Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-08

III
'Tm awful glad to see you" said the young
man. eagerly. my names Stedman. I'm
from New Haven, Connecticut. Where are you
from?'
New York" said Albert. ''This." he added,
pointing politely at Capt. Travis, who was still
on his knees in the boat, lis the American con-
sui to Opeki." The American consul to Opeki
give a look at Mr.. Stedman of New Haven and
at the natives.
''see here, young man." he gasped, sis this
all there is of Opeki?''
1.-The American consul ~ said young Stedman
with gasp of amazement, and looking from
Albert to Travis why l never supposed
they would send another here; the last one died
about fifteen years ago and there hasn't been
one since. I've been living in the consult
office with the Bradleys. but I'll move out, of
| course I'm sure I'm awfuliy glad to see you.
1t II make it more pleasant for me-"
Yes" said Capt. Travis, bitterly, as he lifted
his rheumatic leg over the side of the boat,
that's why we came"
Mr.. Stedman did not notice this, He was
too much pleased 70 be anything but hospita-
BILE. You are soaking wet, aren't your" he
said. land hungry, guess. You come right
over to the consul office and get OH some other
things" He turned to the natives and gave
some rapid orders in their language: some of
them jumped into !he boat at this and began
lifting out the trunks. and others ran of to-
ward a large, stout old native who was sitting
gravely on a log smoking, with the rain beat
ing unnoticed on his gray hair.
They've gone to tell the king said Sted-
man. 'You had both better get something to
eat first and then I'll be happy to present you
properly"
awe; lis there a LinSY
Il never saw king" Gordon remarked,
land I'm sure / never expected to see one sit
ting on a log in the rain.
Hes a very good king" said Stedman. con-
fidentislly, land though you mightnt think it
to look at him he's terrible stickler for cti-
quette and FORM After supper he'll give you
an audience, and if you have any tobacco you
had better give him some a present, and
you'd better say its from the President. He
doesn't like to take presents from common peo-
pie; he's too proud. The Only reason he Dor
rows mine is because he thinks I'm the Presi-
dents son."
What makes him think that?'' demanded
the consul with some sharpness. Young Sted-
man looked nervously ut the consul and at
Albert, and said that he guessed some one
must have told him.
The consuls office was divided into four
rooms, with an open court in the middle, filled
with palms and watered somewhat unneces-
sarily by fountain.
II made that" said Stedman in a modest
off-hand way. Il made it out of hollow BAN
boo reeds connected with a spring. And now
l M making one for the king. He saw this and
had lot of bamboo sticks put up all over the
town without any underground connections
and couldn't make ont why the water wouldn't
squirt out of them. And because mine spurts he
thinks m magician"
Il suppose. grumbled the consul. ''some
one told him that, too
Il suppose 80, said Mr. Stedman unessily.
There was veranda around the consuls
Office, and inside the walls were hung with
skins and pictures from illustrated papers and
there was good deal of bamboo furniture and
four broad, cool-looking beds. The place was
as clean as a kitchen. II made the furniture"
said Stedman, land the Bradleys keep the place
in order
"who are the Bradleys?" asked Albert.
The Bradieys are those two men You saw
with me" said Stedman. They deserted from
a British man of-war that stopped here for coal,
and they act as my servants. One is Bradley,
ST., and the other Bradley, IT,"
"Then vessels do stop here OCCASIONALLY
the consul said with pie ased smile. 'well. not
often" said Stedman. Not 30 very Often
| about once a year. The Nelson thought this
was Octavia and put off again soon as she
found out her mistake, but the Bredleys took to
the bush and the boats crew couldn't find
them. When they saw your flag they thought
you might mean to send them back 80 they
ran off to hide again; they'll be back, though.
when they get hungry" The supper young
Stedman spread for his guests, as he still
treated them, was very refreshing and very
good. There was cold fish and pigeon pie and
a hot omelet filled with mushr ooms and olives.
and strong black coffee. After supper Stedman
went off to see the king, and came back in a
little while to say that his majesty would
give them audience the next day
after breakfast. 1T is too dark now"
Stedman explained, land it's raining SO they
| can't make the street lamps burn. Did you
happen to notice the lamps? invented them
but they don't work very well yet. I've got the
right idea, though, and III soon have the town
illuminated all over whether it rains or not"
had hoo, oila
ent during supper to all around him. Now he
looked up with some show of interest.
How much longer is it going to rain, do
you Think he asked.
'Oh, don't know" said Stedman. critically
''Not more than two months should say" The
| consul rubbed his rheumatic leg and sighed and
| said nothing.
| The Bradleys turned up about 10 O'Clock and
| came in very sheepishly. pulling at their fore
| locks and 5craping with their left foot. The
| consul had gone off to pay the boatmen who
had brought them to Opeki, and Albert in his
not much danger Of their being sent back
Then he turned into one of the beds and Sted-
man took one i'll another room, leaving
the one in the room he had occupied
! heretofore for the consul. As he saying
| good night Albert suggessed that he had
| not yet told them how he came to be on a de-
serted island, but Stedman only laughed and
said that that was long story and that he
| would tell him all about it in the morning. So
Albert went off to bed without waiting for
| the consul to return, and fell asleep
wondering at the strangeness Of this new life
and assuring himself that if the rain only
| kept up he would have the novel finished in a
| month at least. The sun was shining brightly
| when he awoke, and the palm trees outside
were nodding gracefully in a warm breeze.
| From the court came the odor of strange
| flowers and from the window he could see the
| ocean. brilliantly blue and with the sun color
ing the spray that beat against the coral reefs
/ on the shore.
| well, the consul can't complain of this, u
he said with laugh Of satisfaction. and putting
| on bathing robe he stepped into the next
room to awaken Captain Travis. But the room
| was quite empty and and the bed undisturbed
| The consuls trunk remained just where it had
been placed near the door and on it lay large
sheet Of foolscap with writing on it and ad.
dressed at the top to "Albert Gordon" The
handwriting was the consurs Albert picked il
up and read it with much anxiety. 1t began alb
ruptly:
The fishermen who brought us to this for
saken spot tell me that it rains hefe Sill
months in the year and that this is the hrs
month. came here to serve my country, fol
| which fought and bled but did not come
here to die Of the rheumatism and pneumonia
| can serve my country sight better BY
staying alive, and whether it rains or not
don't like it. I have been grossly deceived
and I'm going back. Indeed, by the time yor
get this will be on my return trip. as Intend
leaving with the men who brought us here ri