The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-17

whom she loved with ally her soul
But-how it was she could never toll .
somehow her old willful spirit of coquctry .
seemed to take possession of her all in a .
moment, and she laughed, leased and .
cvadcd her lovers questioning with per
sistcnt willfuncss that amazed herself
Il will answer you tomorrow evening"" .
was the reply which he finally coaxcd from .
her saucy lips. 81 must have little timo |
to reflect upon so drcadfully serious mat |
ter, Mr. Severance"
But there was that in the happy, laugh |
ing blue eyes that bclcd the willful lips, |
and Wilbur Severance went away with q
cheerful heart in spite of ALL
The following day Rose paid her prom
iscd visit to Miss Stewart, and it was then
that the invalid made her n confldant.
Caryl Stewart had been bctrothcd, when
scarcely more than II child, to II youth but |
little older than herself.
Tho arrangement had been made entire.
ly by the parents of the two.
But us they grow older, with Il better
understanding of the situation, Caryl real
lied that her whole heart was involved in
the matter, while her flancc proved indif-
/ ferCnt and finally rebCllCd outright against
/ the bonds which he had no part in Great
ing.
In her pride Caryl had granted him his
freedom, though she broke her own heart
by doing it.
Other suitors she had had but she would
never love again to her dying day.
And that will not be far off" she end
ed patheticaily, unless l can win his love.
And ! don't quite despair of doing that
yet, Rose, away from all rivals and free
from the busncsslike letters that once
prejudiced him against me-more than all
when he realizes at last that his love and
only that can save my life. Do you think,
dear little Rose, that my hope of yet win
ming him is such wild one, after all?'
"No indeed ] do not, Miss Stewart"
she earnestly replied. II don't think he
could help but learn to love you did he
know all the truth. If he could be here to
see your
He is here, and have met him several
times, though he doesn't know the mad
hope that brought me here-as yet / have
merely told him that l came here for my
health l think you know him also,
Rose" she added slowly, watching the
girls face from beneath her long, dark
lashcs. His name is Wilbur Severance.
Wilbur Seversncel'
One moment Roses little hand was
pressed tightly over her heart, and her very
breathing seemed to cease.
Then she spoke, almost in her usual
steady tones.
Eyes, l know Mr. Severance We are
quite good friends" she said "And
think he will come back to you yet, Miss
Stewart. Indeed l am-am almost sure
he will. "
And rising quickly she murmured a
few parting words, then touching her cold
lips lightly to Caryl Stewards brow, has
tened from the room.
ooh, why didn't tell him Yes at once
last night when / loved him sol" cried
Rose in anguish of heart as she hurried
home "Thcn it would all have been set
tied and nothing could have changed it,
but now
Her resolve was already taken, and when
Wilbur called that night she gave him his
r answer promptly enough. 1t was "No."
: you cannot mean, Rose, that you have
deliberately intended to deceive me?" he
cried. "Surcly no woman under heaven
could have u heart so hard and false as
: that! Do not tritle this time, Rose. What
} ever your answer is now, it must be your
final one. "
''It is final" she answered steadily. 81
, shall regret the loss of your friendship,
l but L can never be your wife, Mr. Sever
ance. That is my deliberate, final answer. 1"
"And hurled back the lie in the teeth
of all those who tried to warn me against
you for what you area soulless coquette, +"
| he said with a bitter laugh. 81 might have
2 saved my happiness but would not, and
t well, l deserve my fate for being such IA
I fool"
He turned on his heel to go, but Rose
4 stepped quietly before him.
She held small basket of fruit and
S flowers in her hand
81 should like to ask you to do me one
= little favor" she said coldly, not seeming
Q to have noticed his bitter words II have
t u friend at the hotel which you will pass
p as you go home. She is ill-very i'll in.
v dccd-and | wish to send her these.
4 promised, but rs l could not go myself,
{ must ask you to take them for me-and
g this note" she added, offering it. "Don't
refuse, please; she will be so disappointed
r And if you will kindly take them up tC
: her parlor YOURSELF never trust these
things to the careless servants there. 1t il
I the only service l shall ask Of you," she
o added with half pleading little smile a,
G she saw him hesitate.
+ OF course he had no choice but to accep
Il the triiling task and with II cold, distan
n bow he took both basket and note from
II her hand and went his way.
Anu WIlcH bnt uODf lluu clOSeu Dcnlit
r him, Rose sank back into her chair ant
e sobbed until her heart was ready to burst
g Il have sent him to her, and surely sh,
o can find some way to win him back
G again, she moaned us she thought of the
desolation she had brought upon her OWL
= happiness.
i How long she sat there weeping Rose
II never knew. But ages after, so it seemed
u step sounded beside her and Wilbur
own voice was tcndcrly calling her name
I Look up, my Rose, and let me tell yor
u what has happened, he was saying sadly
u yet with deep undertonc of joy in his Low
q ing voice Il executed your GRAND, ant
u before l could leave Caryl in some wa,
e made me understand the state of her feel
' ings toward me. You know the whole
story Rose so | need not repeat 1t. Then
Il in my pity for her and my bitter anger to
IS ward YOU | was weak enough To offer Il
renew that old engagement, l need no