The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-01-07

l CGIc lII1SSs cut 1fOAl1 It's SLG14k ana 4SII
to fade in the sun. Her very clothes
| seemed to shrink, like the whitening
of a petal She looked wistfuIIy at
Charlie as he in turn glanced toward
the vivacious group. then gazed with
demure sadness in her lap, as he turn
ed again to her. 1t never seemed to
occur to her to assume any gayer spir-
its than those she really felt Prob
ably Beatrice herself suffered as keen
ly, but her pride upheld her.
We danced to the music of the native
quintet club, and as we rested, someone
called me to come forward and look
at the sunset. AS the clouds massed
themselves superbly upon the horizon,
we watched the western sky, glowing
in a thousand beautiful tints, until
the sun was gone, then gave our wan
dering attention to the little native
boys in the water, who We're crying
for a last nickel for which to dive.
Presently, was ashamed for him,
the act was so gauche, so terribly in
excusable, considering their isolation.
Charlie, who evidently could bear the
state of things no longer, hastily ex-
cused himself to Mrs. Sing, and sought
out Beatrice, who was alone for mo-
ment.
She turned pale as she looked up
and saw him by her side. He SEEM
ed unwilling to leave her; there were
some words, but Beatrice, though i'm
pulsive with the warmth of her moth
er's race, had a will of her own, and
would not allow herself to lose her
self-control.
Lieutenant Scarborough sat down
engage her wandering attention, but
she seemed to have no thought Of con-
cealing her emotion and covered in
the half-gloom. I am sure that only
feminine delicacy kept her from send
ing for Charlie, or herself from obey
ing the impulse to seek his side where
she had been so long welcome. Sud-
denly, however, she leaned forward,
bringing her face into the glare of
the ships lights. Her features wore
a strained white look, as she fixed her
eyes intently on her companions.
What could it be that he was telling
her? Alasi He knew both Beatrice
and Charlie well and he was stupid!
Then I forgot them, as we turned
our eyes to view the twinkling lights
of the japanese fishermen on the dis
tant reefs.
A small diver, unafraid in the dark
ened waters, claimed our attention,
when suddenly we heard a cry. Ev-
erybody on the upper deck ran to the
side whence the sound had come,
Somebody cried: Mrs. Sing!"
AS the crowd parted, caught sight
of the white face of Charlie Bent at
Beatrice's side. Then I gazed at
Beatrice, fascinated. She stood stiff
and white, her great eyes staring
straight before her. She never moved
but her parted lips looked as if they
would cry out. Then I saw what they
all saw.
There, silhouetted against the dark
ness, balancing herself on the ships
rail, stood little Mrs. Sing. She was
clinging to a rope, and as we held our
breath, scarcely realizing her fearful
intent, she turned toward us a very
white face, dimly to be seen by the
ships lamps. Then she let go, SEEM
ing for one brief second to balance
herself, in her perilous position. Next
moment a figure, rising up out of the
darkness, crept and crawled toward
her, and her husband laid firm hold
of her.
I had not seen him come aboard, and
he must have been below, all after
noon, possibly playing cards. How he
ever came to arrive at precisely that
moment, heaven only knows! But
there he was. blessed in our minds for
having saved the occasion from being
a CHASTITY one He was imperturbable,
of course, with the Chinese imper-
durability, and was as gentle and I'M
ruffled and non-committal as if he
were taking part in some social affair,
instead of being the hero in a. tragic
set of circumstances out there in the
night.
Of course everybody at once set
about pretending very hard not to
have noticed anything. But nobody,
think, could forget that awful pic
ture, and the still awfuller thing
averted.
The Sings at once disappeared.
They did not go back with us in our
tug at eight o'clock And Mrs.
Burke told me, next day, that Cap
tain Bell, opening a cabin door by
mistake, surprised them, the woman
crying like a child in the arms of her
husband, who was comforting her as
if she were indeed a child, a child
with a broken toy; an example forever
to more exacting if less pagan hus- |
bands.