The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-12-23
~ BEGGHR WHID ~

I Thank you so much Mr. Weston"
! said Mrs Cottle. 1T was Just lovely
of you hope we divided the flowers
as you intended. ! claimed the roses,
you see, and my sister-why, Bess,
where's your bouquet
II thought it would make a good
centerpiece for the table," said tho
chilly young woman by he fire Her
voice-and poor Weston was sensitive
to voices!-was hoarse and muffled,
He had a hysterical desire to laugh
at the idea that the symbolcal bouq.
net should have come into the hands
Of this forbidding young person. All,
we'll. the basket had gone straight,
and was as glad, glad! Suddenly he
felt strong to defy them all, though
he should stand forever an outcast
from the world. He could even he gay
Of speech in his new freedom.
Like the hero of romance who IS
always improvidently throwing his
purse to the beggar I had flung my
broad gold piece into the Salvation
Army pot on the street corner" he
said. comfy in my case it was worse
than improvdent It was unintention-
, al That's how found myself In the
embarrassed financial condition from
/ which Mr. Cottle kindly rescued me-
4 Those Salvation kettles should not
be allowed on the street. said Cottle,
aggressively. Its plain begging. 1t
is demoral'zing."
Mrs Cottle turned the current of the
impending monologue by asking her
sister,
4 rs Katie Lane still interested in
the Salvation Army work.
Weston's heart gave such a leap at
the name that he wondered If they
heard it.
yes believe she is" Miss Archer
answered indiderently.
"She was our second girl" Mrs Cot
tie explained to Weston. "a very
superior girl, with pretty manners and
a gentle. soft voice | Thought she
had a nice voice for a servant, didn't
you, Bess?"
"Oh, yes. for a servant" Miss Archer
answered with a supercilous air.
Weston ragged inwardly. The insol-
ence of it, She had the voice and the
heart of an angel! Who were these
women to sit in Judgment.
! A maid appeared at the door
There's a policeman in the hall would
like to speak to Mr.. Cottle," she said
in awestruck tones.
With an air of dignified surprise Cot
tie went out They heard him take
the visitor into the library.
Yes, Katie was a good girl and
very warm hearted" Mrs. Cottle went
on. though she was obviously more in
tent on the murmured conversation
across the hall than on her own. She
was always wanting to help the poor
people she knew. That's why she
| took up the Sal What does he
want, Horace.
Cottle Stood in the doorway. Weston
had never seen him look bewildered
before and he felt that the occasion
must be momentous. Cottle turned
his dismayed look from his wife to
Miss Archer.
"Bess, will you come here?'
Bess did not stir. She was staring
back at her brother-in-law with look
as paralyzed as his own.
What is it, Horace" Mrs. Gothic
repeated.
That mantle police officer
wants to see Bess. 1t is something
about Katie Lane" he said slowly.
Miss Archer sprang from her low
chair by the FIRE and went swiftly TO
the door Then she turned and looked
directly at Weston, at whom until that
moment che had hardly glanced
Come" she said imperiously.
And Weston, his nerves tingling
with knowledge that had not get
reached his brain, FOLLOWED her into
the library. So did CSttle, and so, OF
course did Mrs Cottle.
What is it? What do you want?"
Miss Archer asked impetuously.
The big I uceman looked down at
J Continued on page 24)