Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-09-03

Inc speaker was LIE oiSS Leg
executive officer Of the Z. S. S.
Waunakee. He was standing on
on island If South 0ceanice which
had just been named Stephens Is
lind in honor Of tire distinguished
officer who commanded the squad
ron to which the Waunakee was
attached. He had been exploring
the island ali day, making notes
OF lis fauna and fora, a5ccrtaining
with his compass the directions Of
the different inlets, and making
with a theodolite some primary
triangulatious. lie had found no
trace of man. Night approaching
and storm sweeping up from the
west, he had discontinued his Ia
bors. and surrounded by the sail
or5 who had accompanied him,
was signaling The ship for boat.
His signals were seen and boat
was put out for him.
Lee was a young man Of slight
figure and fair complexion. His
face was somewhat feminine, es-
pecially its lower portion, the ex-
preston Of the mouth being par
ticularly sweet. A curious, half
puzzled look sat upon his features
as if he were constantly attempt
ing the solution Of insoIuble enig-
mas. His eyes were blue and
clear, and his bearing was pleas
ing and elegant.
While awaiting the arrival Of
his boat he was watching the APP
proach of the storm. The entire
sky had become black, save that
from in front Of the on-c0ning
tempest there shone pale yellow
light, not steady, but Pickering
like the Aurora Borealis, chang
ing at intervals into a dull reddish
glare. There was no wind what
ever. The whole air quiverd with
those fine atmospheric undula-
tions which indicate extreme heat.
The outer coral reef and the white
awnings OF the ship glared spect-
trally through the gloom. All
slight sounds were magnified in
the complete stiffness which en-
veloped nature, and the click Of
the oar-locks of the approaching
boat was heard plainly at a dis
lance Of several miles.
While coolly contemplating the
evidences Of the fast approaching
storm Lee became conscious of
the presence ola slight figure up
on cliff some two or three humid
red yards up the beach, and be-
tween him and the storm. twas
sharply outlined against the lurid
light of the tempest, and turning
his attention to it, Lee saw it was
the naked figure of an Indian
woman. She was standing mo-
tiouIess, her face elevated as If she
was watching the storm clouds.
Her form was SENDER, 1.-the and
graceful as palm tree. Her atti-
tude was one of singular ease and
beauty. Her long, waving hair,
when was in strange contrast TO
the straight locks of most of the
the South Sea Islanders, hung far
below her waist. Her face though
but i's profile was presented, was
almost classic in its outlines, even
spiri uelle. The now bright back
ground against which this beauti-
ful apparition appeared permitted
the eye 10 observe the slightest
detail Of her figure. The deep OIL
i've color IF her skin even could
be distinguished, and Lee noticed
with surprise that where the
strange light fell upon her side it
wasrehected brilliantly. as though
from mirror or some other pol
ished surface.
There was something strange
about the taWny woman, even
beyond the strangeness of her po-
sition-something strange in the
slender neck, in the sinuous undu-
lations of her form and ia the Pc
cullar smailness of her beautiful