The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-11-05


place whore she could Do free from
dress and conyoutlonllity3 Yes there
was one. but it brought disturbing
though, OF her long neglect OF It,
She had not been back there since
first she came to be social secretary
to the woman whose wealth and cub
ture had made her over by very as
suriatlon with 10 from the gawl,y
country girl she had been.
Nine years had changed her until
she felt like another being. She had
worked conscientiously and the salary
she earned had provided her with
many indications of success-books.
beautiful clothing. delicate food, the
privilege of seeing and hearing all
that was worth seeing and hearing.
Yet after all she often felt the lack
OF something that made her uneasy
Sometimes she laid it to this tact
sometimes to that. Now she laid IL
to having put up for three consecutive
vacations at the same mountain MOTEL
Newt morning she packed a suitcase
and started for the little old farm. Inc
station carryall dropped her at the
bars which kept the house lane from
straving into the highway. She stood
a moment looking about her. 1t was
very still. At the end of the lane STOOD
little gray house she had come over
10 live i'm after her rowing father died.
From that house she had gone first TO
school and then to the city to earn
her living. In it still lived her ola
cousins. Jane and Las, the last oil
her kith and kin. She had sent them
no word that she was coming, for un-
Ill she had seen the smoke rising from
the chimney she had not known whe-
Their to take one look and go BACK
with the carryall or to stay and let 1t
20 back without her
Slowly she walked up the lane 10
the house standing lightless in the
dusk under a tender golden sky. She
set her suitcase down on the door
stone and knocked at the shut door
A woman came and opened the door.
She was stout and old and wore a
faded. crisply starched calico wrap
per.
"How do you, Cousin Jane Audrey
said, calmly.
The old woman jumped. Land
salles alive! Who De you?' she crleu
She peered into her visitors face un
der the fashionable hat brim. 1T can
he it's Audrey! Come in and let ms
light a lamp SOS l can see
Audrey. half amused, followed he
into the kitchen. There was a fre i
the stove and the big iron teakettl
with it's saucy spout steamed con
teptedly. Cousin Jane took a lam
snd lit it. Then she looked at Audrey
"Weu. if this don't beat ALL sh
exclaimed, and held out both arms
Audrey went into them, laughln
TREMENDOUSLY.
Are you glad to see me, COUSIN
jane"
"Glad! Well, now mebbe l amt.
"And I won't put you out any?
Cousin Jane patted her shoulder
"The only things ever put me GU
dearie. is that you amt been Dac
afore Letters and Christmas boXe
don't make up for you staying ava!
I've real kinder hungered to see yo
dearie. AS for flashes been gel
ting real huffy toward you latel,
don't know what he'll say to yo
when he comes in f m the barn.
Audrey turned away from the e
velopjng embrace. She actually fe
choked and teary-she who had b
lieved herself done with sentimel
these several years.
&c, light into the spare ROOF
dearie." said Cousin Jane, land tai
off your things.
"Now, dearie," said Cousin jar
smiling happily, 81 amt done thu
but steep a pot O. tea and set out
cold bite for you. Set right-down a
make out if you can with wha
there"
Just then the door opened and
came Lias-a thin, pink-faced III
old man in blue striped rue
smelling strongly of the barn.
stopped in amazement at the SIS
of Audrey. and could not believe
was she even when his wife told D
that it was. His welcome was no i
cordial than Cousin James though
different kind.
Audrey" called Cousin Jane IT
the pantry, you ought to come e.
Ter when Strawberries was ripe.
south medder was red with 'em.
Roscoe picked two milk pals full
his ma. He said it made him tn
the time when he used to go Der
in with you. Land, ] can see
two of you yet, bobbing downS
lane a-swinging your pals, r.
was red and yours blue, ! mem
LAS got EN- both up to River,
enc time he was there"
Il remember, too Audrey said.
color had deepened in her cheek.
looked steadily into her cup of