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

might have locked out on q Rotterdam
canal but Hiram did not know this
to him it was just "Drina's way" The
old. blue china ranged on the dresser
gave him a pleasant glow: he remen--
bered the day he brought it back from
Troy. She had seen it there in a store
window, and hung over it fondly be-
cause it matched some they used 10
have at home. He wouldn't let her
know how much it cost. Drina was
careful if she was young. And she
was never one to sit and fold her
hands; every chair and chest in the
room, every pot and pan that hung
against the wall, shone as if polished.
There at the corner of the chimney
was her spinning-wheel. The Hoosick
women had mostly put theirs up in
the garnet. TO moulder there with other
outworn household gods. But Drina
tossed her head contemptuously at
store yarn" and sat spinning in the
long winter evenings by the freight,
as her grandrnothers had spun before
her.
Her husband seemed to see The little
figure in the blue gown. The whir OF
the wheel mingled with the roaring of
the brook. It's all just as she wanted
it, he repeated. I've took good care
of her. An I'll take care of her yeti"
he muttered between his set teeth, for
all I've got to leave her!" He stretch
ed his long arm out of the bed as if
reaching forth from some abyss.
The door opened suddenly: a young
woman stood on the threshold, outlined
against a soft white cloud, just fiecked
with green.
Look at the cherry tree, Hiram,"
she cried, stepping in and throwing the
door wide It's all come out to-day.
Amt it pretty?"
Yes said her husband, Its BLOWN
full as ever I see it. Why don't you
pick some?"
Il guess I WILL" she answered, ''if
you don't care. Therell be more
cherries than I can use for cordial, an
that's all these wild ones are good for,
anyway"
She stepped back. and in minute
reappeared, her arm full of the delicate
white wreaths
My, amt they pretty" she exclaim-
ed, lifting down a blue pitcher from
the dresser shelf, Il always did love
bloomies!'
a rasping cough shook the sick man;
she threw down the flowers and hur-
ried to him. You're coIdI" she de-
clared reproachfully. She drew Up the
covers, and then dropping to her knees
in front of the hearth blew the smold-
ering fire until it glowed, and fed it
with dry branches that cracked as
they caught the flame.
Il oughtn't to have stayed out to the
barn so long" she went on, "but the
red calf was SO cunning! Rams was
trying to teach her to drink out of
the pail He couldn't make it out; she
just hunted him. Did you hear us
laughing?" She laughed, recalling it
a low, gurglfng laugh.
Yes I heard you said Hiram
Il guess it'll nave to wait for you
to get out and see to it," she continued
The amt any one else got your way
with dumb beasts. Seems sometimes
as if they was lonesome for you, an
was tryin' to ask me why you didn't
come" She was hanging the kettle
over the fire, which had burst into
riotous blaze and cast rudy CLEANS on
the white curtains. the big bunch Of
cherry blossoms and Drina's braids of
yellow hair. I'm goin' to make you
a cup of tea" she announced
rs Rams out there stilI?'' her hus-
band asked
Yes, 1 guess so; 1 haven't heard him
bring the milk into the shed. Why?"
she added.
Il wisht you'd go an ask him to
come in here he said, hoarsely.
She went at once, and, left alone, he
began to speak aloud, f1inging out his
words defantly as if at some unseen
disputant: I've got to do it," he con-
tended. It's best! If I should say
anythin' to her first, she'd say no. She
wouldn't hear to it. But l won't try
to do it behind her back-it wouldn't
be fair. An I've got to do it, he reiter-
ated. The amt no one else"
He turned his face to the window
and watched until Drina and Rams
came into sight on the grass bordered
path leading from the barn. She step
ped briskly on ahead. in the rosy after
glow of sunset, her blue gown flutter-
ing in the breeze. she looks like a
girl he thought with a jealous pang.
When they reached the bars in the
pasture fence Rams took them down.
all but the last one; she sprang over
lightly and they came on together. side
by side.
He's big" Hiram whispered. watch
ing them. I wouldn't "a wanted her
10 marry niue Wnlpper-Snapper -
he measured his own six feet uncOn-
sciousIy-"an' he's strong. an he can't
be more than thirty. He'll likely live
a long time He groaned and turned
sharply away from the window, clos
ing his eyes.
He was lying quite stin when they
came in. Perhaps he's fell asleep,"
said his wife. approaching softly.
NO, I amt asleep" he said. Rams, >"
he added. I've got somethin' I want
to say to you
Rams made no answer. but hftched
his chair nearer the bed and fixed his
narrow. near-set, dark eyes on the sick
man. Drina stepped halfway to the
fire and stood listening.
I'm goin to die said Hiram, slow
ly.
Rams thought it probable. no doubt.
for he made no answer, only shuffIed
his feet little on the bare floor and
waited. Drina started forward. but
meeting her husbands eyes. which
seemed to look at her and vet not see
her. she sank frightened into the near