The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-06-19

direction myself, and I have been I'M
comfortably suspicious that he told the
truth But it was left to the Turner:
to make my suspicious certainties.
Two episodes began about the same
time for us in Mount Alya the advent
of the Turner's and our ownership in &
cemetery lot. From the first there was
a close connection between the two be-
cause Mr.. Turner had purchased the
marble-yard and the family attended our
church.
saw them for the first time when
they filed into their pew just ahead OF
ours.
daughters looked decidedly emaciated
| stepped on my husbands toe to call
attention to their consumptiye appear
ance, but was successful only in calling
his attention to his corn.
AS physicians wife, [ hold it is but
natural that 1 should inform myself of
the health of a newcomer at our church,
because there are just doctors enough
IN Mount Alva for the churches to have
one apiece, and it has come to be re-
ligious principle with each church to
employ its own doctor.
But don't think | was rejoicing at the
Turner's pallor Quite the contrary.
They were armored with a certain
manner which would not permit a self
iSfking physician to send in his ac-
1907 more than once, and as one after
the other raised a thinly-gloved hand
to her mouth and gave series of little
coughs, | had vision of sundry future
unpaid bills going to swell the already
large number.
Of course, after service we introduced
ourselves.
They were delighted beyond express
sion to meet another family of Turner's.
l did not share their enthusiasm. My
conviction was growing that one family
of the name was enough for Mount
Alva.
Mr.. Turner grasped my husbands
hand with the JUNCTION of a long-lost
brother They Immediately climbed
their family tree as high as they could
go, but found not one branch to which
they could cling together.
Some way | was relieved. The Turn
ers were very nice and ladyiike-that is,
all except Mr.. Turner, and, although
his manners were faultless, l was glad
he did not belong to us.
Alas for the trailty of my ideas l
found there are more ways of belonging
than being related
1t was not long before the Turner's
were fully launched in the church, con-
tributing socially but not financially.
Mr.. Turner was hurt at sight of a
subscription paper. l found that out
when | was collecting for the minister's
salary.
He spoke OF having seen better days
when his generous sould reveled in large
81
his wife and dear ones reduced to pow
erty, and himself to the sordid and me-
1anzaoly occupation of dealing in I'M |
r emunerative tombstones.
ssA5He rolled his faded blue eyes up to |
tie bell over the doctors Office door, |
and mentioned the fact that they were
not strangers to tears. By way of illus
tration, he let few fall. He remarked |
ESQ smoothly and adroitly that The words |
almost lost their sting) that if he coined /
money as easily out of other peoples af-
fictions as a physician he could afford |
to be benevolent
Whereupon l replied with my usual
bluntness that he coined money out of
the doctors affection, for his business
the end of the doctors gainl
These words he Immediately constru-
ed into a reproach on his trade, and re-
Urea LOT q SEASON. DClIlIlQ Ills tIdIlOhSI- 1
chief. My conscience pricked me for
my words to such an extent that on the
paper afterwards l wrote
MS name, and opposite it "One dollar,
3D."
I did not tell the doctor, but he no
iced, forcibly at times, that his coffee
vas not sweet enough for a month.
Then the subject of our new monu-
nent came up
When the doctor decided to locate at
Mount Alva, | rejoiced because of the
beauty of the cemetery. / have always
lad a leaning toward beautiful grave
-ards, and partiality for fine monu-
nents
| selected the lot myself, little lot,
or there would be but two to lie IN 1t,
m the summit of the ridge overlooking
he town. 1t can be seen from our south
window.
l spent hours there, summers, trim
ming the hedge and cutting the grass.
grew to love that spot, until the doctor
lsed to remark that he knew where
lad been because l wore my grave
ard face" meaning l was particularly
heerful.
I could scarcely wait for a monument
O be put on that lot. l had one all I
damned in mind, a plain, slender shaft
# granite The only drawback to the
Ian was the cost of a granite shaft, no
natter how slender
But on the twentieth anniversary Of
,ur wedding-day the doctor laid the
rice of a monument in my lap. He re- :
marked that it was cheerful wedding
resent, and 1t was.
I wore my graveyard face" for days.
In using that money l determined to
urprise the doctor by my business sa 4
acity. The air of Mount Alva had
roved poor tonic for consumptives.
nd the doctor had already, fguratively :
Deaking, laid the base OF that nonu-
tent in attendance on the Turner's. Z
Now, | reasoned, why not employ Mr.
urner and deduct their unpaid bill
he first part of my reasoning worked
Ike a charm-but not the last part.
He called the day after the monument
beside the south