The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-01-06

IudJ III yOuISelI LOT you were 100 dig
a coward to ask me and thought you
had found an easy way. Maybe you
have and maybe you have not. You
may have the pleasure of reporting to
the News that it is all mistake, and
liable, too, to be so for all time. One
thing l want you to understand;
will have nothing to do with a man
who has not gumption cough to ask
me straight out but uses such a sub
terfuge and then accuses me of its
origin"
With eyes fairly scintillating scorn
she swept from the room, leaving him
to digest her deunciatory edict.
For a few moments he stood con
fronting the closed curtains, and then
he stumbled into the hall and out
into the street. He had made a bun.
gle of it. OF course Irene never would
have done it. Who could have in
serted that paragraph? Was it only a
joke? His mind searched for the cul-
prit.
He was striding along, head down,
unmindful of the curious glances of
the W he met. He did not hear the
hurried, pattering steps till a slim
hand caught his arm. A sharp girlish
voice spoke:
We'll, you two have done it now
Walk back a moment with me. Please
don't look so like a thundercloud;
everyone will start So"
Their course changed. Peggy con-
tinued:
1 knew you would never pluck up
courage to propose to sister, so ]
thought l would help you out. 1t was
who had the announcement put in
the paper. You two certainly messed
it up. Rene was so angry she was
just shaking, said you accused her of
doing it; and you-you certainly
looked squelched" A girlish giggle
escaped her
They walked on in silence, Peggy
retaining tight hold on his arm.
Il told Irene l did it, and she be-
gan to shed tears. Said I'd ruined
her life" the girl shifted I'm going
to take you back and you can try it
over again"
She led him in the gate and up to
the porch where, when he showed
signs of hesitating, she said:
Brace up. Your Rubicon lies be-
fore you"
And then she coached:
| Don't be too stiff. Be penitent
Acknowledge it's all your fault. Tell
her of the ornaments of devotion
that are throttled up within you be-
cause of your stammering tongue-on
your knees would be best, more i'm
pressive, l think"
She opened the front door softly,
motioning him to keep silence
though he had not spoken except in
inarticulate protestations since she
had caught up with him. They en-
tered the hall quietly and she mutely
bade him to remain there. Stealthily
she slipped back to the library por-
there's and reconnoitered. Satisfied,
she beckoned the man to approach.
In a whisper she said:
you two are not coming out until
you settle this matter"
Drawing back the curtain she
pushed him into the room. At the
table, head buried in her arms, sat
Irene, a picture of desolation. The
girl carefully closed the curtains be-
hind the man, and walked audibly
down the hall only to return silently
IA moment later. AS she applied her
eye to the opening between the cur
tains she excused her actions to her
elf
"Pll see it through this time"
Judging by the first dissatisfied OK
preston that fitted over her face it
was not proceeding happily Then,
after a time, her big ribbon bows
slowly nodded in approval. A mo-
ment later she was fleeing on tiptce
down the hail. her finger tips on her
lips. In her room she allowed her
mirth it's freedom.
He did it but he did it so dread
fully, To miss and kiss her on the
nose!" She relapsed into laughter
irene said she would never stand
for that, but she did. I'd never have
done it, though" She addressed the
slim figure in the glass. But then
think l could get man to propose
without so much bother-if l ever
found one worth while" she added.
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