The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-12-23
BY LILY A. LONG.

- -'-' ~ GS'NAs
When Paul Weston stepped out from
his office into the snowy street on
Christmas Eve he faced a procession
Of parcel laden people hurrying home.
ward with eager faces through the
wind and snow. 1t made him realize
sharply the loneliness of his sown
estate. He was newcomer in Falls
burg, and hiss constitutional shyness
had stood in the way of his making
even the ordinary social acquaintances.
Cottle, man whom he knew in bust
ness way, had asked him to come up
for Christmas dinner the next day and
meet his family. That was decent of
Cottle, and Weston appreciated it; but
somehow it didn't seem quite enough
to fill the void of which he had become
acutely conscious
ut would be awfully jolly if knew a
nice girl to send a box of candy to-"
he mused 1t struck him as a wholly
original and very interesting idea.
A Salvation Army girl who stood be
side a kettle suspended from tripod
on the sidewalk, raped sharply on
her pot as Weston passed unheeding-
ly, and he halted abruptly, as though
the sound had been a personal appeal
.
the pot boiling" read the placard. He
fumbled confusedly in his pocket,
dropped a coin among the others, and
went on his way, Half way down the
block he came to florists shop,
"I'll send some flowers to rs Cot
tle," he thought. THAT will be doing
something seasonable, at any rate"
The place was full of people, and for
some minutes he wandered about un.
noticed by the clerks, looking at the
refrigerated flowers in the glass cases.
81 suppose something tolerably eX-
pensive will be the safest" he unused.
American Beauties are about the right
price, guess. Now if were sending
flowers to the Not Impossible She, sup
posing had found her, I'd go about it
in a different way" He reviewed the
flowers with a more lively interest,
and at last he stopped before a made
up bouquet of tiny pink rosebuds,
This he regarded delightedly.
That's the thing! That's the kind
She would like. It's so absurdly sweet.
She doesn't know what she's missing
by hiding herself from mel" He was
smiling at the trim little bouquet quite
openly when a clerk at his elbow jerk
ed him abruptly out of his dream by a
quick
Waited on?"
"Yes-no. You may send that up. -
What address?"
He gave Cottle's number, and as he
did so he realized that this bouquet
was not at all what he had intended to
send rs Cottle. 1t was for-Her!
And a dozen American Beauties, "
he added, hastily.
pocket and brought out some loose
silver. He tried again, with the same
result. He felt himself growing hot as
he went through his other pockets and
realized that the sum total of his as
sets would be quite inadequate for Sc.
curing title to a dozen roses on Christ
mas Eve.
81 thought I had twenty dollar
gold piece in that pocket" he said
with unnecessary dignity "Tr give
you a check"
I'VE don't take checks from stran
gers Are you acquainted here?'
NO" Weston said, with doubled
dignity. Then all at once he saw Cot
tie himself looming above the crowd
ooh, there's a man who knows me-
He explained his plight and Cottle
quickly established his credit with the
management. So far, so good; but
Weston still felt embarrassed at his
impoverished state
81 was sure I had a double eagle in
my pocket" he reflected uncomfOrtab
ly as he left the place. Then suddenly
the explanation flashed upon him. "Oh
thunder! That Salvation Army girl!
7 tossed $40 in gold into her kettle in
stead of 81 in silver! Serves me right