Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-01-11

Yes. >h" answered tendprIv. "Yon
have said 50 with your lips before
now y"n moan it. You are Your old
hantisOm" self tonight"
Apart from the charm OF Mans pres
cnce Stuart found the dinner itself a
stupid amir. 80 SuiCmnly stupid il at
last became funny. In all the mag
ni:jc"ntIy dressed crowd he looked in
vain for 4 man nr woman Of real in
teIirrtual distinction. He saw only
money. money, money!
in spite OF the low murmurs Of Mans
: beautifully m"dnlatcd voice in his ears
he found his anger slowly rising. not
against any one in particular. hut
against the vulgar ostentation in which
these people moved. and the vapid as
sumption OF superiority with which
they evidently looked out upon the
world
Rut whatever might have been lack
ing in the wit and genius Of the guests
who sat at Mans tables, there could
he no question about the quality Of
the dinner set before them.
When the feast ended at 1890 Nan
led the way to the ballroom. where
the entertainment by hired dancers,
singers and professional entertainers
began on an improcise stage.
During this part Of the program the
women and men of the banqueting
party who were to appear in the fancy
dress ball at IL. including Nan, retired
to the rooms above to dress for their
parts.
Stuart noted with some establishment
the peculiar somber effects of the bali
room. He had expected scene OF
splendor. Instead the impression was
distinctly funereaI The lights were
dimmed like the interior Of theater
during the performance, and the lofty
gilded ceilings with their mural decora-
lions seemed to be draped in fiimy
black Grape.
The professional entertainment be-
gan on the little stage amid univer-
sal gabbIe which nAade 1t impossible
for anything save pantomime to be in
telligibIe beyond the footlights. Star
after star, whose services had cost
1900 each for one hour, appeared
without commanding the slightest at
tention..
Stuart turned to the program in his
hand and idly read the next number:
"A song by an unknown star"
He was wondering what joke the
manager was about to perpetrate on
the crowd when his ear caught the first
sweet notes Of Harriet's voice singing
the old song he loved so we'll, the song
she had first sung the day he came
from the south.
His heart gave throb Of pain. Who
could have prepared this humiliation
for his little pal? He pushed his way
through the throng Of ehattering fools
until he stood alone straight In front of
the slender little singer. She saw him
at once, smiled and sang as he had
never heard her sing To his further
surprise Stuart saw the doctor stand
ing in the shadows at the corner of the
stage looking over the gossiping. noisy
crowd with look Of anger and horror.
When the last note of the song died
away. Quivering with q supernatural
tenderness and passion, he brushed a
tear from his eyes. lifted his hands
high above his head and made a mo-
ton which said to her, 'TumuItuous
applause"
She nodded and smiled, and he rush.
ed behind the scenes to ask an expla-
nation.
He grasped both her hands and
found them cold and trembling with
excitement.
What on earth does this mean"
Simply tkat was engaged to sing
tonight. and | wanted to surprise yon.
Didn't you like my song?"
1T lifted me to the gates of heaven,
DEAR
Then l don't care whether any one
else heard it or not But did so much
wish that she might have heard it or
her husband because they are from the
south"
But l don't understand-your father
hates Bivens so"
A big hand was laid on his shoulder.
he turned and faced the doctor smiling
But 1 don't hate him. my boy! I've
given up such fooIishness. We've
buried the Ratchet Pm to see him In
q few minutes and we are to be good
friends"
"Bivens invited you here to discuss
a business proposition tonight" Stuart
exclaimed, bankly.
NO, no, no." the doctor answered.
81 came with Harriet, Of course. Her
music teacher placed her on the pro-
gram. But Mr.. Bivens and have had
some correspondence and I'm to see
him in a little while and talk things
over quite informally, Of course, but
He has agreed to a conference
here?" the young lawyer asked,
anxiousIy.
why, Of course. His butler has Just
told HE he would see me Immediately