Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-01-11
SWIMMING to HER HUSBAND,


WIZ" wv Ltptra,
When alePeris reported to the police
Of any district, says Sandwich island
letter 90 the Philadelphia Tia,, N
officer IS sent to fetch him or her to
Honolulu, where there is a detention
hospital put on th'outskirts Of the city
and on the bank Of the beautiful bay.
Then they are examined by the doctor.
\ who decides Whether it is a case of
leprosy or Lot. Once declared a .epor
the person is cIvily deal, anil is in
capable Of suing 10 the courts or being
sued. At the hospital there are acc,m-
modations for about l20. 1t is filed
every two mon hs In this place the
leper must give up all hope Before
his admission here he hal at least the /
expectation Of dying among friends -
friends SO loyal that they hide their
afflicted relatives IN the mountains and
bring them poi and water in calabashes.
But now comes the harsh dis ipIne of
government institution. No wander
ing in the cOol Algeroba forest or bath
ing in the loved surf, but simply a
I
period of suffering and waiting for
death by a Necessary if cruel, law, and
from whose horribleprovisions there is
no escape.
Inc hospital full a steamer comes to
! take to the Islana Of Moloka those
whose condition is most advanced.
ther. to remain until death. 1t was
with such a party that l Travelled
finally to MolohaL 1t las been my lot
to witness many sad scenes, but none
of them approached in any way those
which attended the separation of fami-
lies as these handful Of lepers sailed
away to their exile Daughters reach
ed out their arms to mothers, whom
they might not embrace; wives held W
their mouths for kisses which Their
husbands could not give; babes, held II
arms of strangers, laughed and cooed tt
their mothers. towhose breaking heart
they m ght not be held in one last
loving clasp. And sobs-such sob'
"alas that came from the depths Q
hearts wrung with the misery OF
hopeless condition" Presently tn
lines were cast OF, the Little steamC
turned her head away and steame
slowly toward the bar l went int
the little cabin set apart for the captal
and closed the loor, determined 20 ne
4 Nc rs, ssA,s,vss>-z,A s.spe more Of such grl
Inc little poe vas open, when suddt
ly 1t was darkened and, looking up
saw the dark but beautiful face o
woman whose young husband was
his way to Molokai. She had swa
out to intercept the steamer AMI beil
as, indeed, are all her race-as mu
at home in water as on land, She Ii
no difficulty in accomplishing her pr
pose "Ah," she said, you are not
doctor nora constable. Tell my hr
band to look over the side to NE al
God will bless you"
l went on deck. We were steamir
slowly waiting for the governmel
inspector to complete his task befo
taking his own boat for the shore. II
lepers had become quiet or compar
lively so, except for pain. A fe
women were rocking and moaning,
young, hali.white girl had flung herse
on the deckin a wild abandonment {
grief, and behind the smoke-stack
found the husband kneeling in praye
His fare, serTated by the leprous sore
was held toward the sun, the tear
were streaming down his cheeks an
disease-cut features. softening them b
their agony Of supplication.
"Willam,' ! said, your wife
alongside. Go quietly to the place
shall point out to you and you will Sc
her"
The man sprang up, and for a ms
mqnt was perfectly beautiful. such
ioy as came in his face. Then he turl
ed and ran to the place i indicated
Half an hour aiterward / saw kil
alone WewPre then under full hea
of steam passing Diamond Head.
NNhereisshe;' asked. He pointe
astern, and there, not an eighth of
mile away, We saw her. swimmin
toward some fishing boats, her so
black hair foating out behind her an
her arm every now and again wavin
to US goodbye.
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