The Newtown bee., 1880-07-14
truce, with an important message for

AlISlC lC bAItAASaiCG uIlCIl oaS4ACCS3 IhCIOly staring euriously about the room which seemed to afford them intense amuse- ment.
 At this emphatic reminder, one of them, in very broken English, began 8 slow, stammering, but decidedly as- founding announcement to the effect l that the daughter of their chief, the l Princess Kawara, had been an unseen l witness of Captain Stanley's misfortune | that day, at which sight her noble and generous heart had been moved to com 1 passion.
 The august lady had long cherished desire to own an Englishman as 8 hus- band, and she now sent her messenger | to say that she would, with an herb known only in her family, heal Captain | Stanley's wound, if he would marry her. "You may go back and tell your shameless mistress that an Englishman cannot be bought-even with the price of his own life: that death is a thousand times preferable to such life!" cried | Lawrence, in a voice of ringing indig- nation, as he sprang to his feet with clinched hands.
 "The man will say nothing of the sort" came in clear, steady tones from the other side of the room, and the | friends, turning with start, saw Claire, with face like marble, standing in the open door of the adjoining room. The next moment she was crouching at Lawrence's feet, needless of the grim l ming, interested Maoris; of Gerald try l throat, as he looked fixedly out of the window; of everything excepting the ] terrible earnestness of her appeal. Lawrence you must not refuse this your only chance of life. It will be ter ribly hard for you at first, I know, my love. But have heard only good of this girl. She is said to be interesting, kind hearted, tolerably educated, and almost as fair as European. Law ence, think of your mother, of your poor little Claire, for whom who have be too difficult to do. I am here on my knees before you, begging for a lite
 which is so much dearer than my own. Will you break my heart by a refusal, l Lawrence?n
 "Oh, Claire! Claire!'' murmured the sorely tortured man, knowing you, how could l marry another woman! | For your sake"
 " For my sake you must do it," con- tinued the beseeehing tones. "W What would life be to me after seeing you die in such agony, knowing that but for me you might have been saved You must go to this woman. Who knowsP perhaps some other arrangement might be made; but at any sacrifice your life must be saved" Lawrence, she is right; merely visit to the woman can do no harm. But these men say that if anything is to be done, it must he to-day, to-mor- row will be too late," said Gerald, speaking for the first time. If you consent, will go with you-or, better still, go before you, leaving you to fol- low"
 "Of course he will go !" cried Claire, with smile that was meant to be courageous, but only reminded Gerald of moonbeam he had once seen light ing the face of 8 corpse, and Lawrence unwillingly agreed to follow Gerald in an hour, though he would pledge him. self to nothing more than a visit, and the glance of steady determination which met Gerald's eye as he left the room with the Maoris told him plainly that even Claire's frantic prayers would be of no avail.
 Five minutes later Gerald, with a very white face and eyes shining with sort of dogged resolution, was engaged in the unwonted occupation of making an elaborate though hurried toilet.
 With tightly pressed lips he sought out his gaudiest necktie, all the ,jewelry of dandy brother-officer who roomed with him, copiously anointed himself with the pomade and eau de cologne belonging to the same individual, and giving a disgusted glance in the mirror, accompanied by greeting to the figure therein reflected that sounded not un- like "confounded ass !'' dashed out of the room, and, throwing himself on the horse waiting below, was off, leaving the gaping groom almost breatheless with amazement at this strange trans formation.
 On rode the captain, cantering swiftly toward the Maori encampment, his pace gradually growing slower as he neared his destination, a haggard look of suffer- ing in his large dark eyes growing more intense as the steadfast resolution SO hastily formed grew every moment more fixed.
 One instant he stood motionless after dismounting before the hut pointed out tc him as the quarters of Kawara; then, squaring his shoulders and throwing his head little back, muttered:
 Its the only way. Selfish brute that l am, to think for an instant of myself when Lawrence's life is at stake!' He was shown into the presence of & strange-looking creature, attired in gorgeous feather blanket, sitting cross legged on the floor, smoking 8 long pipe-the Princess Kawara. Here we will leave him to accompany Lawrence, half an hour later, on the same road. After the painful parting with his sorrow stricken mother and | betrothed, Lawrence's ride was cer- l tainly not an enviable one. Was it | fancy, or did he really feel the premoni- l tory symptoms of the bodily pain soon to rival the anguish of his mindp Again and again he swore mentally that no amount of torture should in- duce him to consent to such an infam- ous bargain; and with Claire's kisses still warm on his lips, he strode, with lowering brow and teeth set tight to prevent any utterance of pain to escape l him, into the small room where the princess and Gerald awaited him.
 To his utter amazement, his friend
 started eagerly forward with out
 stretched hand and cheery smile, | though Lawrence thought he looked a little paler than usual.
 ssI wish you joy. old fellow. It's all
 arranged; the princess resigns all inten-
 tions to your hand, and promises to
 send you home to night out of any dan ger.n
 "But I don't understand,n gasped
 Lawrence, suspiciously, unable to grasp UIllS SuuuGu Custuge or IOTGuuc.
 < Are you jokingp Is there no trap
 laid under this apparently most astound-
 ing piece of good luckp Tell me quick
 flor Gods sake what is the price I am
 to pay for my lifePn
 Nothing; you go scot free," an- swered Gerald, slowly, and with 9
 strange gravity. The princess will
 tell you SO hcrsclf.n
 Thus appealed to, the unattractive I parsonage, still squatting smoking on l the floor, nodded her tawny head in
 differently.
 q Yes, yes. it is true. I want nothing when you please. l"
 Gerald, will you tell me how you have managed to save rnnpss asked k1f