The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-11-05
,aoAoAoAoHo NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Drina's head dropped and she gave
a frightened sob, but Hiram Went on
in the same strained, steady tone:
Shell have this house an farm, an
all the live stock, an every penny 1
have in the bank. Such bein' the case.
OF course, she'll marry ag'in. I know
how many raskills the is in the world
tnat'd like nothin' better'n to get hold
Of a farm like this, an trade 1t off for
drink or ussadness--Iet alone breakin'
her heart" He had raised his voice
angrily. as if il We're a relief TO him,
or perhaps, to drown the sound of
Drina's weeping. An layin' here" he
went on more gently. I've made up
my mind that I'd have it settled before
I go You can trust me, can't you,
Drina ?" he asked, but without looking
toward her: you allays have"
Yes, Hiram" she stammered, be-
tween her sons.
I've thought t all over careful" he
resumed. AN 1 believe. Rams, you'd be
the best Of any one know. I've aIlays
found you honest an keepin' of your
word. An the farms lynn so clost to
each other would make it seem nat'ral.
l aliays thought the two south medders
ought to be fined, then the brook could
water 'em both He waited, catching
his breath.
Yes" Rams said, nodding his head,
the course could be changed a little
at the bend by the stone wall; the's
a fall there He stopped, but Hiram
had turned from him abruptly and
lay with his eyes fixed on the fast
darkening window. He seemed to have
accepted the young mans answer as
consent. Neither of the men had look
ed at the woman, who seemed with
drawn into a world apart where she
sat silent but for an occasional sob
that shook her averted shoulders.
Well" said Rams, at Iast rising in
some enbarra ssment, Il guess I'd bet
ter be goin','
Hiram nodded. "Drina.' he called
quickly.
The young man started and cast
searching glance at the woman as she
faced her husband
"Drina," Hiram said. will you go
an show Rams where I want him to
begin to break up the pasture to-mor-
row? You know where it is
She made no answer, but rose and led
the way. As the door closed on them,
Hiram threw up his arms and groaned
aloud. It's most more than 1 can
bear he gasped. Il thought I could,
but 1 dunno as I can" His thick
grizzled hair was matted ON his tenn
pies, where the sweat stood in drops;
his fingers worked nervously. He's
lo0kin' at her now to see how he likes
her-I see him just now, Lool1in' at
her!'' He strained forward, listening
He could hear their voices family; they
We're on the stoop still.
IF he dare." he thought Yes
Drina!'' he cried in a hoarse whisper,
I'm comin"" He half rose and then
sank back and turned his face resolute-
ly to the wall. It's my own doin',"
he whispered fiercely, AN, by God, I'll
stan by it,
Outside Drina stood flushed and
Urathful on the lower step of the
stoop: the light of the moon just
climbing over the hill caught the tears
that still trenbled on her lashes.
Watching her under lowered eyelids,
Rams said to himself that She was
pretty, prettier than he had ever
thought her, but there was no denying
that she was in a rage. He reached up
for some blossoms of the cherry-tree,
picked them, and threw them away.
You needn't be so hard on fellow"
he grumbled, L was only just sayin'
what he said" he nodded toward the
house.
Never you mind what he said:
you've no right TO say what he says"
she blazed. He can say what he likes.
He's took care of me all M lifelong
before grandfather died. I'm his little
girl guess III always be his little
girl to him, no matter how old 1 s.
to be" Her voice softened. but it
grew hard again as it met Rams gaze.
You ought to have known better" she
said resentfully.
We'll, there amt any harm done"
he answered: of course, you've got
the say-so, only you We're so quiet in
there"
He was doing it for me- she fall
tered.
Yes. yes he broke in. afraid she
was going to cry again. 4 s'pose you
don't want to go an show me where
that piece of pasture is
You know we'll enough where it is
she retorted. an you needn't stop to
look at the meadow again. either; you'll
never have chance TO change the
course OF that brook
Dang it all! who'd "a thought she
was such a little vixen? I guess 1
amt losin' much" he muttered. walk
ing off briskly, as she turned and went
into the house.
It had seemed a long time to Hiram.
but he did not look up az she entered
She went to the fire. set one foot on
the androns and stood gazing into the
glowing bed of Goals. He turned his
head stealthily to watch her; the red
light caught the little curIs that the
wind had blown about her ears and
turned them To gold. He wanted to see
her face. ana impotence at last over
came his dread OF speaking. "Wen?"
he said painfully. wetting his lips with
his tongue did Rams look a the south
redder to see how the brook runs p
Yes" she answered, resentment in
her voice.
He frowned. his long arm stiffened
as it lay stretched across the bed.
'of course, he looked at it, he NUT
tered. The man amt born that
wouldn't like to own that rnedder.