The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-07
FIFTY TO FIFTY.

ened the lawn. The clambering rose vine,
with it's matted bloom, sent up perfume
that greeted the senses for an instant and
then hurried on. Mr.. Bennington sent up
his card The roomy, shadowy porch, the
deep lounging chairs, and the idle, breeze
swung hammock pleased him. So did the
girl, and the white duck gown, and the
eyes that spoke him greeting.
GOOD evening, Summer" he said IL
feared might not find you"
"You owe this pleasure, she replied,
''to a broken shoe lace. 1t gave way just
as 1 was stepping into the drag, SO told
| them not to wait"
And you lost your driver" he queried.
"Oh," she exclaimed "they were only
going to hop at the hotel, and told them
1 would walk over"
"May take your he asked In disap-
pointed tone.
No. you can't" she answered. 81 have
decided not to go. Truth is, my stock of
laces is exhausted don't care to dance
in any other shoes, so l will give you the
| pleasure of my company here"
The way Mr. Bennington relaxed into q
rocking chair told more than his reply.
You might have sat in the hammock
ing; "that Is, provided you sat on the 9TH
er side and let me have the view."
"Oh, 1 see, he exclaimed "You like
the 'S' chair positions, and expect me to
get the impressions of the landscape FROM
your face"
1T isn't paint" she laughed. "It't
sun. You know 1 burn"
Mr. Bennington, after laying his hat and
stick on the floor took tho place offered
him. A nodding rose marked several sec
onds before the girl exclaimed ooh, Mr..
Bennington, heard this evening that you
we're going back to town tomorrow, and
you haven't taken me to see that wonder
full boiling spring. Are you going to
break your promise?"
"Oh, no." he replied "Only postpone
1t year.
''That won't do, she said with gravity
Summer friendships are never biennial
Next year you will choose younger bud,
and l younger thorn. Old boys like
young girls and young boys prefer season.
ed maidens"
"That may be true" he admitted, "but
with you aud me it is different We have
been SO much to each other-so congenial.
We have found so many tastes and pleas
ures in common that feel confident that
we could carry our friendship through the
remainder of time
YES she assented, ''you think that
now, of course, but l am sure you thought
the same thing of some other girl at this
time last year. 1 fancy that the seasons
have much to do with our likes. "
"But our candor,' he continued. "We
have never deceived one another 1t would
have been useless, 1 admit, understanding
each other as we do But can such perfect
comma nj ion chip no forpottapp Gan avor
become neglected toy?'
"We have been great friends" she said
frankly, land cannot know how much
shall miss you till-tomorrow."
And doesn't 1t amuse you,' he said,
"to remember what formal, ceremonious
acquaintance we have been? Although we
have come SO close in heart and thought,
we have always observed the most rigid
rules Of etiquette
do you think that is the case tonight, "
she laughed, "when 1 sit here in the ham
mock with you and no one else about?'
81 am glad you have learned to trust
me, " he murmured. "You could not pay
me higher compliment. 1 was thinking
how strange it is that we blindly follow
the laws Of custom even though we were
better able to understand our own motives
and impulses. "
safeguard" she contested. 'She can APP
peal to it when her own will wayers."
Take you and me, for instance" Re
argued. Many, many times L ha; c
watched your face, your eyes. 1 have
watched your lips as they curled in scorn,
pursed in surprise, or dropped in disgust.
Many, many times in thought L have
pressed my lips to yours-have felt your
quiet breathing and languorous glances,
while my pulses throbbed like mad. But
it was all in thought In reality have
talked evenly on mastering the impulse
that dared me-"
you have been stealing" she pouted.
81 did not give you the right to kiss me
even in thought.
81 felt like u thief, he admitted 81
wished to confess, but your look restrained
me-. have waited my opportunity, for
felt that in n friendship like ours there
would come n time when the caresses per-
mitted in thought would clamor for other
existence felt that the time would bring
itself about when such realization would
be neither surprise nor IA concession to
either of us. / felt that it would become a
: necessity to ripen our confidence.
She was looking at the floor A quiet
, breeze rustled the oak leaves and the roses
nodded. AS she did not answer, he put
his hand over to her side of the hammock,
! and slowly, very slowly, he leaned forward
till his mustache lightly touched her cheek
; She started-stood up. The notes of a
coach horn, mellow with distance, foated
up to them.
; why she exclaimed, "that is our
hornl They must be coming back for me -
Reaching up, she pulled one of the nodding
roses, and turning TO Bennington said,
will you take this as II pledge to do some
thing l shall ask your" He arose, and
|, leaning over her took the hand that held
the flower.
Anything you wish, darling, he whis-
pered. She looked straight into his eyes
and said slowly:
when you are telling summer idyls at
, the club next winter, don't forget the girl
you couldn't kiss.
! An hour later in a small room at the