The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-26
VEAL Til FOR
LOCAL LADY
Captain Gardiner
Writes to His
Spouse.
IS FIGHTING IN
SOUTH AFRICA
Scion of Noble Family Makes
HiIi in Favor of Deserted
Wife.

Perhaps the most genuinely surprised
woman in Honolulu is Mrs. Harry Flint.
wife of Captain Flint of the harbor po-
lice, who yesterday received news from
her first husband, c. A. P. Gardiner.
whom she had not heard Of for six
years. and whom she supposed was long
since dead.
Charles Alfred Percy Gardiner, eldest
son of Sir Alfred Lot Gardiner, Bart, of
Bradford, Yorkshire, England, married
Mrs. Flint in London England, in 1887.
Twoyears later the couple came to Homo
lulu and Gardiner obtained employment
with the firm of Theo. II. Davies and
Son. While here he lived a merry life
and some of his many escapades are
well remembered.
The opium trade, which was enjoying
its halcyon days in the early ,nineties.
fascinated Gardiner, and to it he devoted
his attention, dabbling more or less sue
. cessfully-generally the latter-in engi-
neering hither the poppy product. After
while a deal went wrong and, things
looking serious. Gardiner unceremonious-
1885,
After month or so had elapsed his
wife received a letter from him bearing
the San Francisco postmark, in which
he told her to follow him. This she did
not do on account of having heard that
her husband was living with another
woman.
| Time passed and Mrs. Flint received
neither word nor remittances from her
delinquent partner in iife's joys and sor-
rows. Friends wrote her that he was In
China, and in 1896 she received informa-
tion that he had married again and was
living in Sydney.
/. To Sydney Mrs. Flint accordingly went
and the result of her visit was a divorce,
and a sojourn in a penitentiary for her
husband on a charge of bigamy.
Returning to Honolulu a free woman,
Mrs. Flint on January 4. 1898, became the
wife of H. w. Flint. at that time boat
swain on the United States gunboat Ben
nington. A day or so after the wedding
the Bennington sailed for the Philippines,
the Spanish war being then in progress,
and once again Mrs. Flint was left
alone. The genial Harry braved success
fully the terrors of field and flood, and
in process of time returned to his lady
love in Honolulu, and a happy reunion
took place.
Percy Gardiner had about passed out
OF the mind of his badly used wife until
yesterday, when she was astounded at
receiving the following notes at the
hands of T. Rain Walker:
T. Rain Walker, Esq.-Dear Sir: Please
send this note to Mrs. P Gardiner if you
know her address, as it is most impor-
tant. 1 shall be much obliged if you will
comply with this request Immediately
c. A. P. GARDINER.
Commanding H Contingent.
The letter was as follows:
Soldiers Christian Association, on Active
Service with Field Force, South Afri-
ca Military Department of the
Young Mems Christian Association.
Mrs. P. Gardiner.-Dear Madam: have
sent to you, care of a full letter
which will throw a great deal of light on
the past; also my will, which is made
out in your favor.
Trusting the letter will find you, as L
am now in South Africa as Captain Of
the Fifth Victorian Contingent trusting
you are well, also Mrs Mclean and my
darling child; kiss her for me: I remain.
ETC.. c. A P GARDINER
Commanding H Company, Fifth Victo-
rian Contingent with Field Forces),
Cape Town, South Africa.
Mrs. Flint hardly knows what to make
of the note and is anxiously awaiting the
letter. The idea of the errant Percy
writing from a Christian Association
tickles her immensely and she attributes
it to a change Of heart born of imminent
prospect of receiving orders to the front.
Gardiner will some day be very
wealthy. AT present his mother is living
on the interest of money which viii be
his at her death. Lady Gardiner is re-
puted to be very rich.
His sister married Roy Link, the we'll
known London financier, who enioy5 q
yearly income of 10000. Percy, It
would seem, obIigingly provided his noble
family with the Indispensable biaIk
sheep, in his own personality.
Meanwhile Mrs. Flint is itching TO find
ou. if the fortunes Of war have made
her the proud possessor of a knightiy
hail with moated grange and all mecie-
val improvements, in Merry England
Anyway. her destiny seems to De inevi-
tably linked with captains as the zap
tain % the Fifth Victorfan Contingent
and the captain of the Honoiulu harpor
police can abundantly testify.