Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-12-29

her feet took the fringed gentian from |
his coat, toyed with il for a moment !
then held it up. Berry" he said, mo
money can buy this keepsake. shall |
treasure II always"
Nonsense, Harley! I'll give you a
bushel."
Not in that way"
"Oh! that was nothing. Just hint
that you mustn't try to kiss me again,
although that was nothing either
merely an impulse, an accident, per.
haps. Still, as you had never done 1t
before, | thought-that is, you startled
me, and so-well, 1t seemed the thing
to do. mean, giving you the flower.
Please don't look at me SO, Harley.
What possesses you today"
Il wasn't looking at You at all,
Berry. | was watching your hat lift
in the wind and wondering how soon
IL would blow of What were you say
ing? I'm not different from usual, am
|? You didn't consider that brotherly
peck as meaning anything, hope.
You were so near, and never thought.
As for this posy, meant II would al.
ways remind me OF that particular
spot, our old log where we have so
often sat and Chatted, with the birds
around us and the freshness and shade.
| love old associations. The gentiau
will bring them back years from now,
when you have forgotten all about me.
shall press 1t in some book often
pick up-Lorna Doone, expect. Re.
member her bower?"
I'm cold" said Bprnice, shivering
and clasping her hands. Take me
down to The Ledge, Harley. It's shell
o'clock. Don't mind me, will you?
I'm awfully nervous lately or | should.
| MT have dreamed of paying any at.
tention to that trinC. Put your arm
under mine. This short grass is slip.
perry"
So down the hill they went, these
two hypocrites, each soul crying out
for the other, each watchful brain dole.
fully repeating to its crying soul-Too
late! too late!"
| She leaned upon him closely, feeling
the trembling Of his muscles against
her soft arm, slipping a last drop of
comfort from her ebbing cup, with an
instructive sense Of what lay behind
his smiling mask.
All! had she but had Priscilla's cour.
age to invite her John Alden, when
he brought the message of Miles Stand.
sh, to speak the words she thought
to draw from him by Indifference!
Now IL was TOO late. His kiss and
her fower-poor, sweet, insulted treas.
urcs, flung In the dust of mockery. like
unCared for blossoms on the highway
with the silver dew still on them!
Silently they stepped through the
pine trees murmuring above them, and
softly on to their retreat, a fayorite
nook for privacy, a great, spreading,
. irregular shelf of fern hung stone
with a wooden bench facing the lake
seen dimly through the trees, another
Il few feet away, on the west side
where one might watch the sunset.
They sat here, quiet and thoughtful
for the first brief 81, Juus, each wait
ing for an interesting cue TO launch q
lconyersation for the balancing of dis
Iturbcd minds, their eyes upon The
ground, their Withdrawn arms still
touching in apparent unconcern.
Suddenly a deep voice from the
Ieighburing, unseen seat, brought &
quick grasp of the lingering fingers.
Martha" II proclaimed, solemnly
II wish | were out of 1t. The child
cares nothing for me. Very dutifuI
and all tnat, and, of course, I'm proud
happy as my wife. II won't do, Mar,
tina. Really, I'm afraid she has seen
too much Of Seward, and-ahem. -
hC of her, II you don't mind"
Not Bit" came the placid re.
Spouse. I've had my eyes open, Phil.
ip; | do not blame them. Who could?
; Let us be sensible, now this matter is
before us. While we have been so oc-
cupied with these blue prints they have
rambled OF day after day until now
="
: Il think so! think so. Martha!
1t is our fault, and may be for the best.
When you advised me TO propose to
Bernice | did not consider the posi-.
biilty OF her being unhappy"
And ! consulted you about Harley,
remember. Your advice regarding his
business qualifications was excellent,
Philip; but | fear he will be no more
to me than a private secretary. It's