Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-03-15
THE LEPER GIRL.



Honolulu letter to the Chicago
.Ne,rs says: Among the last to come
on shore was a half-wbite girl, whose
history l promised in the first paper.
She was the child Of a native woman,
whose father was chief of kaula. Lv
the owner and master of Yankee
whaling barque When the whaling
skipper, becoming rich retired from
sousins,s and settled in the islands at
Hilo, hc brought his native wife to the
home he had made, and set to work TO
make Christian of her; YOU may
readily fancy that his methods were
crude, like his orthodoxy, and he in
!ulgel iii rum und spiritual lessons in
unequal proportions, punctuating his
teachings i'll one and his indulgence in
the other with wife-beatings to such An
extent that the simple minded woman
thought it we'll to die. This she did and
jury, who we're considering the re-
sponsibe share that the captain had in
her demise, found themselves deprived
of any painful duty by the suicide of the
captain by the sailor-i method Of q
rope. The girl lived for a time under
the charge OF Presbyterian missionary,
and became teacher in the school. She
was, and is yet, beautiful creature, and
young English engineer, engaged at
one OF the big sugar plantations, fell in
love with her. He was fine young fell
low, and the match was approved 10y all
who had the interests of the two at
heart, when one day there appeared on
the face of the girl blazing red spot,
| which spread from the cheek to the ear,
and then developed into tubercules over
the neck-and they said she was a leper.
This happened in June. The girl de-
clared she was, not, but the inexorable
law forced her away to Honolulu. Mean
while she declared she was not afflicted,
and insisted on having her lover believe
she was temporarily in Honolulu visiting
| and making some purchases, and SO on,
preparatory to the wedding set for Oc-
tober. But there came time when she
| could no longer deceive herself and no
one "o',lc tndera aeiye h,u. Cne d.-y he
! came to Honolulu on business. It was
the day appointed for the sailing of the
| lepers, and her case rapidly advancing,
| she, with the rest, was being led to the
steamer when her lover saw her. One
wild scream from her, and he> had
dashed at the guards in vain effort to
rescue her In a few minutes he is
dragged away by the police, and she, in
a faintlng condition, is carried to the
vessel. All night this girl lay upon her
breast sobbing, and now. looking as wild
as night, she springs ashore and casts a
look around Then she sees the priest
standing there, and falling at his feet,
clasps his knees and cries for help.
"You are good" she says. II love
him SO. He is in prison. l sllan't see
him again. Let him come to me. He
will come We love each other. Ihave
given him everything, but atloes not
love me less because I am le:per."
But the priest stroye only 10 raise her.
Then she called out: ooh, God if this
he indeed Thy priest. show me that Thou
art kind AMI move his heart
| I turned away. hut saw the Old
priests cheeks were wet with tears, and
that liz. held in his arms the faintinp
form of one whose greatest grief was moi
alone in her leprosy.