Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-04-14
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
A DEBTORS DILEMMA

Remember. Annie. you are to sit
there-exactly where you are now
until I get back; and mind you. don't
bulge an inch!"
The person thus peremptorily ad.
monished was not child, but a good.
looking woman of 80.
The speaker, an older, taller and
plainer-looking edition of the younger
woman, grasped her umbrella and
gathered up her skirts preparatory to
setting forth in the busy streets Of
London.
Surprising" hazarded the younger
sister, dreamingly, as she watched
these preparations, that you never
come back again."
Practical Amelia laughed.
IL may get lost" she said frankly,
but think can venture to promise
that I'll neither get run over nor kid.
mapped. But whatever happens. don't
go out to look for me! Anything rath.
er than that. Trust me to take care
Of myself"
This little dialogue took place with.
in the sacred walls of Westminster
Abbey. The two sisters, Amelia and
Annie Page. had come up TO town for
the coronation, and 1t was their first
visit to the great metropolis. That in.
teresting historical event had taken
place some days before, and although
access to the Abbey had. of course,
been impossible to them on the day OF
the great occasion. they had gained
admission on the morning in question,
and had spent an enjoyable hour In
look around the magnificent edifce and
In endeavoring to picture to them.
selves the brilliant scene SO lately en-.
acted within its walls. This visit to
London was quite an epoch In their
lives. and the previous months had
been a period OF careful saving and
self-denial, sweetened, however. by
happy anticipations Of unique pleas.
uIe In store.
Thanks to the enterprise Of friend,
who had offered to be their pilot on
that never.to.be.forgotten 9Th Of Au'
gust, they had obtained a capital view
Of the coronation procession, as It pas
sed through the streets. and under
more comfortable circumstances than
is usual on such occasions. The rest
OF their STAY in town was devoted to
seeing the ordinary sights OF London
and in picking I'M modest bargains al
the sales: and on this particular
morning. after inspecting the Able,
they were about TO return. as usual. to
their Headquarters at Harlesden. where
thew were stayinp with an old school
friend, when the elder sister remem.
bered that she had promised to match
some wool for their hostess, which
could only be procured at a certain
shop in the city. She resolved to 20
on this quest alone, however, as An.
ME had thoughtlessly come out in new
shoes-a bargain" of the previous
day-which, although perfectly com.
Portable when she started In the morn.
ing, had. after some hours of standing
and walking. suddenly become two
sizes too small.
After her sister had departed. Annie
sat down according to Amelia's com.
mands. and resolved to wait patiently
for her return, She drew from her
pocket one or two letters, and read
each thoroughly and attentively from
beginning to end. One in particular
apparently afforded her much interest
ing matter, and brought a smile and
an extra tinge of pink to her face as
she read its contents, which ran as
follows:
Dearest Annie: - Many, many
thanks for your interesting letter.
How glad ! am to know that you are
away from that plaguey little school
and having such a good time! Your
description of the coronation process.
sion was thrilling! Jim also was
charmed with your letter. and says |
ought really to send 1t to the Observer,
SO that all Hightown might have the
benefit Of 1t. am still feeling little