The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-10
Hold on ~ cried. Don't be In such q

| ana that's a fact: and Case seems to have
played 1t pretty mean upon the pair Of us. But
do know now. and don't mind; love you
too much. You no 60 way. you no leavo me,
/ too much sorry"
| You no love me-" she criod. you talk me
bad wordsl" And she threw herself in cor
ner OF the floor and began to cry.
| Woll. I'm no scholar. but wasn't born yes-
terday. and thought the worst OF that trouble
was over However. there she lny-her back
turned. her face to tho wall land shook with
| sobbinE like little child. so that her feet
jumped with 1t. It's strange how It hits man
| when he's in love: for there's no use mincing
| things Kanaka and ALL was in love with
her. or lust as COOL Tried to take her hand.
but she would none OF that "Uma" I said.
"thero's no sense in carrying on like this. 1
want you stop here. I want my little wife. l
tell you true"
No tell mo true" she sobbed.
All right" says /. I'm wait till you're
through with this" Aud sat right down be-
sidc her on tho floor and SGT to smooth her
hair with my hand. At iirst she wriggled away
when touched her: then she seemed to notice
me no moro: then her sobs grew gradually
less. and presently stopped. and the next
thing knew she raised her face to mine.
You tell mo truo2 You like mo stop 2" she
asked.
Una" I said. "Iwould rathor have you
than all the copra In the South Seas" which
was very big expression and tho strangest
thing was that meant It
She threw her arms about me. sprang close
up and pressed her face to mine in the island
way Of kissing. so that was all wctted with
her tears. and my heart went out 70 her wholly.
mover had anything so near me as this little
brown bit Of a girl. Many things went to-
gethcr. and all helped to turn my head. She
was pretty enough to eat 1t seemed she was
my only friend in that Qucer place: was
ashamed that had spoken rough to her: and
she was a woman. and my wife. and a kind OF
n baby besides that was sorry for; and the
salt OF her tears was In my mouth. And for
got Case and the natives: and forgot that
know nothing Of tho story. or only remem-
bered it to Danish tho remembrance; and I
forgot that was to get no copra. and so could
make no livelihood; and forgot my employ
ers. and the strange kind Of service Twas do
ing them. when preferred my fancy to their
business: AMI forgot even that Una was no
true wife OF mine. but Just maid beguiled.
and that In pretty shabby style. But that ia
to look too far on will come to that part
OF it next.
1t was late before we thought Of getting din
ncr. The stove was out and como stone cold,
but we fred up after a while and cooked zach
dish. helping and hindering each other. and
making q play OF 1t like children. 1 was SO
greedy Of her nearness that l sat down to din
ner with my lass upon my knee. made sure OF
her with one hand. and ate with the other. Ay.
and more than that She was the worst cook
suppose God made: the things she set her
hand to it would have sickened an honest
horse to eat OF. yet l made my meal that day
on U,nas cookery. and can never call to mind
to have been better pleased.
didn't pretend to myself. and didn't pre-
tend to hor saw was clean gone: and II
she was to mako q fool OF me. she must And
l suppose 1t was this that set her talking for
now she made sure that we were friends. A
lot sho told me. sitting in my Ian and eating
my dish. as l alto hers from foolery-a lot
about herself and her mother and Case. all
which would be very tedious. and I'll sheets il
l set it down in Beach de Mar. but which l
must give hint Of in plain English. and one
thing about myself which had very big effect
on my concerns. a. you are soon to hear.
1t seems sho was born in ono OF the Line
Islands, had been only two or three years in
these parts. whero she had come with white
man. who was married to her mother and then
died; and only the one year in Falesa. Before
that they had been good deal on the move,
trekking about after the white man. who was
one OF thos, rolling stones that keep going
ing for gold at the end OF u rain bow. but II a
man wants an employment that'll last him till
he dies lot him start out on the soft Job hunt.
There's meat and drink in it too. and beer and
skittles. for you never hear Of thom starving.
and rarely 500 them sober. and as for steady
sport. cock lighting isn't In the same county
with IT. AM way. this bcachcomber carried
the woman and her daughter all over the shop,
but mostly to out-of-the-way islands. where
there were no police and he thought perhaps.
the soft Job hung out. I've my own view ofthis
old party: but l was just as glad he had
kept Una clear OF Apia and Tapeete and these
flash towns. At last he struck Faleaii on this
island. got some tlade-the Lord knows how!
-muddled 1t all away in the usual style, and
died worth next to nothing. bar bit OF land
at Falesa that he had got for bad debt which
was what put 1t In the minds Of the mother
and daughter to como there and live 1t seems
Case encouraged Thorn oil no could. and
helped to get their house built. He was very
kind those days. and gave Una trade. and
there Is no doubt he had his eye on her from
the beginning. However. they had scarce
set led when up turned young man. n ma
tive. and wanted to marry her. He was small
chief. and had some fine mats and old songs
in his family. and was very pretty" Una
said; and altogether. 1t was an extraordinary
At the first word Of this got downright sick
with jealousy.
And you mean to say you would have mar
ried hm?" cried.
"I,c. yes" SAYS she. Il like too much"
"Well" said. And suppose had como
round after"
81 like you moro better now" said she
but. suppose marry Ioanc. l one good wife.
! no common Kanaka. Good grill" says she.
Well. l had to DO pleased with that: but
promise you didn't care about tho business
one little bit. And liked the end OF that yarn
better than the beginning. For it seems this
proposal OF marriage was the start Of all the
trouble. 1t seems. before that. Una and her
mother had been looked down upon. Of course.
for kinless folk and out-islanders but nothing
to hurt: and. even when Ioane came forward.
there was less trouble ut first than might |
have boon looked for And then. all OF a |
sudden. about six months before my coming. |
Ioane backed out and left that part OF tho |
island. and from that day to this Una and |
her mother had found themselves alone. |
None called at their house-nono spoke |