Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-06-17
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
DAVE SPaNCE.


was the most eligible Of the only three
unmarried men in visiting neighbor-
hood of ten miles square.
Dolly was IL. rising; was ambitious,
and was by all odds the prettiest Of the !
three dozen or more girls in the same !
visiting neighborhood of ten miles !
square. Added to which, Dolly's faith
er worked for a common laborer's !
wages in David Spence's fields. From |
all Of which, as a matter Of course,
Dolly became afflanced to David, to the
contentment of the one and the self
eomplacent satisfaction of the other.
But half the Joy Of the good things
OF this life Is in having them inclosed
in an open fence through which the
world can look. David had fine farm,
and he paid the entire expense OF a
new country road in order to have ii
skirt some of his best titled fields
When he built modern piazza and
bought new furniture. he invited all
the men and women whose opinion he
cared for TO a hOuscwarming, and so.
when he had new suit OF clothes, or
pair Ol speaking boots, or fresh paint
on his buggy. he cuuld be counted upon
for punctiliOus attendance at chNrch
and other social functions.
No sooner had Jhr great event Of the
engagement been definitely arranged
than he hurried TO the city to buy a
ring something 40 one in his county
had ever done bg.Hc-and TO get a
suit made 20 uCasuro--unuthcr innO-
yaliOn--aRd. what he had a suspicion
would be OF almost as much interest
10 Dolly rs the ring, to get her a suit
also.
While awaiting his turn In the tailor
ing establishment, a man entered and
was brushing past when David sudden
ly caught him by the arm.
Hello. Farley he exclaimed de-
lirhtcdly: who expected TO see you
here? Where've YOU kept yourself all
these years? What you doin'?"
The man turned and grasped the eX-
tended hand heartily.
David Spence. here" he cried, al
most as dclightedly as the other why,
it's like a breath Of the woods to meet
you. man. Let's see. it's ten years since
was up at your place, isn't It? was
little kid then, who had never been
out of the city; but I've always re-
membered that summer. Hows the
world using you?"
Splendid. And you?"
Very well. | think, I'm in the brok-
crage business, and haven't anything to
complain OF. How is Mrs Spence? i
suppose there is Mrs. Spence by this
time?"
David Colored. then thrust his hand
into his pocket and drew ont n box.
from which he carefully unwrappcd u
tiny circlet.
Not yet" he answered; but eX-
pcct therell be one pretty soon. | come
to town for this"
Indeed! Why, it's little beauty
David" taking and examining the ring
How long since"
Three days ago | asked her, but wa
didn't fix mp when It was to be till
yesterday. An" modestly. Il don't
mind tellin' you as a friend that Dolly's
done well. I'm good lookin', an have
the best farm in the country. Her faith
er an mothers wild over It,"
And Dolly?"
"Oh, Dolly's pleased, too, though she
couldn't say so much of course. We've
talked about a new house an buggy
well get, an piano she wants, an
other things. But say" suddenly, you
must come up for a month an see
Dolly yourself. She's beauty, an not
only beauty in the country, but she
beats any of the girls I've seen in your
city so far. Fix things an go back
with me. won't leave till tomorrow. ="
Farley smiled.
mo, thank you, not just now" he
ANSWERED, though would like 10 come
later. The thought of those woods has
been with me all through the past 10
years. But I've had glimpses of what
the first few weeks of an engagement
mean. You and Dolly would look ut
each other and forget there was a third
person anywhere in the nelghborhood,
and"
That's Just where YOU make a mis-
take" broke in David. Dolly and
amt like other folks; We know what's
our due an what's other folks due.
You come up an well give you good
time. | want you to see how I've fixed
up the farm an gone ahead In every
thing, an how the neighbors have got
10 lookin' up TO me; an want you TO
~ Ia laI