Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-01-25
AFTER SAYING YES.

flushed cheeks. Not till she had entered
the garden Of her home did she slackcn her
pace, and instead Of going up ON the ve-
randa she crcpt through the shrubbery,
seated herself on the bench under the ma.
pie tree and hid her face In her hands.
Elise, Elise" she whispered to herself.
what have you doneS''
She had promised herself for life TO
Dan whom she had met only few days
before. These days had passed like n
dream, in jest and laughter, without an
other thought than the pleasure OF the
moment. To he sure, she had suspected
how it might end, but not that 1t should
happen so soon. And not till the promised
word was spoken did she awaken out oil
her dream.
just now, when no drew her arm more
closely to him and whispered In her car
that they would be- married before the year
was out, she felt the blood grow cold in
her veins, and the man who walked beside
her seemed all ut once like any stranger
she might pass on the street
And as she sat there. asking herself
what she knew of him and why she liked
him, she could answer nothing. And
when she examined her heart she found 10
rs empty and cold rs II no warm feelings
had ever stirred it. But her checks burned
hotter and rcddcr, until she went into tho
house to Join the others, so that she might
escape from, herself and her thoughts.
The drawing room clock licked harder
than usual that afternoon, and Elsie kept
looking up from her work to notice how
the hands flew. 1t would soon strike u
But just bcfurc the stroke she cast her en-
buidcry away from her, sprang up and
rushed out, without answering her moth
er's astOnishCd questions
Only few steps beyond the garden She
met him. He was punctual to the minute
aud bcamcd with joy because she came out
to meet him. But when she passed tho
gate and proposed to him to walk u little
farther he looked at Der in surprise She
did not appear very anxious to introduce
her lover to her family
Elise hastily led the way acruSS the field
and up the hill, She throw herself down
on II messy stone under the Spruccs and
he stretched himself on the heather beside
her The stone was large enough to hold
two~hut she did not make room for him
Are you very sure she b,'gan, break.
ing II dry twig into tiny bits-'arc you
really, really sure that you love mc?'
At first he looked serious, but then burst
out laughing in his bright, Jolly way,
sure of it: But there Is surely no one
who has forced me tn say it,
enc. But you don't know me What
IL II about me you love-
Everything He loved the folds Of
her dress, he loved the flower she wore
ON her breast, and he did not understand
thnt under each question To him lay II
question to herself, What Is ii ! love in
him.
But why should she br the only one to
doub, and worry: And 80 to disturb his
compoStlre she began Ia set forth her
faults. She unveiled every bud trait she
had. She was quick tempered and u sculd,
SHE wis cnvuu~ ana cOuucttish: she was
stupid and ignorant. She sat and ~ kuurd
herself up in II serious voice: she spoke
frankly and she honestly wished to hc he.
lirved. But the sIiIilr did not leave his
lips nor did he take his eyes from her
incc At each new confession he simply
repeated:
Yes, | knew that before.
Finally the blood rushed tn her head 1t
annoyed her to ind she could not con iucu
him. lie sat there in the secure h.lirf
that she wished only to humble herself
because OF her great happiness. Could he
not comprehend at all that h. had dome
wrong in surprising her rs he had ard
that person cannot he sure Of love -
loosely rpotpd?
She knew of way TO make him under.
stand but her tongue seemed tied when
she tried tn speak. She sut silent for u
few minutes, struggling between fright
and thc desire to have il out Fi,.,lly
the desire triulnphCd
NO, you do not know me, " said She
"Whrn answered you rs did this morn
ing, it was becausc--wrll, not wholly he
cauSc-but perhaps partly bccause--be-
cause of hardshlps ut home"
There was n cracking of twigS He had
turned on his arm and was gazing at her
without word, but the color was gone
from his face. She need worry no longer
about his not understanding.
There came over her a feeling of I'M
spcakable regret. With few words she
had destroyed something she could never
get back again. And this something, DOW
il was lost seemed dcnrcr to her than all
else in the world. She did not know him
well. She had not succeeded in getting an
answer to the question what it was sh"
liked in him, but the power chat first drew
her to him rose now In rcdOuhlTl might
The divine, incomprrhensiblc mystery shc
had tried to explain, but only succeeded in
slUnCing, uwukc to life within her again
And now it was too late. What could have
the power to ef1ace her words
"Ah, you are afraid Of hnr,l>hips!'
His voice sounded heavy and his eyes
looked far away over the broad meadows
visible through the opening in the trees
"Thcn il would be best tor You tn recon.
slider" he continued. - a business
man and my position Is not ARMY secured
One day there may br money anothrr
debts, and upon ono kind Of hardship
others follow"
The messy stone stood empty She had
slipped down on the heather beside him
And she took his hand and hid her eyes in
it,
cit makes no difference to me, no differ.
encc mt all, If have to bear hartlships with
ynu - sh. said Snftly