Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-12-06

hdppy tuBotitI
"No, Tom, not at the price of another's
unhappiness," said Laura very firmly.
"We have no right to that property away
out there in the Pacific. 1t belongs to the
islanders. We would be usurpers. l can
not do it, Tom. You mustn't ask me-"
Not ask you to share what is mine with
mel" exclaimed Tom. THAT plantation
is ours because it does not belong to any
one else. According to Hawaiian custom,
lcpers have no legal rights. 1t is impossible
for them to have, shut up in that colony
as they are. Besides in the clause Of the
will there is a paragraph which mentions
the conditions under which Uncle John
was to inherit it. In case of death or lep-
rosy removing his heirs the old fellow left
the plantation to Uncle John. I told you
that he had a dread of leprosy. That is
why he put that clause in the will. He
did not want the property to be enjoyed by
a native, He wanted Uncle John to have
it."
Granting all that" returned Laura,
"you cannot get around the fact that if it
had not been for the leprosy we should not
have got the property. The rightful own
er is that poor fellow on the plague strick-
en- island. I think the income should be
used in making him comfortable for the
rest of his unhappy life. That plantation
is an inheritance from his ancestors. We
would be interlopers."
thrust q wOman to have all the scruples
in the world!" exclaimed Tom in disgust.
Cant you be reasonable for one minute,
Laura? The property is there. 1t must
be used by somebody. If it does not be-
long to us, it will be confiscated by some
one with no right to it, while we have a
right there. Haven't l been explaining
and explaining that the old native wanted
Uncle John to have it in case his own
heirs had leprosy? l can't make it plain
er. wish you would be reasonable"
IT can't be reasonable enough to do
what l think is wrong" said Laura, with
great firmness and dignity. II do not say
anything about your taking the property.
I do say, however, that l will have moth
ing to do with it,"
'Well, Laura, that means that you will
have nothing to do with me-" said Tom in
a voice as hard as her own. He could be
quite as dignified as she.
''That is what it means" assented Laura
coldly.
ooh, very we'll, - said Tom. Rising, he
strobe toward the gate. He turned as he
opened the gate, lifted his hat and said;
GOOD morning, Miss Glenn"
The annexation of Hawaii had precipi-
tated a lovers quarrel. Tom walked down
the street, ~viciously biting his mustache
and swearing under his breath. He anath-
ematized women's consciences, scruples
and unreasonableness. This was a pretty
mess, to be sure, and he thought his trou-
bles were over.
Laura went up stairs and wept until she
had Il bad headache. Her eyes were so red
and swollen that she had to keep away
from the family. On the whole, Tom and
Laura were miserable enough on that
warm July day, not so many weeks ago.
Toms face was set in hard lines all that
afternoon. He was very angry with
Laura, and the whole world seemed to be
wrong.
When he went home that evening, he
told his mother that Laura thought the
poor leper ought to have the money. He
would not tell her that they had quarreled,
but he allowed himself to show his impa-
thence with his sweetheart scruples.
Laura is right" said his mother. IA
part Of the money at least ought to be
spent in providing comforts for that poor
fellow. I am glad the woman who will,
be my sons wife has shown the right
spirit"
Tom was silent. He had not thought
much about Puoa Human before. The fact
that his financial difficulties were to be re-
moved from his path wa all that had in
t~erested him. Now he saw the bitterness
of the poor natives lot. To face a slow
death on the hateful leper island was a
hard fate indeed. But what could he do?
Suddenly he sprang to his feet. See
Laura he must.
Mother" he exclaimed, II I'm going
to ask Laura to marry me right away.
Then we can go out to Honolulu right
away, look after tho plantation and see
what cal be done for poor Puoa."
Catching up his hat, he almost ran from
the house in his eagerness. Fifteen min
utes later he was standing at the Glenn
front door asking breathlessly for Laura.
"Laura is up stairs with a headache
said the small brother who had opened the
door.
Tom drew a card from his pocket and
wrote: "Won't you see me for a few min
utes, dear? I want you to tell me how to
help Puoa."
When Laura came down-and she made
haste to obey her lovers ~summons-she
found Tom sitting on the bench under the
old tree which had so often shaded them.
1t was here that they had quarreled that
morning. AS Laura approached, her white
dress cleaning in the moonlight, Tom
went to meet her. Taking her into his
arms impulsiyely, he said:
Laura, you are the best woman in the
world. I am not half good enough for
you"
"Why, TOMB said Laura in surprise.
Toms only reply was u kiss. Releasing
her and holding her away from him so
that he could see her face, he asked anx-
iously:
won't you go out to Honolulu with
me and help me to do what is right for
that poor leper? We will divide with him."
Laura's face frightened, but she was too
astonished to speak.
"We must go at once" said this I'M.
perious lover. Then he spoke timidly:
"You will marry me next week, won't
you, Laurap We can sail from San Fran.
cisco on the next boat"
He waited for the answer.
"Oh, Toni" said Laura at last, and
there was consent in her voice. -Exchange
Not Repeated.