Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-10-27

| disappeared from the window, ana
when he opened the door there she was
In front of II with her lips uplifted for
| his kiss. The neighbor stood by, her
things on ready to go, and 1t struck
face.
You'd better not get too near the
child with those wet things on" she
said kindly. shes but a weak little
thing and she must not take cold"
He started back remorsefully, and
did not 90 up to the girl again until he
had taken all his wet things off in his
own room and made himself dry and
tidy. BY this time the neighbor was
gone, and he and Eunice sat down to.
gether to the supper which waited. He
had the keen, hungry appetite of
from noticing presently that the food
on his child's plate remained I'M
touched. He laid down his knife and
fork and looked at her anxiously.
Amt you going to keep father com.
pany a little. dearie? You amt never
hearty. know, but | want to see you
eat something"
I She smiled family.
you know you don't let me work
any more, father, and cant get hun.
cry like you who are busy all day,
working for me-"
"Yes, lamb, for you" he repeated az
IL the words gave him pleasure. God
knows it's all for you and He knows
how thankful am to have you to work
for. Folks talk about my lot bein'
lard, but that's all they know. ]
wouldn't change places with any man,
So long as He leaves me you I'll never
doubt that God loves me-"
! The girl sighed and look Of pain
Quiyered a moment about her lips.
Take me up, father" she said half
an hour after, as they sat before the
bright fire together.
No mothers touch could have been
more tender than that rough mans as
he lifted the little, twisted form into
his arms and laid the sunny head care.
fully against his bosom. She rested
there for a while silently, looking fond
ly up into his face, and now and then
touching his cheeks gently with her
thin fingers. At last she said, with an
air earnest, yet slightly hesitating:
You do believe God loves you, don't
You father?"
Yes. lamb, yes; so long as He leaves
me you"
But II He didn't leave me-" she per.
sisted. wouldn't you believe that, too,
was because He loved your"
The mans face darkened with a sud.
den. sick terror.
Look here" said he, in a voice of
passionate entreaty, don't talk about
that, don't. II couldn't be love, no
way, that wouldn't leave you. You're
all I've got, Child-All. God don't
take away all, does He? That amt
love"
The girl stretched her hand up and
drew 1t round his neck, and laid her
face on his shoulder to hide the tears
she could not keep back. But she made
no answer. After a while he asked a
sudden question, breathlessly, as II
suspicion had pierced him with a pang
too sharp to be borne
Has Doctor Peters been here today,
Eunice?"
She trembled little, but she an
swered quietly
Yes, father"
"And he says you're going. does he.
the way your mother went? Child,
don't you believe him You sha'nt go.
My love will keep you alive. Hasn't It
kept you now, IA years? Why, the
doctor said you wouldn't live the first
time he laid you in my arms But you
have lived and here you are, and here
III hold you. Hasn't my love kept you
50 long,"
Your love and Gods love, father
but what II He thinks, now, that it's
time for me to go homer"
And then they sat on silently for a
long, still hour, and the wood fire
burned brightly, and now and then a
brand dropped on the hearth, and that
and the storm outside were the only
sounds which broke the stiffness, save
when, once or twice, great, gasping
sob tore up from Shutting Dams deep
chest. At last he bent over and turned
the girls face toward him, and looked
IN II with eager, hungry eyes.
"Itll be sorry world, lamb" he
said, when you're not in it-when
there's nobody waitin' at the door and
no light burnin' in the winder"
She looked up, her blue eyes fearful.
Father" she said gently, don't you
know you've told me sometimes how
the thought that | was waitin' made II
easy for you to get home, when the
storms drove ever SO hard, and kept
you from wantin' to turn into store or
tavern?"
Yes, lamb; but whatll keep me on
my way when you're gomez" he asked
bitterly.
81 thought of the times you'd said
that, father, after Doctor Peters went
\ IA