Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-01

opened the back door softly and looked in.
There was Kokua on the floor, the lamp
at her side; before her was a milk-white bot.
tie with round belly and long neck, and
as she viewed it Kokua wrung her hands.
A long time Keawe stood and looked in
the doorway. At first he was struck stupid,
and then fear fell upon him, that the bar
gain had been made amiss and the bottle
had come back to him as it came at San
Francisco; and at that his knees were
loosened, and the fumes Of the wine departed
from his head like mists off river in the
morning. And then he had another thought,
and it was strange one that made his
cheeks to burn.
'"I must make sure of this, thought he.
So be closed the door and went softly
round the corner again, and then came
noisily in, as though he were but now re-
turned.
And lol bv the time he opened the front
door no bottle was to be seen; and Kokua sat
in chair and started up like one wakened
out of sleep.
81 have been drinking all day and making
merry" said Keawe. 81 have been with
good companions; and now Ionly come back
for money, and return to drink and carouse
with them again."
Both his face and voice were stern as judg-
ment; but Kokua was too troubled to oo-
serve.
you do we'll to use your own, my hus-
band" said she, and her words trembled.
20, do we'll in all things" said Keawe,
and he went strsight for the chest and took
out money. But he looked besides in the
corner where they Kept the bottle; and there
was no bottle there.
At that the chest heaved upon the floor
like see-billow and the house span about
him like wreath of smoke; for he saw that
he was lost now, and there was no escape.
SIT is what l feared" he thought. ut is
she who has bought it," And then he
came to himself little and rose up; but the
sweat streamed on his face as thick as the
rain and as cold as the well water.
"Kokun," said he, ST said to you to-day
what i'll became me. Now return to house
with my jolly companions" and at that he
laughed little ouietly-"I will take more
pleasure iu the cup if you forgive me-"
She clasped his knees in moment, she
kissed his knees with flowing tears. "oF'
she cried, II asked but kind wordP'
''Let us never think hardly of the other"
said Keawe, and was gone out of the house.
Now the money Keawe had taken was
only some of that store of centime pieces
they had laid in at their arrival. twas very
sure he had no mind to be drinking. His
must give his ior hers; no other thought was
in the world with him.
AT the corner by the old calaboose there
was the boatswain waiting.
'My wife has the bottle" said Keawe,
land unless you help me to recover it, there
can be no more money and no more liquor
tonight"
You do not mean to say you are serious
about that bottle?" cried the hoatswain.
''There is the lamp" said Keawe. "Do
look as if was jesting?"
THAT is so, said the boatswain. "You
look as serious as a ghost"
We'll them" said Keawe, "here are 8
centrmes; you must 60 to my wife in the
which (it am not much mistaken), she
will give you instantly. Bring it to me
here. and 1 will buy it back from you for 2;
for that is the law with this bottle, that it
still must be sold for a less sum. But what
ever you do, never breathe word to her
that you have come from me-"
Mate, wonder; are you making fool
of me?" asked the poatswain.
sit will do you no harm if an" re-
turned Keawe.
'That is so, mate" said the boatswain.
"And if you doubt me-" added Keawe,
"you can try As soon as you are clear OF
the house wish to have your pocket tull of
money, or bottle of the best rum, or what
you please; and you will see the virtue Of
the thing"
VERY we'll, Kanake," says the boat
swain; Il will try, but If ycu are having
your fun out of me will take my fun out Of
you with Delaying pin."
So the whaleman went off up the avenue,
and Keawe stood and waited 1t was near ,
the same spot where Kokua had waited the
night before, but Keawe was more resolved,
and never faltered in his purpose; only his
soul was bitter with despair.
1t seemed long time he had to wait, be-
fore he heard voice singing in the dark
ness of the avenue. He knew the voice to
be the boatswain's, but it was strange how
drunken it appeared upon sudden.
Next the man himself came stumbling
into the light of the lamp. He had the
devils bottle buttoned in his coat; another
bottle was in his hand, and even as he came
in view he raised it to his mouth and
drank.
You have it." said Keawe. "I see
that.
"Hands OFF, cried the boatswain jump
ing back. Take step near me, and I'll
smash your mouth. You thought YOU could
make a cats paw of me, did you?"
"What do you mean?" cried Keawe.
"Mean?" cried the boatswain. 'This is a
pretty good bottle, this is; that's what l
mean. How got it for centimes, 1 can't
make out; but Pm sure you shan't have it
for q"
You mean you won't sell?" gasped
Keawe.
mo, sir!" cried the boatswain. "But
I'll give you drink of the rum, if you
like"
II tell you." said Keawe, "the man who
has that bottle goes to hell"
81 reckon I'm going. ANYWAY" returned
the sailor; "and this bottles the best thing
10 60 with I've struck yet. No, sir" he
cried again, ''this is my bottle now, and you
can go and fish for another"
''Can this be true?" Keawe cried.
"For your own sake, beseech you. sell it
to meI''
81 don't value any of your talk" said the
boatswain. 'You thought was fat, now
you see am not; and there's an end. Ii you |
won't have swallow of rum, I'll have one
myself. Here's your health, and good night
to youP'
So off he went down the avenue toward
town, and there goes the bottle out of the |
story.
But Keawe ran to Kokua light as the |
wind; and great was their Joy that
night, and great, since then, has been
the peace of all their days in the Bright
House.
THE END.