The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-05-13
ABOVE RUBlES.

to give up all belief in him and had to tell
the young man she could keep company
with him no longer
There's some one else a-comin after
YER he had cried hercoly. "Some one
that has more to offer, 1 reckon. All, Sal
rCy, didn't use to think We was TO be
bought along that road. Ye're like the
rest of yer kind. All ye women has yer
price"
"Tom" 49, pitcously-"yo know those
words amt true. All us ] want is an up
right man--onc who has got coed name.
Can thee offer me that ladg"
But the man only laughed scornfully,
saying: "YCr's is n long price. Don't
yc hope We may get it,"
Poor Saircyl With the perversity so of.
ten found in the heart of II good woman,
her heart was touched by the most un.
worthy--a nan one would have thought
in every way rcpugnant TO her high, pure
nature. Still, as it is so it will be, and it
was u bitter day to Sarcy when she real.
lied Toms unwOrthinCsS.
Il suppose there is but one fellow one
can fancy" she used to think. 81 don't
seem to have no sort of feeling for any of
tie others. There's Sam Sharman, as
steady as old Time and Ben Dobbs, with
his house and tidy bit of garden, but it's
the garden, not Ben, and the pigs, not
SAM as seems to come first, and with Tom
there's no sort of background. It's Jest
Tom that shows the difference, | s'pGcts."
So time passed on, and Saircy had long
since stepped Through the brooklct that
changed maidcnhood into that of woman.
hood. She was now n tall strongly built
woman, not very much past 49, but she
looked older. Her brown hair was streak
ed with gray, and her SOFT brown eyes
well, they had only grown softer and more
gazellelike Increasing years were not un.
becoming to her, and if her smile was a
trille saddcr it was still more common, us
were her CHEEKY words
Tom Luke had long since left the village
and had gone to the other side of Dartlcs.
where he worked, and since the old peoples
death he had not visited his native place
But report said he had stcadicd down con.
siderably, and was now prosperous and
well to do, and talked of getting married.
well to do generally meant matrimony
in the villagers minds. These reports
from time to time reached Sairey's ears
"Some one that has private MEANS" was
one story; another, that sit was an OLD
fancy"
"P'r'aps men are different" Sairey
would say TO herself, "and can shift their
fancics. Steadied down bit-thank the
Lord for that! l reckon he'll make tidy
husband. But l wish l felt bit softer
toward Toms fancy. It's terrible hard
not to grudge her like, and Tom stcadied
down"
So Sairey lived in her little white house
at the end of the road, and though there
had been many an honest man who had
fancied to win her for his wife, they all at
length gave it up. 1t was useless, and per.
haps, like Tom, they considered she held
herself at high value But each believed
it was against nature that Sairey Mott
should die an old maid
And it became the habit to run foi
Sairey if they were in trouble. If any
difficulty arose in their uneventful life
they would say, Lets hear what Sal
rcy says" 1t seemed to he her mission
to be II sort of friend of all work to the
! whole village, and she accepted her mis-.
sion with all the love of her heart and sc
willing chccrfulncss that, as the neigh
bors said, it put fresh life into body
And to the sick her care was worth POW
er of DOCTORS stuff God bless herr' And
so he did in granting her her hearts desir,
| long after she had ceased to think of il,
save in the way we think of something
very beautiful or rare that can never be
| ours, Il possession we have ceased to covet
because it seemed to be altogether out OF
| our reach.
Sairey sat eating her midday meal. A
pot of tea stood stewing on the hob. She
was one of those people who considered nc
meal complete unless accompanied by the
teapot. The tablecloth, though rough in
texture, was spotlcss. A jam pot full OF
primroses and forgetmcnots adorned the
middle of the table. The meal in itself was
very meagcr--a loaf of bread, slice OF
cold bacon, with potato or two-but
there was something in the way it was
spread on the table that made it very at.
tractive and inviting.
A knock was heard on the door, that
stood ajar.
Come I'M" called Sairey, without turn.
ing her head. She was accustomed to peo-
pie dropping in ut all times SIS it you,
Mrs. Buswell? Hope the baby amt
worse"
TITS me, Sairey!' 1t was a mans voice,
and at the sound of it Sairey turned with
"A start, almost upsetting her teacup.
'Tom!" getting up
! Yes, It's me-" answered the man.
Hast thou no word of welcome for me
after all .iese years." advancing into the
room. "Ive took my time, but I've come
back with II clean name to offer yer.
That, he added as the other didn't speak,
was the price you put on yCrself. Yer not
gone back from that, have yer? There's
many u woman as will give me good
name the other side of Dartes. Yer ain I
gone back, Sairey?" n little anxiously.
Saircy was trembling. Her face seemed
to find renewed youth as she gazed upon
the man. At length she said, speaking
| slowly:
"No, l amt gone back from it, bat
thought as yop had gone and took up with
some one else"
Not likely, No, Sairey. l never had
no mind for any other woman. l just
waited to bring you clear, honest name
and one worthy to offer yer, and if yer
won't have it-well, no one else shall
Now, then! It's for you I've earned it
Say, Sairey, will yer take it?'
AYE, Tom," she answered. "a good
name! There's nought better as man can
offer a woman, reckon. Its price is above