The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-01-06
WITH The ASSISTANCE OF PEGGY
BY NETTlE STARR.

/ congratulations, Philips. Glad 10
hear Of your good luck"
Andrews good wishes beamed from
every part Of his rotund countenance.
lie halted moment in his mad flight
Tor his car and vigorously pumped
the arm OF mis- pewildered victim.
Phillips searched yainly in his
mind for the cause of this unexpected
expression of joy. What reason had
ne to be congratulated? Neither bust
ness advancement nor success in
other lines had come to him of late,
At the corner he met Hunt. The
latter's face lighted as he caught
sight of Phillips and he approached.
arm outstretched.
"A long life Of happiness, old man!
Say. I've some ideal building sites
/ in Birdview Addition, patriarchial
trees, green sward and all of that.
Come around and I'll be delighted to
/ snow JuSu W yOu'
And after joyfully wringing mis-
friends-and he hoped future pat
rons hand he, too, joined the hurry
ing throng crowding up the steps to
the elevated. In his haste he did not
note the cool reception of his good
wishes. His fluctuations had struck
tender spot for they smacked of
matrimony, or at least of an engage
ment
Phillips groaned inwardly when
ever he thought about it. The night
before, for the fortieth time, he had
resolved to find out his fate; but the
opportunity had come and gone, and
the words were still unsaid. Some
how his nicely prepared speeches al
ways vaporized when he came into
her presence, and if pluck did take
him far enough to speak concerning
his feelings it was only to founder
helplessly around until the weather
or some such impersonal subject let
him easily down to earth again.
Surely Irene knew what he was try
ing to say! Why, if she cared for
him, had she given him so little help?
A suddenly-remembered engage
ment turned his footsteps into the
building he was passing. The ele-
vator let him out at the seventh floor,
and he found his friend still in his
office. Henly turned at his entrance.
The same smile adorned his features.
He gripped his friends fingers tightly.
q knew it would come at last. Who
did the proposing?"
What in thunder do you fellows
mean?"
"Mean?" Henly's smile twisted it.
self into a surprised grin. "Why,
your engagement to Irene Haskins, of
course"
Phillips stared at him in amaze
ment. Henly caught up a morning
paper, searched through it hastily,
! found what he wanted and handed it
to his friend, indicating the para.
graph:
Announcement is made of the en-
( gagement of Miss Irene Heloise Has
kins and Mr.. Lawrence Phillips,
popular young business man of the
city"
Henly watched the blank express
sion in his companions face.
/ Weren't you going to nave it an
nounced for a while?" he chuckled.
And then banteringly, 81 hope you
know you're engaged?"
Il didn't" and then stopped.
You're not? Somebody-well, it
looks as if she were giving you your
chance, old boy. Know you want it
but lacked courage to propose in the
conventional way. If l were you, I'd
make tracks up there Immediately.
1t will be clear sailing now"
After Hendy had left his friend he
began to think. It'll do the trick,
but it isn't at all like Irene Haskins.
Last resort, maybe. It's strange
about Phillips; pluck clear to the
bone in everything except in his WOO
ing"
Peggy, Irene's ffteen-year-old sister,
admitted Phillips and ushered him
into the library where a CHEEKY crate
fire was burning. A hidden some
thing made her dimples deeper 9th
erwise in her external staidness there
was for her almost a suspicious
decorum.
Phillips had only a few minutes to
wait before the portiers were brushed
aside and Irene stood framed by their
dark velvet softness. A surprised
Oh escaped her and then an icy,
Il beg your pardon; l didn't know it
was you. Peggy said-Sr!" She