Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-10-17
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MOMENT
ARRIVED

I'm always wondering" remarked
Eliza, reflectively, as she handed me my
second cup of tea, when you're really
going to fall in love, and"
Don't be too hasty," I Interrupted, as
assisted myself to sugar; perhaps
I'm even now consumed with disquiet.
ing fever"
You're fat" said Elva, disparag.
ingly.
"Nonsense." ! protested. Simply
well covered. Why, my tailor altered
my measurements only yesterday"
"Oh. of course II you won't be seri.
GUS" she sighed, resignedly, and pre-.
pared to nibble a judiciously Drowned
muffin: but really, Monty, youre-let
me see-forty you're independent, and
--'um--" she regarded me crit.
ically with her head on one side
''passably good looking; and yet you
let pretty, nice, suitable girls slip
through your fingers by dozens, be-
cause you're either too lazy or too con.
ceited to take sufficient interest in
them" -
Don't lecture me-" pleaded-Elva
is prone to lectures; you're so dread
fully impulsiye, you know. AS a mat.
ter of fact. looked In this very after.
noon on purpose to tell you how-how
abominably in love | ami"
Something in my tone must have
| 81 ruciy bar ne unucuaI Tho muffin lilo
Mahomet's coffin, remained suspended
while she surveyed me intently, pre-
sumably to see II she could detect any
latent humor in my countenance.
| did not move muscle.
III was quite certain that you were
in earnest" she began, hesitatingly,
and thought-though, OF course, had
no business to thlnk-that her voice
was a little unsteady, Il should say
how very glad am"
please try and believe me-" plead.
ed.
She studied my face as II undecided
what TO do.
rs 1t recent" she asked, at last.
1T appened-yesterday, con-
fessed. You remember, | always prom.
Used that you should be the first to
know whenever really had anything
to tell, and was just going to begin
when you fell upon me-"
Yesterday" murmured Elva, In evi.
dent surprise. "Then II must have
been at Lady Toilets garden party"
nodded.
Was 1t love at first sight, or had
you seen her before?'
Il had seen her." | said, guardedly,
once or twice"
Obi" said Elva, and think she
flushed. Then, OF course, it's Mollie
Richards. ] saw you talking to her
for ages in the rosary. She's q nice
girl, believe, and I'm really awfully
glad, Monty-awfully." Somehow her
tone didn't carry the conviction II was
doubtless intended to convey; l pre-.
sumed II was because Miss Richards
was never very particular friend of
hers.
Il suppose" she went on. you'll pro-
pose at once. You've no need to wait
like most poor creatures"
81 intend" ] said, firmly, ito offer
myself with as little delay as possible"
''And you really don't mind my talk
ing the privilege Of an old friend-a
very old friend-to ask you all these
questions, do you?"
mot the least in the world" | said,
graciously; Il expected them"
What do you mean by that?" she in
quired, with suspicion.
Nothing, except that you've cate
chised me about my matrimonial pros
poets ever since you could toddle. DO
you remember, for instance, asking
me at schoolroom tea in your early
youth whether II was my intention to
marry your Fraulein or not?"
Elya's face frightened promptly.
"Rather!" she said; land Fraulein
turned all sorts of colors, and told
mother the next day that she really
would no longer stay with a child so
embarrassing really think she had
a tenderness for you, Monty"
Probably" | agreed. MANY people
have"
Don't be concelted!" reprimanded
Elya; but tell me all about Mollie
Richards, and exactly what attracted
you. Some people call her pretty l
rather admire her myself, only"
"Mollie Richards?" inquired, with
extreme innocence. "Who said any
thing about Mollie Richards?"
why, you did, of course-that is to
say-yes-no, | suppose you didn't,
then-why, did, I suppose; but any
how, what's the good of cavilling about
her? 1t Is Mollie Richards, isn't it,"
Il wouldn't marry Mollie Richards"
| said, decisively, "if they shot me for
refusingi"
Elya poured herself out some more
tea, and-yes, 1t was not my magma.
tion-her hand did shake, and she
looked as II 1t would have been re-
lief to her feelings to have launched
the teapot at my head.