The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-09-01
sickly paIlor. The sum went under

a sickiy pallor. The sun went under a
cloud
Sisters and, brothers." cried Colonel
Waive. II fear you doubt me- Listen:
Standing here in the presence of the liv-
ing God. pray Him TO strike me dead IL
in what / have said / deviated one syl-
liable from the TRUTH
Every eye in frozen fear was turned to-
ward him. 1t seemed as If within the
focus OF that strained gaze a ravissant
God would perform the miracle of His
vengeance. And, 10! A sword of flame
descended from the sky and smote him
on the brow. but It broke in a circle of
sunshine, the mirage of a halo. The col
onel was not stricken dead. He was ethe-
realized He was indicated.
Mr.. Wittmore lifted his hands I'm prayer.
Colonel" said Deacon Quick a few
days afterward, Il thought your name
vas Samuel p. How did the angel hap
pen to call you 'HurlockT"
'Pshaw." replied the colonel, easily, II
reckon she was like me-she liked the
name"
/ The day of the coIoners confirmation
dawned bright and clear save for one
small black cloud that threw it's shadow
over MT. Wittmore at breakfast Not
withstanding. he was radiant Accord
ingiy, Mrs. Wittmore was radiant She
patted him fondly on the cheek, saying,
the priceless soul of Colonel Waive"
God knows" responded thep reacher,
now hard my task has been"
/ "Of course agreed Mrs. Wittmore
God knows how hard your task has been
So does everybody"
Mr. Wittmore continued: "In the lone
watches OF the night 1 have prayed for
this man. Day after day. storm or shine,
have gone to him with a full heart and
a pleading tongue. 1t has been talk talk
/ from early winter on through the long
dead hours of summer"
You just wore him out. didn't YOU
lover commented admiring Mrs. Witt
more.
Yet how great Is my reward" said the
thankful preacher. "for today his feet are
planted in the straight and narrow path -
Even as Mr.. Wittmore spoke. the small
black cloud darkened its shadow over
him. In the face of this evil pcrtent, he
merely observed: Seraphine, I fear we
shall have bad day"
II fear we shall have a had day" re-
iterated Mrs. Wittmore, and neither Dor.
rowed trouble because the small black
cloud lowered over them all the way TO
church.
The morning was warm. Warm! II
was hot enough to taste, The church was
filed TO Overlooking. Everybody In the
valley came to participate in the happi-
ness of the occasion.
: The colonel had not arrived when SER
? vices began. People were hot, restless
: Whispering. They craned their necks
I whenever they heard a step in the vesti-
: bule, hungering more for the sight of his
I face than the sound of Mr.. Wittmore's
voice.
, The colonel was very late. A shadow
; blacker than the cloud had cast was over
e Mr.. Wittmore. His slow utterances halt
$ ed. grew raspily metallic. He felt the
g chill of a premonition. He was sure thai
no earthly power except physical inabil
). ity could have kept the convert absent
5 an accident had happened.
. The colonel did not come at all. Tn,
e services were concluded and the congre
c cation grouped about the preacher A,
o they stood talking. they heard the bea
o of horses hoofs. the rattle of a light roat
;. wagon, and the colonel's horse. driverless
n flashed by them.
d Mr.. Wittmore's premonition had be
g come a certainty.
The congregation. en- masse. starte,
4 hastily In the direction whence. the hors
: had come. expecting to find its owner
z mangied remains in the road. They me
! Pete. his negro servant. Pete was run
e ming. gesticuiating, jabbering. He ell
O bowed his way through the crowd, paying
! no heed to Inquiries as she hurried in pur
n suit of the runaway.
Ie Headed by the preacher, the excite
l. people thronged to the colonel's residence
e. IS they approached the veranda, the
p saw hammock swaying gently in tn
IS shade. IL contained a bulky object 4
IL white crash. the recognizable portion c
At which was shielded by a big straw hat.
,e Mrs. Waive appeared in the doorw a
n and asked what was the matter.
n "We-we're after the colonel" spoke u
Is Deacon Quick.
Hes under that hat" said Mrs. Waiv,
n Disturbed by the colloquy. the colen,
n. pushed aside the hat floundered clear
OF the hammock. yawned. famed himself.
fe Glad to see you all: going to have
/ feast at our house today-killed chicke
n and churned. Got tired of this thing
Nv not having meat for dinner" He laughe
boyishly. Friends, did you ever see sue
he monstrous weather. Only once before
my life, the summer of 1868, when I Wa
J." experimenting 700 Mexicans at Il
hacienda"
m He stopped and looked interestedly
an the preacher. tense before him, arour
10 whose lips there was a tight, blue lin
it's In whose eyes glowed the heat of nigh
he's wrath.
X Colonel Waive,' exclaimed Mr.. Wit
on more, why have you violated your pled
lly to appear before your God at the alt
Ter this Sabbath morning? Because it was
Too Internal hotr' interjected {