Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-01-14
~ HIS RIVAL---TfE CURATE ~

In crowded drawing room in May
fair rather ornately dressed man
with just enough of the aquiine cast
in his features and foreign accent In
his words to mark him as one of the
numerous aliens who invade our shores
stood and criticised his fellow guests
with the easy assurance of the day We
live In.
by Joye!" he exclaimed. suddenly
That is deuced fine looking girl-a
regular sumner! Doesn't. somehow
look as though she belonged to this
show. ! wonder who the dickens she
is
(which one, Mr.. Van Schaafte?
There arc SO many nice looking women
In the ROOM are there not? You know
always pride myself on my collection
of pretty faces"
For once in his life Alfred Van
Schaafte was taken aback-knocked
clean out OF time. The artificial femi.
nine voice that had answered his re.
mark was the very antithesis to the
CHEEKY, masculine tones OF Jack Hor.
ley, who had accompanied him to Mrs.
Sinclair's AT Home" and who q mo.
ment before had been at his elbow.
Without his knowledge they had drift.
ed apart in the crush, and now, to his
surprise, his hostess stood beside him.
Being blessed with the supreme
self.confidence that--in his plutocratic
nge-only very long purse can be.
stow, Van Schaafte's confusion evapor.
hted almost as soon as felt, and the
red In his full young checks was
scarcely shade deeper than usual. as
in somewhat CULTURAL accents, he muir.
INJURED:
Il beg thousand pardons, Mrs.
Sinclair. did not know you were
near me. thought | was speaking
TO Jack Rorley. But will you not tell
me who that lady ISL"
Certainly. If you will tell me which
she is replied the hostess, smilingly
noticing with some interest the drec.
ton In which his glance travelled.
1T is that beautiful girl in white at
the other side Of the ROOM" replied
Van Schaafte, calculating his words
with side movement of the head.
The description, to say the least, was
vague, but like most up.to.date host.
esses, Mrs. Sinclair was habitually
lenient to the shortcomings of her
wealthy young men friends, and did
not appear to find it so.
THE one near the window" That
Is dear Lady Dolman's youngest girl;
just out"
mo. That is not the young lady.
The ono mean is some way from the
window-nearer the door"
"Oh, Dolly Freeman. don't wonder
you admire her. Her coloring Is quite
remarkable"
81 know Miss Freeman and her won.
full complexion quite well. The lady
] was abiding has a much moro nat.
ural one All, she has just turned to
speak to Lord Caveat. You see her
now"
'Oh, that is my neice, Muriel Leslie.
Yes, she is nice looking girl, as you
say, and what Is more, sweet one,
too. But fear she is also very fool.
ish one, am quite veXed with her."
When he wanted to know anything
Van Schaafte never hesitated to push
his enquiries into the debatabe ground
OF other peoples private affairs.
What has she done?" he asked.
point blank. She has a good face.
does not look as though she could do
anything bad"
Bad! Oh, no, Muriel could not do
anything bad. You wouldn't even sug.
gest it as a possibility II you knew
her"
But you say she has done some.
thing to displease you. What is it,"
Mrs. Sinclair opened and shut her
fan and gazed at its snowy plumes
meditatively.
Il don't suppose there Is any harm
In my telling you," she said, thought
fully. I'VE all know that you are not
a marrying man; but you mustn't let 1t
90 further to those who are, for am
worldly or prudent enough to hope
that the dear girls foolishness may
not be final. You see, am quite can.
did with you. Mr.. Van Schaafte."