Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-11-05
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
AT WHAT SACRIFICE

John NARROW rose grayely from his
desk and stood looking out Of the low
French window, turning his back on
the angry girl who was on the other
side of the room.
You cant know your own mind" he
said. almost sharply. You cannot be
serious. Leonard North is a coward
small, and mean. and Contemptu-
Ous-r"
Maggie sprang to her feet.
How dare you! How can you" she
cried.
He faced her suddenly.
Because he's not good enough for
you. child" he said, gravely. I've been
your guardian for seven years-ever
since your father died. and know
you've better qualities of heart than
he has. | know you've tsuff in you
" iCh he hasn't-which he doesn't
know the meaning Of, and he is NO fit
husband for you. lie isn't good
enough"
The rage famed in Maggie's face.
| She was choking.
You're a brute" she cried, ilercely,
and | hate you and | love him, and
Illl marry him-yes, I'll marry him
even il have to wait hundreds of
years. don't care for you. I'm near
Iy q. You cant help us after that
John faced her, still gravely. She
was only a child after ala child
who had mistaken a bit Of glass for a
diamond!
He sighed heavily and looked at her
flushed face. She loved Leonard
North. His brave, honest impetuOus
Maggie loved a man who was as con-
ltemptible as she was lovable, and in
addition to the pain already at his
heart came a fresh pang at the thought
OF her being Leonard's wife.
II was not that he had anything
against Leonard. only that always
there was vague, indehnable distrust
"a feeling that If some day tempta.
ton assailed him he would not bC
strong enough to resist it-that hi
might not even try to resist u.
John looked at Maggie and wondered
liz she could make Leonard into
stronger man-if 1t were possible? He
came forward from the window will
his eyes on hers. and the fierce long
ling to keep her TO himself rushed NJ
lagain. He loved her-lOved her bette
than ever Leonard North. or thou
sand men like him could love her, ant
| 4 lu n his Incl
himself.
Just now was the very worst mo
ment he could have chosen. but h,
could not help it, The thought Of he
going over TO man like Leonard
North VS. enough to send him dis
ItraCted.
Maggie, Maggie! You know tina
I'd do anything to make you happy,
he cried 81 only want you 10 be hap
by" He stopped and hesitated, "IC
give my life TO make you happy-child
IL love you myself!
She stared at him. He was Old-3
at least, and she had called him an OLE
fogy to Leonard. Now-was he reall!
proposing to her?
For an instant she was stunned
Then something that Leonard hat
whispered-that John Harlow woul'
probably like her fortune himself
Icame to her suddenly, and her fac
Aamed. For moment she forgot al
that John had done for her-all hi
kindness, all his care, and word
flashed from her lips that afterwar
she would have given anything to re
call.
Leonard told me what 1t would be,
she cried. He said you would neve
give your COnsent-that you wOul
want me yourself. lie was right bu
I'm old enough to knOw-lo know whe
a man really loves me, and ! kno'
Leonard does. and | mean TO MARI
him. II you won't give your conscr
we shall wait till next year, that's al
d And we shall be married the very da
q latter my birthday
| John watched her with steady eye
= with his face growing gray and his III
} set. She was only a child-Only chill
q He kept repeating TO himself
| ! bupDbN' We SUI h'"bn ~ 'H'''''
J. she went on, and it won't matte
= whether Leonard does anything or no
!, There will be no need for him to wor
!, He said my father left nearly $4,000
John met her defiant look wilho
Istrring a muscle,
THAT was quite true" he said.
Then there will be no need +
:. Leonard to bother at all" she said Il
8 umphantly, and he always Is worrylI
!. about work and making money, B
now We needn't care bit
a, Johns lips twitched aud quiyerC
+, An odd look came into his eyes
b, strange, uncertain look
lie went toward her and put his haD
. suddenly, almost roughly, upon h
shoulder