Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-04-15

me from ner arms uOWn tne WnOle
length of the oak staircase There Is
no need to say more. Yet, | was a
happy child As grew up built
such castles in the air as other youths
build. and in my castles | began to see
Kate Norman's figure. Rates dark.
eyed Crimson-CheCked smiling on me
from visionary fresides there, aud
hear her voice singing lulabies in the
far-off future. We met often. She
was always kind and friendly had
fancied something more.
One day | went in the heat of the
afternoon to a shady spot by the river.
side, my own ground. lay upon the
grass reading book, when behind the
glossy leaves of the plants which the
little ones called Observation-Disclosures
bushes heard the sparrow.like twit.
ter of girls voices.
She'll have him." said one.
Fancy such bridegroom" said
the other. "All his money couldn't
buy me"
HE don't want you. but Kate" said
the first.
"one must be at ones last prayer to
want such an admirer No one could
like Casper Athwod."
"Of course not" said the fist, but
then he's rich. and Kate poor enough"
you are right; no woman could love
him. but money will marry anybody"
There was rustic a sound of feet
on the grass. The chirping voices died
away in the distance.
Just for ten minutes | hated the
world: hated the jolly, broad.shOuld.
cred farmer tramping along the bride.
path; hated the red.faced boatman on
the river; hated the yellow.haired
child in the bottom Of the boat at his
feet; hated all who lived and breathed
and walked tall and straight under
the sky. Then my heart softened and
wept | had loved Kate. and loved
her still. The girls chatter had awak.
oned me to the truth. Just as | lived
now, alone In the old homestead among
the marbles, so | must live unless |
bought a wife with my gold-a wifc
who could not love me.
Such had been my brief wooing time.
went no lllOIt " lll' NulldSt III lllf
lane. met Kate no more by chance"
in quiet places. | did no more OF
those foolish things.
| shut myself up in the old house
among my books, and Stunned the
sight of faces and the sound Of voices.
1t was the best thing that a man whom
no one could love could do
Go hn ,,,nntha upra awav Snpne.
times had met her, but always
looked another way, and our pleasant
greetings had come to an end. | had
seen an hurt flush on her face, and
taken no heed of II. | had even been
discourteous-bu | loved her Just as
had loved her all along.
One day went to the old lawyer
who had had charge of our estate for
40 years, and babe him draw me up a
TO Kate Norman, with a letter which
only her hands were to unseal. only
her eyes to read after had gone.
This was the letter.
Kate Norman-You never cared for
me; you could not; once heard won
an say no woman could; but loved
you. Had | cherished one faint ray
Of hope | would have striven to win
your heart; but learned in time what
folly II was, and, In pity for myself,
held aloof from you. As It was, 1t
gives me some pleasure to think that
you will dwell under this roof. When
you read this you will pity, not derids
the love of
CASPER ATHWOLD"
This note lay unsealed and directed
ITO be given to Kate Norman after my
death" and the will was also signed
and sealed as | walked home,
At my door the elm shadows lay
thick, and in them stood bent
crooked figure, clothed in rags, a beg
gar.
! fed him, gave him suit Of my
clothes, and sent him on his way re
Joicing, though ! knew from his looks
that mis- days on earth were numbered
Restless as ! was I went down to
ward the waters edge. A boat la!
there with the oars in it. | stepped II
and rowed up the river.
Suddenly a glare of red light flashed
over my face. | heard heavy throl
Of machinery, then shrieking whistle
and a steamer was hard upon my littl'
boat.
After that knew nothing until
came 10 myself in strange room In
stranSG hotel. The captain OF thu
steamer which had run my boat dow
fancied that to his account lay th'
fever and delirium which had COM
upon me, and had me taken care OF
II was two weeks since the day last II
my memory. read that in the paper
There, also, | read this paragraph
"The body found in the woods at
has been identified by the garment
and some personal peculiarities as tina
OF Casper Athwold, wealthy either
who has been missing several days
His funeral takes place this morning.