The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-08
IN THE GOLDEN CORN.

thereabout is quietly slumbering.
The saucy blue eyes dance rs the girl
catches sight of him. She creeps with the
stealth of n red Indian to the boys side,
and with piece Of feather grass touches
the bronzed cheek upturned toward her
hand goes quickly up to brush away the
offending fly, but as it still persists the
straw hat is pushed back with muttered
objurgation then as he catches sight of
the old serge skirt the dark face grows ten
der
"Mollie, by all that's wonderful he
exclaims delightedly.
Eyes, Mollie, and no one elsep' says
that young person calmly. She even con-
descends to lean comfortably against the
broad tweed covered shoulder.
"You see / didn't feel like lessons, and
1t was your last day at home, and SO just
gave Miss Browne the Slip" she finishes
| gleefully.
"You darlingl Did you really come to
see mep'
"Why, of course did. You silly boy,
aren't you going away for two years, and
haven't we always been chums!"
"When come back in two years, Mollie,
will you marry me?"
The girl gazes ut him for moment in
mute surprise, and then-conduct entirely
|
after peal of merry, ringing laughter but
as she sees the lock of panied surprise on
her companion's face she subsidies into sup
pressed giggles.
ooh, Phil, I'm so sorryP' she gasps at
last. "But it did sound so funny. Marry
your Oh, dearl Oh, dear!''
Then u sudden thought strikes her:
Have you been making love to me all
| this afternoon?" she queries.
Rather" he answers; then irrelevant
ly, "What baby you are, DIollier'
Dear mel she remarks interestedly.
$50 that's making love. Well"-candidly
81 rather like it, and"--the bright head
Nesting against the broad shoulder-''you
can go on"
Which he does till shrill whistle and
Bob Heatherleigh's abrupt appearance
through the hedge put summary end to
their tete-a-tete.
Five years later Phil returned and found
Mollie engaged to Lord Hartley.
"Hcllo, Wentworth 1 thought you
were in Indiar'
"Just home on leave. How dye do,
Hartley?''
| And the two men, with all young Eng
lands horror of anything approaching a
display of feeling, exchange polite greet
| ings, though thoy have ever cordially dis
liked one another and ones heart, at all
events, is bitter with love and jealousy.
II suppose nearly every one has left
town." queries Phil languidly.
mo, there are good many left parlia.
ment, you know"-vaguely. "Your old
friends, the Heatherleighs, are here
"Ahr' says Phil quietly. 81 believe 1
am to congratulate your"
Hartley chances at him curiously. Per-
haps the repressed tone in the deep voice
strikes him. He makes little, smiling
bow, then asks:
"See you tonight at Stratton House?'
Probably l may as well be there az
the club" is the uninterested reply, al
though under the quiet exterior the man s
heart is beating fiercely at the thought of
meeting his little love again.
Philip is standing near the door when
the Heatherleighs are announced. Mrs.
Heathorleigh's tall, stately figure comes
first, and then--can this, be Molie, his lit
tie Mollie, the madcap in the old serge
skirt and battered sun hat this auburn
haired vision i'll cloudy white draperies,
who is smiling over her shoulder at Lord
Hartley? And then, Pills momentary
doubts being quickly dspelled, he turns
sadly and bitterly away.
Later in the evening Mrs. HeatherleigE
sends him in search OF Nlollie.
He finds her sitting under n big palm
listening languidly to the ponderous COM
pliments of their host
They meet--coldly, strangely, meet-and
exchange tho polite noUhings of society,
Philip wildly angry that the girl wears
such an apparently unmoved demeanor.
AS they turn to leave tho conservatory
one of the big japanese lanterns suddenly
catches fire, and the blazing fragments
fall on the girls light dress, Instantly she
is in flames.
Philip, quick as thought, has torn down
one of the heavy velvet hangings, hung it
round the slight form and has crushed out
the flames with his hands. Then, as Mrs
Heatherleigh PUSHES forward, he gives the
girl into her arms and hurries from the
house.
1t is week later, and Philip Wentworth
is again on the eve Of leaving England.
The Heatherleighs loft town the day after
the accident. Philip had pleaded his APP
preaching departments reason for refusing
to visit them. He dared not trust his self
control if he were thrown in daily COM
panionship with Mollie.
But Bob, inspired with admiration OF
his sister prCseryer, cOncocted wondrou.
epistlc, an epistle that made Phil dive into
Bradshaw" risk his neck in Il mad chas,,
after an already moving train and alighi
some two hons aIterNaId at The tiny rus.
tic station three miles from Hcathelleigh
court.
Two sentences in Bob's letter ring in.
his ears, Hartley has gone to the Rock
les, " and "Mollie was awfully vexed you