Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-07-27


were starving and burning. l have
heard enough.
Orderly be called out. SHOW this
man TO the gate"
IL was at last borne I'm upon me that
must leave without any word from
Ellen. She was hedged about by all
the stern and cold machinery OF an
! army post. out OF whose calculations I
was left rs much as though | belonged
/ TO a different world / cannot express
what this meant Tor me. For weeks
! now, for mouths. indeed. we two hid
been together each hour OF the day.
! had come to expect her greeting In
I the morning. to turn TO her thousand
times in the day with some query or
answer. ] had made no plan from
which she was absent. i had come to
accept myself with her as fit part Of
an appointed and happy scheme. Now,
In twinkling. all that had been sub
verified.
! 1t was thus that I. duiled, bereft: I.
having lived. now dead: l. late free.
now bound again. turned away sul!en-
ly and began my journey back to the
life had known before l met her.
As passed east by the Denver stage.
met hurrying throngs always coming
westward. a wavelike migration OF
population now even denser than 1t
had been the preceding spring. They
came on. a vast. continuous stream OF
hope confidence and youth. l. who
stemmed that current, alone was I'M
like 1t In all ways.
One thing only quickened my lag
gard heart. and that was the all preva-
lent talk OF war.
At last. after weeks OF travel across
disturbed country. | finally reached
the angry hive of political dissensioil
at Washington Here was smear home.
but did not tarry. and passed thence
by stage to Leesburg. In Virginia. and
so finally came back into our little val
ley and the quiet town of Wallingford.
had gone away the victim of misfor-
tune; / returned home with broken
word and an unfinished promise and a
shaken heart That was my return.
I got me a horse at Wallingford
barns and rode out to Cowles' Farms
At the gate halted and looked in
over the wide lawns. 1t seemed to me
noted change In them as in myself.
The grass was unkempt, the flower
beds showed little attention. / opened
the gate for myself, rode up to the old
stoop and dismounted for the first time
in my life there without boy to take
my horse walked slowly up the
steps to the great front door of the old
house. No servant came to meet me
grinning. I, grandson Of the man who
built that house, my fathers home and
mine. lifted the brazen knocker Of the
door and heard ne footstep anticipate
my knock. The place sounded empty.
Finally theEe came shutting football
and the door was opened, but there
stood before me no one that recog-
nized. 1t was a snnallish. oldish, gray
ish man who opened the door and
smiled in query aDme.s.
Il am John 'Cowles, SIR" said. hest
tating. yourself l do not seem tt
know ~
my name is Halliday, Mr.. Cowles."
he replied. A fush of humiliation
came to my face
II should know you, You were my
fathers creditors.
YES. sir. my hrm was the holder Of
certain obligations at the time OF
your fathers death. You have been
gone very long without word to US.
Meantime, pending any action
You have moved in"
81 have ventured to take possession.
Mr.. Cowles. That was as your mother
wished She waived all her rights and
surrendered everything, said all the
debts must be paid
s.0f course
And all we could prevail upon her
to do was to take up her quarters there
in one OF the little houses"
He pointed with this euphemism to-
ward our old servants quarters So
there was my mother. woman gently
reared. tenderly cared for all her life.
living in a cabin where once slaves
had lived. And had come back to
her. to tell a story such as mine!
II hope" said he. hesitating. that
all these matters may presently be
adjusted. But first l ask you to in
fiuence your mother to come back into
the place and take up her residence"
/ smiled slowly. you hardly under
stand her. said. 81 doubt If my In
fiuence will suffice Tor that. But
shall meet you again." was turning
away.
Your mother. belive. is not here
she went over to Wallingford. think
1t is the day when she goes to the little
church
Yes. l know. II you will excuse
me l shall ride over to see If can
find her." He bowed. was hurrying
down the road again. 1t seemed to
me that could never tolerate the sight
of stranger as master at Cowles'
Farms.
I found her at the churchyard Of the