Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-12-30
CHAPTER III.
BESSIE'S WOOING.

BESSiE'S WOOING.
Shabby feminine gentility. and rep
resentatives of the feminin canaille
anxious to become parvenus, all drift
into the boarding and lodging house
business when thrown on their own
resources. AS Mrs. Burton and her
daughters had for many years known
no other method of gaining a liveli-
hood, 1t seemed their only expedient
now in their new location. According
ly rough board, two-story structure
was rented at what seemed ruinous
sum per quarter, viz: $3.50, and they at
once made preparations for the accom-
mooation of guests. A canvas sign
was stretched across the front of the
building to inform the curious that It
was The South Fork Hotel" and be-
low this in smaller letters the attrac-
tive announcement of Home Cooking
and Clean Beds" How many toll
worn travellers, pilgrims to a yet dis
tant Mecca, halted and hailed that sign
with delight in the late 'forties' and
early attest" And right loyalty did
the two women strive to fulfill the lur-
ing promise, for, with the change of
scene, the constant procession of stran-
gers hating for few days in the busy,
bustling mining town on the way to
the undiscovered. diggings, the
wild excitement that everywhere reign
ed, and the liberal patronage bestowed
upon the new hotel, Mrs. Burton sue
ceeded In mastering her appetite for
drink and became quite ladylike and
respectable. Indeed, so good a reputa-
ton did the house obtain that the
preachers (even at that early day these
self-styled Servants of Cod had ap-
peared on the scene and were reaping
a goodly harvest of filthy lucre," az
ter the manner of their kind, by
haranguing the light-fingered gentry,
and the hurdy-gurdy girls in the gamb-
ling bells and "free-and-easies" that
fourished In the metropolis Of the New
FL Dorado) made IL their headQuar-
tiers. Months glided by pleasantly and
rapidly to mother and daughter, for
they were busy at work from early
morning until late at night, and al
though labor is often considered a
curse, there is nothing better than
fairly remunerative toll to keep frail
humanity in the paths of sobriety, vir-
tue and honor. Early in the new life
Bessie had discarded her fiashy appar-
el for more modest garb, and at the
period Of our story, June, 1850, was
neat, tidy girl, quiet and modest In de-
meanor, and. thanks to those I'M
rivaled cosmetics, youth, health and
fairly contented mind, was very pref
ty young lady. Every grassy hillslope
and pine-shaded, secluded canyon, was
at this season a charming conserva-
tory, half hidden by myriads of wild |
flowers Of the most brilliant hues and |
exquisite fragrance-sucha wealth Of
A.
save In that State of whom her most |
gifted and eloquent son, the late Henry |
Edgerton, once said: "She awakens
from her dewy SAUNDERS to bask In the |
smiles Of tropic sun, and at night |
sinks to repose beneath the surveil- |
lance OF the Russian stars" Like most |
Of her sex our little heroine was q |
lover Of flowers, and, with what may |
seem to De strange whim, on the an
niversary of Clancy's acquittal, June |
9th, she decorated the dining-room |
with floral pieces, filed the tables with |
artistic bouquets, and wove a marvel |
GUS crown for herself from sprays of |
the scarlet manzanita berries that |
glowed like fiery embers among her |
jetty locks, while large cluster of the |
gorgeous California poppies graced her
breast, There were several strangers,
as usual, to supper. and many were the |
admiring glances bestowed on the girl
as she hurried to and fro from dining
room and kitchen, laden with empty |
dishes or the orders of the hungry
guests. Towards z o'clock the crowd
was thinning out and she began to have
a breathing spell. MAY as well let
the fire die down, mother" she called, 81
don't think any more are coming to-
night" Just then half dozen new
corners struggled In and seated them
selves at one Of the large tables. puts
me In mind of home" said one Of their
glancing admiringly around
the room. His rowing gaze was sud
denly transfxed by the form of win
some Bess, who was coming to call
over the bill of fare. and he grew red
and white by turns, and started to his
feet and hurried to the door without a
word to his astonished comrades. Bess
caught glimpse of his face as he pass
ed through the door and promptly ran
after him. Hiram" she called; he
had gone some ten yards from the
door, but stopped and waited. She ran
up to him all breathless, and blushing
with the exertion and also something
Of maidenly embarrassment, and for
several moments they stood gazing at
each other without uttering word.
The man was first to break the silence:
so 1t is you, Bess,' he said in hest
Iating half bashful fashion. Nearly q
year Of mining life, remote from all
female society had robbed him of his |
familiar self-possessed manner and he
ielt difident and Ill at ease In the I
presence Of this girl who had once !
been SO much to him. Seeing that he
stood somewhat In awe OF her. Bess I
'oon regained her self-assurance. Eyes,
Hiram; surely I'm not such fright
IS to scare you away from your sup {
Der and friends, am II" Mo- laugh I
ng nervously, then: Il hardly ex- I
,ected to see you In Placerville. Bess." {
No, l suppose not. Well. I'll have to