Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-12-22
THE SEA GIRLS REFUGE.


I'll ever have, now she's gOne-the
only woman 1 ever loved.
''It was when I was only twenty,
and I'd been to sea nigh on five
years, that the schooner l was in
landed in Otaheite. Some Of you
know the temptation of the islands of
the South Sea to young sailor, and,
as matter OF course, l deserted.
That's sailor, right over.
''But when you come to look at it,
l wasn't so very much to blame, for
our old man was a rosrer. Now
mind, I'm talking. He was the hand
lest man with belaying-pin or a
marlin-spike you ever saw, and when
he hit man he calculated to hit him
for keeps. He gave me a lift two or
three times, as I thought, without
any reason, and the first chance /
lit out.
"Of course he chased me, and the
rest of the crew, who didn't see any
chance to run for it themselves, help
ed him the best they could. That
wouldn't have been so much, but
there was blamed lime -juicer in the
island, and her captain, who was
another Tartar turned out with his
whole crew to run me down, and they
made it right lively for me, too. 1
ran like deer; for, you understand,
if l was caught the old man would
serve out the ropes end to me-no
allowance-and l didn't want any of
that kind Of grog.
II hoofed it over the hills, and got
into bread fruit grove, and lodged
among the trees until l could double
on them and get into higher timber.
But they seemed to know just what
to do. The skunks had run other
sailors down in their time, and they
sent parties out to the right and left,
and run me toward the sea, and when
they got me on the beach, it was all
up with me, for they began to close
in on all sides, but a good way off.
II was on the shore Of a lagoon,
almost perfect circle, hemmed in by
coral walls and may be mile across.
Just as l thought I'd better give
up, and take my Cruel like a man, a
canoe came dancing over the lagoon
toward me, padded my the prettiest
girl l ever saw in my life.
"Oh, she was a beauty! with her
long hair rolling down below her
waist, her eyes like stars, and her
beautiful figure only half concealed
by her flowing robe of tappa.
"She gave me an adorable smile,
and signed for me to climb in, and
didn't wait minute; and we. wenl
off like a shot. and were quarter Of
a mile from the beech, when the ole
man came tearing down.
sob, how he danced and tore uE
the sand and the girl only laughed
at him, and threw kisses, and made
him madder than ever.
"But looked toward the schoonel
and saw that they were lowering /.
boat to come after us, and pointed i
out to the girl, and she dropped he
paddle in the water and went away
like shot right toward the boat tha
was coming.
" Speak Ingliss,' she said. M,
Aruna; cappen no CATCH
' DO the other Kauakas know thi
place. asked.
All know she said. NO tel
cappen. You safe here until bis
canoe sail.
II wasn't quite SO sure of thu
other kanakas, but she was right
and the schooner sailed two days af
ter, the old man making the circum
ambient atmosphere blue with curses
He sworc he'd have me if it took al
summer, and said he'd be back again
The brown fellows took a notion t,
me and adopted me into the tribe
and wanted to tattoo me; but
wouldn't have it, and they had to b.
content with making my breast an'
shoulders look like map, but KEEP
away from my hands.
"a little while after, a missionary
on his way to China, landed at th
island. and l married Aruna on tin
square, and we built hut up anon!
the fruit trees, and were happier thai
l ever expect to be again. Boys
she was heathen, but just as good
and true, and pure as any woman
that ever lived on the earth; and
loved her so we'll that I've never for
gotten her, though it's ten year
since. But I'm getting ahead of m,
yarn.
"It's easy living on the islands
and If I'd been as lazy as the natives
l might have been lazier still, 70
Aruna didn't seem to want me to lif
hand to help myself; but l couldn'
stand that, and built stylish cabi
and rugged it up in neat style, l tel
you. never thought of the schoone
again, for l didn't believe Capital
Farney would ever come back; bu
one evening when were out on th
lagoon l saw sail, and as she rose
| recognized the Sarah Jane.
IS sThere he comes, Aruna!"
said. 'What shall ! do now? Th
old man is after me, sure as yo
live.
"Go in the cave under the sea, sh
said. Il will not 60 with you, but a
night will come and bring you food
81 went away US she said, and keI
out of sight in the cave. After awhil
l began to grow sleepy, and lay dow
to rest, and was sound asleep befor
/ knew 1t. Ten minutes after, Arun
came out of the water, shaking th
shining water from her dark hair an
laughing merrily.
" 'Cappen very mad,'' she said
"but no my people tell him, unless
Ah, Danatoo hates you, my husband
Would he tell?'
'But l laughed, and soothed he
and we lay down to rest. Both of ,
slept soundly, and did not see tt
dark elf-locks of Danatoo rise fro
the water beside US. Then he touche
me lightly and awoke me. If hs
known what was in his heart, l wou
have killed the dog on the spot.
Ship gone" he said. you con
out, Jack. All safe now''
"We didn't care to stay the
1 longer than we could help, and can