The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-06-07
A CLUSTER OF VOLETS

him. And now-he is gone, gone, and
my heart is broken!"
Late in the morning he awoke,
more impressed than ever that it was
his duty to warn the y-ronged wife,
disagreeable though it might be. So
he secured writing material, and
after destroying sheet after sheet of
paper, he finally composed note in
which he told her, in as gentle a man
ner as possible. of the episode at the
florists, and closed by begging her
not to think i'll of him for being the
bearer of such news, as he very
{ greatly regretted the necessity he
felt he was under to warn her, and
expressing the hope that with her
knowledge of the affair. an influence
might be brought to bear that would
counterfeit any evil tolls into which
her husband had-probabI uncon-
sciously-fallen. and that happiness
might once again be hers. This note
he dispatched by the bell boy, about
the time he judged she might have
returned from church. A half hour
later white Enclosure was handed in
at his door. He tore it open and
read:
Mr.. Horace Worth-Dear Sir: To say
that l was amazed at the contents of your
note falls. far short of expressing my feel
ings. If not asking too much of you. viii
you please CALI at my home a. four o'clock
this afternoon? 1 appreciate your intended
kndne sS. / reserve all else to say to you in
person. Sincerely yours,
AGATHA MAYHEM"
The writing showed signs of agita-
ton, and it was with quickly beating
heart that Mr.. Worth presented him
self at Mrs. Mayhew's door, at the
appointed hour. He was admitted by
the maid and shown into the parlor,
where he was at once joined by Mrs.
Mayhem. The pallid face and swollen
eyes, for which he was prepared,
were absent. Instead she greeted him
with smiling countenance.
'Mr. WORTH" said she, II sent for
you, pot-as you probably supposed
to question you farther concerning
my dear husband, but to free your
mind from the unjust charges which
| give you the credit of honestly be-
lieving. At first / was angry over
your intimation, but l believe you to
be a gentleman, and that YOU took
the course that you did from a sense
of duty. Fifteen years ago the goth
of last March we were married On
that never-to-be-forgot day, l
wore a bunch of violets, and the
table where the simple luncheon was
spread was decorated with the same
Since that day, the Goth of March
has never failed to bring from my
dear, thoughtful husband. a fragrant
cluster of violets; and two months
ago, as usual, when he is absent at
that time, there came by express a
box of the sweet flowers, containing
this card" and she held out the we'll
remembered bit of bristol board, on
which was written, "To my darling,
with a hearts best love-Laurence."
THE next mall continued she,
brought his usual daily letter, in
which he told the joke of your sup
posing he was a bachelor, how you
asked if he was sending flowers to
his best girl, and of his reply. That
is just like Laurence, to have little
quiet fun at your expense, by never
correcting your erroneous suppose
ton. l hope you will forgive him
for it, just as 1 have forgiven you
for your slanderous thoughts of my
husband" and she smilingly ex-
tended her hand.
Just how Mr.. Worth managed to
take her hand and bow over it, STAN
mer out his sincere apologies, and
get out into the street, he never
could clearly remember. But it is a
fact that when he finally found ref
uge in his room at the hotel, he feel
ingly remarked to himself:
Il wish L had three feet, so I
could stand on two of them, and
kick myself with the other!"-Lum-
Der Review.