The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-26
my surprise he made the sign OF the cross on


his bare bosom.
"Hllo !" says I. ARE you a Papist9"
He repudiated the idea with contempt
"Hard-shell Baptis'." said he. But. my dear
friend. the Papists got some good ideas. too:
and tn s one OF EN-. You take my advice. and
whenever you come across Una or Faavao or
Nigours. or any Of that crowd. you take a leaf
out O. the priests. and do what do. Savvy."
says he. repeated the sign. and winked his dim
eye at me. mo. SIR" he broke out again. no
Papsts hero!" and for long time entertained
me with his religious opinions.
must have been taken with Una from the
first. or should certainly have flod from that
house and got into the clean air and the clean
sea. or some convenient rlver-though. it's
true. 1 was committed to Case: and. besides.
could never have held my head up In that
island II l had run from a girl upon my we'd
ding night
Tho sun was down. the sky all on FIRE. and
tho lamp had been some time lighted. when
Case came back with Una and the negro. She
was dressed and scented: nor kilt was OF fne
tapa. looking richer In the folds than any silk {:
her bust. which was OF the color OF dark honey.
she wore baro only for some half dozen
necklaces OF seeds and flowers. and behind
her ears and in her hair she had tho scarlet
flowers Of the hibiscus. She showed tho best
still. and thought shame to stand UP with
her In that mean house and before that grim
ming negro. thought shame. 1 say for the
mountebank was dressed with n big paper
collar. tho book he made believe to read from
was IN odd volume of novel. and tho words
OF his service not fit to be set down. My con-
science smote mo when we Joined hands. and
when sho got hor certificate l was tempted to
throw up tho bargain and confess. What q
document 1t was! 1t was Case that wrote it.
signatures and ALL in a leaf out OF tho ledger.
A nice paper to put in q girls hand and SEQ
her hide away like gold. A man might easily
feel cheap for less. But it was tho practice in
these parts. and las told mysolf not tho least
the fault OF US white men. but OF tho mission
aries II they had let the natives be. had
never needed this deception. but taken all the
wives wished. and left them when / pleased
with clear conscience.
The more ashamed was. the more hurry
was in to be gone: and our desires thus Jump
ing together. I made the less remark Of a
change in the traders Case had been all
eagerness to keep me: now. as though he had
attained a purpose. he seemed all eagerness
to have me go. Una, he said. could show me
to my house. and the three babe US farewell
indoors.
The night was nearly come: the village
smelt OF trees and flowers and the sea and the
breadfrutt cooking: there came fine roll Of
sea from the reef and from distance. among
the woods and houses. many pretty sounds Of
men and children. 1t did me good to breathe
free air: it did me good to be done with the
Captain and see instead. the creature at my
side. felt for all tho world as though she
were some girl at home in the old country.
and. forgetting myself for the minute. took
her hand to walk with Her ilncers nestled
into mine. I heard her breathe deep and quick.
and all ut once she caught my hand to her face
and pressed it there. You good !" she cried.
and ran ahead Of me- and stopped and looked
back and smiled. and ran ahead Of me again.
thus guiding me through the edge of the bush.
and by q quiet way to my own house.
The truth is. Case had done the counting for
me in style-told her l was mad to have her.
and cared nothing for tho consequence: and
the poor soul. knowing that winch 1 was still
ignorant Of believed it. every word. and had