The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-07-28
The august lady had long cherished q

desire to own an Engllsnman as nus
band, and she now sent her messenger
to say that she would, with an herl
known only in her family, heal Captain
Stanley's wound, if he would marry her
you may 60 back and tell you
shameless mistress that an Englishmal
cannot be bought-cven with the pric,
of his own life: that death is Thousand
times preferable to such life!" criet
Lawrence, in voice OF ringing indig
nation, rs he sprang to his feet with
clinched hands.
"The man will say nothing of tht
SORT" came in clear, steady tones from
:he 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 grin
ming, interested Maoris; of Gerald try.
ing to gulp down a choking lump in his
throat, as he looked tixedly 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 l have heard only good ol
this girl. She is said to be interesting,
kind hearted, tolerably educated, and
almost as fair as European. Law
cnce, think of your mother, of your
Door little Claire, for whom who have
so often said nothing in the world would
be too difficult to do. am here on my
knees before you, begging for lite
which is so much dearer than my own.
Will you break my heart bya refusal,
Lawrencep"
"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 beseerhing tones. 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 20 to this woman. Who knows?
perhaps some other arrangement
might be made; but at any sacrifice
your life must be saved!"
Lawrence, she is right; merely a
visit to the woman can do no harm.
But these men say that if anything is
to be done, it must be to-day, to-mor-
row will be too late" said Gerald,
Speaking for the first time. If you
consent, will 60 with you-or, better
still, 60 before you, leaving you to fol-
low"
"Of course he will 90 p cried Claire,
with a smile that was meant to be
courageous, but only reminded Gerald
of moonbeam he had once seen light
ing the face Of corpse, and Lawrence
unwillingly agreed to follow Gerald in
an hour, though he would pledge him
self to nothing more than 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
very white face and eyes shining with j
sort of dogged resolution, was engaged
in the unwonted occupation OF making
IN 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 ecu de cologne
belonging to the same Individual, and
giving disgusted glance in the mirror,
accompanied by a 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 of, leaving
the gaping groom almost breatheless
with amazement ut this strange trans
formation.
On rode the captain, cantering swiftly
toward the Maori iencampment, his pace
gradually growing slower as he nearcd
bis 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 az staker'
He was shown into the presence OF
strange looking creature, attircd in a
gorgeous feather blanket, sitting cross
legged on the floor, smoking long
pipe-the Princess Kawara.
Lawrence, half an hour later, on the
same road. After the painful parting
with his sorrow-stricken mother and
betrothed, Lawrence's ride was GER
tainly not an enviable one. Was it
fancy, or did he really teel the premoni-
tory symptoms of the bodily pain soon
to rival the anguish Of his mind?
Again and again he swore mentally
that no amount of torture should in
duce him to consent to such an infam-
Gus bargain; and with Claire's kisses
still warm on his lips, he strobe, with
lowering brow and teeth set tight to
prevent any utterance of pain to escape
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 CHEEKY smile,
though Lawrence thought he looked a
little paler than usual.
II wish you joy. old fellow. It's all
arranged; the princess resigns all inten-
tions to your hand, and promises to
GER"
"But 1 don't understand" gasped
Lawrence, suspiciously, unable to
grasp this sudden change of fortune.
Are you Joking? Is there no trap
laid under this apparently most astound-
| ing piece of good luck? Tell me quick
for Gods sake what is the price am
to pay for my life?"
"Nothing; you 60 scot free" an
swered Gerald, slowly, and with a
strange gravity. "The princess will
tell you so herself"
Thus appealed to, the unattractive
parsonage, still squatting smoking on
the floor, nodded her tawny head in
differently.
"Yes, yes. it is true. want nothing
from you. I will cure you and you can
20 and marry your white-skinned love
when you please"
"Geraid, will you tell me how you
have managed to save me?" asked the
Young man, turning to his friend with
glad eyes and a bounding heart, in which
there was not a shade Of doubt as to tho
princessIbeing able..to do as.she promised
for the marvellous efficacy OF the native
remedies, in seemingly hopeless cases
was well known.
"All in good time old fellow. Youl
physician is ready for you now; there
is no time to be lost"
While Kawara silently and carefully
bound on the wound IN Lawrence1
shoulder sort of poultice made princi
!; pally of what resembl2d boiled te:
leaves, the preparation of which sh
had just completed on the young man
arrival Gerald with auGs fixed dream