when
l told him l was engaged already.
81 had set my every hope on you. / can.
not give you upP' he cried, with an inten.
sity of passion that startled me. "Oh,
child, have mercy on mel Think again.
Give me time. am richer than you think.
If you are anbtiCus'-
81 am not. l have wealth enough and
covet only happiness. l shall marry Rob.
ert Dene, the man l love"
you shall not marry him; never while
l live
And he rushed out of my presence like
n mailman, leaving me shocked frighten-
ed, perplexcd, and with strange, sad
cloud upon my happiness.
/ said nothing about 1t to Robert, how
ever. His relations with his employer con-
tinucd pleasant, as usual. felt surprised
when he told me that Mr.. Redfern had
himself congratulated him and made some
slight but graceful allusion to the disap-
continent TO himself
Probably" l thought, "Mr. Redfern
regrets his incorporate wrath and foolish
words and takes this method to let Inc
| know of it. ="
1t was evening, and Robert and were
sitting together alone, when suddenly and
unceromoniously the door was flung open
and three men entered
Two of them were officers The indigna-
ton which their rude entrance caused
gave place TO sicksning fear when saw
the third-Georgc Redfern!
Next minute Robert was under arrest.
l don't know what l said or did in the
first horror of it, l remember clinging
around Roberts neck and some one ask,
ing, What's the charge against himS'
Then came the stern answer from George
Rcdferns lips, Robbery"
Its lieH' l cried, looking straight
into Redfern's face. He is innocent"
Rodfern's stern voice broke in;
MEN, search himP'
saw 1t done. saw them draw forth
roll of notes. l heard Redfern identify
them as his own and declare that none
but Robert had access to the safe or vault.
l understood it all. l stepped up to
George Rcdfern and looked into his face
Come with me into another room,"
said. Il will make bargain with you.
Let your men remain with their prisoner
here.
When we were alone, 1 said passionately
"Mr. Redfern, you are villain. You
have plotted to separate me from the mar
l love and blast his reputation. You shall
fail in both You know that he is limo
cent"
II am not his judge, Miss Craven. HI
himself will tell you that / placed thos'
notes in the safe in his presence, and thai
, no one has since had access to 1t but him
self. An hour ago l missed them. You
saw where they were found. Let the Law
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