Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-12-02

brusquely you must take my offer.
1t will only be a loan which you can
repay when you have work"
Thank you, Monsieur" she replied,
in cold tones. Il will take the money
as loan"
He passed some gold TO her across
the table. and her face went proud and
pallid as she murmured thanks. Then,
hot at the thought of what might be in
her mind. he tore leaf from his note
book, made out an Il. o. IT,, and
handed It to her, with his pen. She
signed the paper in silence, To him
the iiimsy page seemed wall Of ice
between them that for his part, he
swore to himself he would never break
down.
Next evening she came TO tell him
Of the efforts she had made that day
to obtain work. Her manner was
somewhat distant with, at the end of
their talk, a checked fash of warmth.
He noticed there was no ring upon her
finger, and wondered what was her
story. Perhaps, he thought bitterly,
when she had gone. she was only one
of the many possible intrigantes Of
the French colony, with sOrdld eX-
periences better left unknown. But
instantly her womanliness appealed
against his hardness.
Three weeks passed. He could not
but confess the quiet perseverance with
4 hiah ghn I nnInn thrnttp IA
and through in her efforts to get work
She had procured one or two pupils,
but her ambition was to obtain some
clerical berth. In this, however, her
lack of business experience seemed TO
be the great hindrance, but several Of
her compatriots had promised 10 aid
her.
As TO POrtway, he had soon cast away
all doubt For him she was sheer hon
esty. and daily. in their short even
ing talks, the question came to him
How long he could keep the barrier OF
mere friendliness before him? Every
turn of her lips and eyes pulled him
10 her; every gesture was the dearest
thing in life. Outwardly, his bearing
was that of friend who, though in
terested in all she did, was himself
too greatly occupied to give any but
the smallest time to talk.
One evening she met him on the
stairs, her eyes eager her manner agi-
tated. She told him she had at length
obtained a small berth in a commercial
Office. She was to work at the London
branch for six months, and then be
transferred to Paris. Ir spite Of his
quick cheerfulness. her brightness dull
ed al the sadness that came into his
eyes as she told her news.
He knew what he must do; he must
leave her at once. To feel the time
shorten to the day when he should see
her for the last time would gradually
undermine resolution. BY one strong
action he could save himself from his
own disesteem and, perhaps, her scorn.
At the heart of him he did not know
what to think Of her. She did not fear
him, yet she did not try to draw him.
Her grace and gentleness hid so much
that was brave and strong that doubt
OF her was impossible. Yet, who was
she? What WIS she? Had that ring
meant anything? ~Ihy had she remoy.
ed II?
He had for some time been able to
taHe a vacancy in laboratory at Lii
verpool, and now made definite ar
rangements for the change. BY the
time these had been concluded, Made
moiselle had been ten days in her new
position, and the restful mind had
quickened grace and charm in every
gesture. lie realized that every day
he stayed made 1t the harder to go
from her.
On the evening that he had determin-
ed to tell her of his leaving London
she stopped at his door, and, ON her
entering TO his call he had not the
heart 10 look up, but returned her
greeting with eyes bent on his book.
After little talk she seemed to think
he was preocCupied, and rs usual, in
her sensible manner, that had always
hulf-pleased and Authenticated him,
sne rose soon rs If to go away.
He looked up quickly.
Don't CO." he said, Il have some
thing to tell you, | have got an ap-
pointment at Liverpool ana shall bG
leaving London in few days. | sup.
pose you, too, will be getting new quar-
tiers soon?"
She went pale as she sat, and in her
eyes came look OF terror,
you are leaving London? IL am
very sorry"
Il, too, am sorry" said Portway, hur-
riedly; very sorry; but | think 1t IL
best for-for my prospects as an an
alyst."
She nodded her head, looking at him
with eyes OF sadness. She rose and
went to the door in silence, stopped
came back to where he stood, and held
out her hand.
Monsieur Stephen" she said, in
low, soft tones, II can never thank you
enough for your goodness. You have