The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-08-28

of thing. The stern realities of life are
| quite properly left to us men,
Avice smiled family.
! She felt physically exhausted-a cir
! cu1nstance probably explained by the
! fact that she had had no lunch. 1t was
near the end OF the week, and funds
i were low There was another pause,
which. while it embarrassed her, she
| felt incapable of breaking.
My dear Miss Seagrave. she heard,
| presently. 'I-this seems 10 me a-er-
an opportunity to ask you a question to
which / am very anxious to receive a
favorable reply. Will you-in short, will
YOU do me the honor to become my
wife - Avice had moved to the window
seat, and he stood before her, leaning
little awkwardly against the side of the
bureau. She raised her head slowly and
looked at him. He had redeemed, but he
met her gaze steadily.
He is kindness itself thought Avice,
incoherently There would be a lunch
every day, and probably late dinner as
well. These are the stern realities of
life" A terrible. desire to laugh seized
her. She turned hurriedlv. and with one
hand pushed open the window.
The thrushes were singing in the gar
den below. and for a moment Avice
heard nothing but their voices They
seemed TO fill the little room with melo-
dy. A warm, moist breeze futtered the
tendri1s of the Virginia creeper at the
window, and stealing in. lifted the cor
ner of the cloth on the tea-table, and as
gently let it fall.
She rose. you are very good she
began, speaking mechanically q
must think. Will you let me writer"
She paused. 1t was not at all what
she had meant to say five minutes ago:
she did not know why she had not de-
fnitely accepted his offer. The words
had come of themselves, without her
volition, and she was surprised, as
though some one else had made an I'M
expected reply
The Colonel started little. He too
appeared surprised, as we'll as disap-
pointed.
Certainly, by all means" he starn-
be no treason why we should not be
happy"
you are very kind" Avice murmured
again. scarcely knowing what she said
She put out her hand, which he, took,
and moment later she heard him STUN
bling down the marrow linoleum-covered
stairs.
A moment after the front door had
closed upon him, there was ring, then
footsteps, and finally the door was flung
open by Mrs. Jennings. who, standing
aside, very conscious of a clean cap and
apron, announced Mr.. Wetherby.
Avice felt the color rush to her face
as she sprang up in surprise.
Gertrude isn't here, them" he asked,
as their hands met.
mo; Colonel Ridley said that you-
that she was not coming.
He laughed. 81 expect there's an
urgent message awaiting me at home,
then. I told Gertrude I should be in at
three o'clock, and then we had arranged
to come on together; but l met man at
the club, and we talked, and then [
presently found that it was too late to
go back for Gertrude, so | came on, ex-
pecting to find her here. WE'LL May I
stay?"
She was rehlling the kettle while he
talked
''Yes-but you can't expect decent
tea she said, gayly. over her shoulder.
How beautiful! y he exclaimed. cross
ing to the window. you are lucky 10
overlook this. There's delicious air
of stateliness about this garden. And
the old Hospital what a door! 1t
looks as if it had been stepped hun
dred years in red vine"
Eyes; and look at the top of the Ian
tern against the sky!" said Avice, soft
ly. isn't it like soft, faded black vel
vet?"
They stood a moment together at the
window. The flush had rot faded from
Avice's cheeks; her eyes were bright,
her lips little tremulous
He glanced at her falf-averted face,
and turned awav from the window.
Bet your room is charmingr' he ex-
claimed. whats this over the mantel-
piece? All, the Gozzoli fresco. And
this is a Pinturicchio, isn't it? Where
did you get that Ghirlandajo? l have
been looking out for it for ages :"
He moved from one picture to an
other, admiring. criticising. with eager
ness Intellectually disguised by the non
chalant manner habitual to him.
Come and have some tea - urged
Avice at last, laughing while he pro-
tested that he was too much in love with
the room and its treasures even to sit
down.
The light tone which, they had both
instinctively adopted was continued