The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-22
WALKED THE PLANK.

belle of Fishponds at that time was Mar.
iory Jones, the miller's daughter. She
was a pretty girl, too, can tell you. As
you may suppose, she had plenty of sweet.
hearts
"There was Jack Smith, the larkest fell
low in tho village Wasn't h. wild In
our opinion Jack stood tho best chance
with the fair &Grjory. Jack was suck
ing lawyer then; Bill Smith, his cousin,
Ted Wh;rrnt and wcgo far:ncr-, and Tom
Rumins was u dealer.
"Wc five recEuned that Mariory ought
to belong to one uf uy, and we formed
u lcag'ie offensive and defensive One
night Jack aud / had staid till Ole
Jones turned us out, and as we stood out
sido the gate we heard her silvery laugh a.
the old man growled Mt being kept ott o
led by passed. o. young wosbuds.
George said Jack Smith, I've got
all idea. You come to my rooms tomorrow
night, and I'll get Ted and Bill and Tom
to come in. Then, if they are agreeable,
we'll just make that young woman come
to decision.
The next evening we settled down t.
hear what Lawyer Jack had to say.
care you all in love with Marjory?
"A unanimous cry of Yes followed.
"'Lonk here said Tom Rumins, we
must settle this matter somehow or SOME
other fellow will be cutting us all out. Let
us Zach write her IA proposal and send at
tho same time.
Right said Jack and let start fair
l., Sem all be put in the Same words.
We had better call for our answers
ourselves
"'What, all ut once:
r. Lee. MI
We'll draw lots who goes first, and 50 on.
You fellows will talk all night ana dc
nothing alt.r all, cried Jack. 'YUd lcHy,
it to ne. | know laoro ABOUT i6 than goa
do:
"DrAE TAEJoRY-Enowlnc, rs You d., I'VE
warm G4IUctIC4I 1 l.,.Nc iIr y, II, yea VAL MOI lot
surprised If l ask you to be mine and mine
alone.
"Will you marry me, dearest. Will you be
the bride of your devoted lover, -?
"P. 81 will come round to the mill on
Tuesday evening at o'clock to know my
fate.
90 There lie continued triumphantly
'Thercl think that ought to fetch her.
Two left tho name and the hour blank,
you see
1--WE were not quito so satisfied with
the letter as its author; but, as we did not
feel we could improve upon it, we at
length decided to adopt it, and forthwith
sat down to copy it off. Next we drew
lots to see who should go first, and, us
luck would have it, we came out in the
following order; Myself, 7:30; Bill, 7:l5t
Ted, 8; Tom, S:l5; Jack, $3.50.
Just my luck! said Jack, with u
gruan. Not u ha p'Grth Of chance for men
"'Why not? said |. she knows you're
H. Ill I III, I
tirstp
II was quito serious when | said | was
sorry was first, and sat thinking it over
with tine help OF u pipe when got home.
Suddenly u thought struck me. | jumped
up and cried, George, my boy, She.
yours! Then ! went to bed.
II spent good while after tea that
Tuesday in adjoining myself, and WASH
ready till :. 1t was only ten minutes
/ walk to the mill, but then l had SOM
work to do before l showed up there.
was in the early spring, and the days wor
/ still short.
81 must explain that all five of us livcC
on the Eishponds sidc of the Froome, ant
so we all had to cross the fOotbridge, un
/ less we went Il mile out of our way tt
cross the stone bridge at Broom hill. a
that time there was only one railing to thu
bridge, and il was so rotten that it wa
not safe to trust to it. The bridge itsel
consistSl of three planks resting on som,
piers, and these planks were somewhat in
secure.
Now this was my scheme: l would
cross the bridge and then remove the mid
die plank. In the dark any one who cam
/ after me would not notice the gap ant
would go flop into the water. 1t onl,
meant u ducking, and that was what
proposed to treat nv rivals to.
IL was completely successful in iisplac
/ ing the already loose plank, and at 73
precisely marched boldly into the mill.
"'Eyenin Marjory,' said |. l could Sc
she wasn't in the best of tempers, but
didn't appear to take any notice of it
'Evenin, Marjory. Did
- Look here, George Hambruok,' sal,
she, interrupting me. What does thi
mean? Do you boys think your going t.
make fool of me by writing lot Of 10y
letters and making n conspiracy agains
meY Is that thing to be proud Of? Is /
manly? Is it, And hero she burst int
tears.
o. Now, now, Marjory,' said, don't b
angry. We don't mean any HARM
"Harm,' she broke in, stamping he
foot On the floor. Harm! How dare yo
you mean fcllowsP
"After awhile she grew calmer and SAT-
she would hear what the others said whe
they came l had hard work to keep frOl
laughing at this, but just then | heard
splash.
"What's that asked Mariory
Sounds like II big pike jumping, SAT-
i and went on talking.