Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-09-20
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
As YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITY

ing room. He was In the midst of an
interesting piece of news. when lad
came up to the door. and said:
DO you want boy, sir2'
Without lifting his eyes from the pa.
per. Mr.. Frazier answered, MOI" to
the applicant, and in rather rough
way.
Before the lad reached the street,
Conscience had compelled the merchant
to listen to a rebuking sentence.
you might have spoken kindly to
the poor boy at least, said Conscience.
This Is an opportunity"
MIR Frazier let the paper fall from
before his eyes, and turned to look at
the lad. He was small--not IL years
old, to all appoarance-poorly attired,
but clean. The merchant tapped
AGAINST one of the windows in the
counting room. and the boy glanced
back over his shoulder a sign from
the merchant caused him 10 return.
what did you say just now?'
DO you want boy. sir?' The lad
ltIt ulN'' Nllt WI US az tlth GlOhtlis uto-
itatingiy. a few moments before.
Ar. Frazier looked at him with
suddenly awakened interest. He had
. fair. girlish face; dark brown eyes
and hair: and though slender In APP
pearance. stood erect. with manliness
VI aspect that showed him to be al
ready conscious OF duty in the world.
But there did not seem TO be much Of
that stun in him that is needed for
the battle of life.
Take a chair" said Mr.. Frazier, an
Involuntary respect for the lad getting
possession OF his mind.
The boy sat down, with his large.
clear eyes fixed on the merchants face.
How old are you?"
81 was ~, sir, last month" replied
the boy.
"What splendid cyesl" said the mer.
caant to himself And | have seen
them before. Soft, dark and lustrous
az a woman's."
Away back In the past the thoughts
OF MIR. Frazier went. borne on the light
from these beautiful eyes; and for
some moments he forgot the present in
the past. But when he came back into
the present again, he had softer heart
toward the stranger lad.
You should 80 TO school for a year
or two longer" he said.
Il must help my mother" replied the
lad.
rs your mother very poor"
Yes, sir, and she's sick"
The lads voice shook little, and his
soft woman's eyes grew brighter in the
tears that filed them.
Mr. Frazier had already forgotten
the point of interest In the news after
which his mind was searching, when
the boy interrupted him.
81 don't want lad myself" said Mr..
Frazier, hut maybe ! might speak
good word for you, you know. ! think
you would make an honest. useful lad.
hut you are not strong"
"Oh, yes, sir, I'm strong!" And the
boy stood up in brave spirit
What is your name?" he asked.
Charles Leonard sir"
There was an instant change In the
merchants manner. and he turned
away his face so far that the boys eyes
could not see its expression. For
long time he sat still and silent-so
long that the boy wondered.
rs your father living?" Mr. Frazier
did not look at the boy but still kept
his face away. His voice was low and
not very even.
mo, sir. He died four years ago"
"Where?" The voice was quicker
and firmer.
I'm London, sir"
How long since you came to Amer.
ica?"
Two years"
Have you been In this city ever
SINGER"
mo. sir. We came here with my
uncle year ago. But he died a month
after our arrival"
What was your uncle's name?"
"Mr, Hoyle, sir"
There came another silence, in which
chants countenance. But when he did
lcok at him again there was such a
new and kind expression in the eyes
which seemed almost to devour his
face, that he felt an assurance In his
heart that Mr., Frazier was a good man,
and would be friend to his mother.
sit here for little while" said Mr.