The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-21
ATTHE CHURCH DOOR

That indicated u radical change ~ sen
timent. During his I've years soiourn |
abroad no had frequently pictured his |
home coming, and these charming vi |
gnettcs and Iristcls were invariably tinced |
with tho brightness Of the surlngtime |
His was an imaginative temperament, and
no had rcvcled in dreams of triumphal
marches through avenues and drives where |
tender leaf and opening bud and fragile |
bloom, all radiant with tho perfume of u
newly awakened earth, nodded and smiled
at him from either side, while admiriug
friends thronged round him with adula
| ton and praise In recognition of the fame
and honor he had won 1t was in that
season of tho year that he had gone away,
and his fancy had evoked beatifc visions
of reunion with old friends, in whose
company his genius should shine forth re-
splendent in contrast with their mediocre
attainmonts They had been inspired by
no such heaven born aspirations as he, and
1T was only fair to presume that they had
not passed the half way point of the ladder
on whose topmost rung he was securely
poised. That was the way he reasoned.
He had intended to come back the spring
after his pictures met with such decided
success In three European capitals but his
sister frustrated his plans.
81 am going to California for several
months, ~ she wrote. Don't come until
fall "
The long anticipated home coming was
gloomy enough to suit even his tastes,
which delighted in those extremes of life
that unite to form a harmonious whole
There had been binding dashes and fur.
ries of snow during the morning. BY
noontime those sudden outbursts of the
! E.1 lo1 I,tra etpp
steady wind that shrieked and whistled up
and down streets and alleys and whipped
into the faces of pedestrians the millions
of sharp pointed icy needles that leaked
out now and then from the leaden sky.
Then, he had left New York two days
sooner than he had planned, and his sister,
who made all her arrangements according
to schedule time, had gone out of town for
a few days. Consequently the telegram
which he had sent prior to his departure
had failed to fulfill it's mission. There
was no carriage awaiting him at the depot
and the hired cab deposited him before Il
house whose pretty mistress had flown and
taken the spirit of hospitality with her.
At 3 o'clock he found himself in the
rooms of young man who had been his
boon companion in days gone by. Thar
gentleman had been laid up with rheuma-
tism for several weeks, and having been in
no condition TO read or to receive visitors
he had but little to tell, but he was more
than anxious to listen to n recital Of the
achievements and plans of the other
, The young artist was reticent at first.
, Presently the chimes of st. Andrews pealetl
out once more, and with their music came
desire to break through the barrier Of re-
serve he had built round him after going
abroad and to talk freely with some one.
"Ah, the CHINESE he said, stepping to
the window, which commanded a view OF
the church near by. "They do my heart
good. Somehow their notes seem vibrant
, with sadness today, but for all that they
are welcoming me home. And what mem.
cries they awaken! Do you ever see Mary
ConoverP 1 wonder if she is organist
there nowP"
81 think she Is" said the rheumatic
sufferer feebly.
3 "You asked me a moment ago." said
the artist, "what was my main object IN
coming home. I'll tell you. 1 have never
D acknowledged it to myself before. In fact,
= l don't know that it has ever been clearly
9 defined l think the playing of the chimes
, must have cleared my brain of cobweb,
just now and brought out my objects and
desires clear cut as cameo. came home
t to marry Mary Conover."
"To marry Mary Conover?" repeated the
! rheumatic blanlily. "Why, didn't know
$ you were engaged"
f We're not and never were. But Tn
: going to marry her. ~ And the artist
, smiled. "You sec, it was just like this;
: had always admired Mary, and before GO
n ing away l was on the point of proposing
o marriage, but after due consideration de
: cided that it was wiser to remain unfettor
f ed. l looked at it in this way: l knew
. that with proper study and application ny
D future would DO u creditable one In 9th
@ er words, l knew that l had it in me tt
S reach the summit of success and that
f wealth, fame and power would be mine
G And didn't know whether Mary Cnnoyel
J., would be fit mate for me when attained
@ all that. She was always the dearest, hes
and sweetest girl the Lord ever let live, bu
Il she was such simple, quiet little thinl
q that thought l might find 1t policy tt
II choose somebody better qualified to d,
\, honor to my station. 1t has taken me year,
ia to find out, but at last l realize that ther
IF Is no other woman like Mary Conover /
n makes no difference what else may have
o without her life will be incomplete. TIL
,e probation must have been pretty hard fo
l. her, forced as she has been to conceal he
emotions, but won't keep her in suspens
"a much longer Hello! There's something
It going on over at the church. 1 think II
,. go over and slip inside and see how the ole
q place looks.
It When he reached the streets, the chime
D rung out the opening strains of Lohen
!, grim and through the windows of the car
It riage that had been driven up close to tn
% curb he could see that the bride had come
;. The unlimited guests still retained thei
ne places waiting to catch one glimpse Of tn
,r bride.
J. And presently she came
l. Half an hour later he went up to hi
Ia friends rooms.
81 staid away too long" he said. :"
n made u mistake. A woman can't wait for
,f ever. "-Chicago News.
A Scotchman's idea of Drunkenness.