Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-05-24

slowly and timdly with downcast
eyes, their freshest garments donned
for tho festival and their long black
hair bound and plated with gay
Iauhala buds What picture they
made, grouped together against n
background of huge cactus; their man
ncr, always gentle, was as different
from an English servants strong ac-
ceptance of n Christmas tip, a' their
loose garments aud nower-bound hair
Il ilcrc from trim cap and apron
They kisscl Rogers hand again and
again with gratitude and affection.
"Aloha! Nelly Ksmas, haoe!"
Ike lolc maiki."
"Kc laolc moiki loa."
"Aloha! Aloha! Nelly KismaS!
Nelly Kismas" they called back in
their soft, paIicring speech, as they
ran away to their quarters to exhibit
aud examine their treasures, leaving
Inn in peace to his strange breakfast
of taro cakes, bak cd breadfruit and
mullct.
Roger forgot his healthy appetite
and swallowed the food mechanically
as he watched small figure that was
coming down the narrow, dusty road
from Honolulu. Til ere was no mis-
taking the long, loping gait of the
professional messenger.
"A ship is signalled! English flag"
called the native, and scare y stop
ping he was gone, to carry tn" news
on to the next plantation. For at
This time the arrival of u ship was an
event, and the arrival of This one
doubIy so, laden as it would he
with Christmas presents and messages
from home.
The man was scarcely gone before
II ,gcr was on his way to the town.
Could it be Mary's ship? There were
several vessels overdue. SO hc must
not be too sanguinc. lie hurried
along trying TO KEEP down his excite
mcn,, and repeatedly telling himself
that he would not be a bit disap-
pointed if the sighted ship was not
the "Andromcda.'
On the quay were gathered most of
the inhabitants of the little town, a
motley and picturesque crowd; mis-
sionarcs and their wives in the gar
mcnls Of civiiz lton; royal pcrsonagcs
and natives with nDwcr-bOumu hair
and flowing robes; swarthy half-nudc
Lcarcrs aud divers, their smooth
brown skins cleaning in the sunlight;
Cinnamon and vcnlcrs of wrcnth' and
auhaIa buds for the hair. all JostIing
each other in common curiosity.
The ship had just dropped anchor
outside the reef to wait for the rising
time; il was the "Andromcluw
|, ,gcr could scarcely believe his eyes
and good luck. A sudden dc'crmna-
ton seized him. Why delay? Why
could not Mary first set foot on the
island us his wife?
EXp palning his plan quickly to a
good old missionary, who was con-
vcnicntly OH the spot, Roger soon pro-
cured boat and six stalwart rowcr-
to take them out to the ship. From
the quarter deck the captain watched
the little boat put ont.
"Go and tell Miss Jameson boat
is coming" he called to his wife
for the pretty EngIish girl had
won the hearts of every one on
shipboard, and he did not doubt
that the approaching boat contained
her lover. "I,'s Mr.. Barring, surc,''
he called in another few minutes; and
his wife rushed down the companion
way again to Mary, who had buric,
herself in corner of the cabin, toe
shy and overcome now that the long
scparari III was SO nearly over, TO dar,
peep out.
How The captains wife arranged it
| don't know. but when Roger clmbc,
up the ships side. every one was o'
, deck, seemingly much more intcres'c'
) in his companion than in him, and h'
, could slip away unnoiiccd TO tine
Mary in the little cabin alone.
Was this really Mary? This lovel!
| fair-haircd creature who seemed a
: most dazzling in Rogers cyc', in con
| trast with tho dusky women hc ha,
0 lived among so long.
Was hi, Roger? A moments en-
| barras>mcnt and hesitation - thel
, their eyes met. Blue Englls
n eyes do not change for tim
/, or climate, and with little ca
of happiness, her journey ended, Mar,
, was in her lovers arms. 1t was OF
O how suddenly her fit of shyness val,
II ishcd, though certainly this bcaldcd
4 sunburncd man had little in tommo
IS with the young lover Of three year
before, and with what little pcrsua'
= ing she was wi ling to fall in with II
y his rapid lovcl-like plans. So it cam
"a about that in little while the Gre
% drew up in line in their Sunda
10 clothes, the good old clergyman bare
- his gray head aud found Il place in Il
10 centre of his PRAYER beck, and II
,c cap'ain's wife whispered hurried c!
IA p'anutiun among he wondering pa
y ,cngcrs. Then Mary came upstairs q
e the captain S arm, loOMing more like a
III angel than II woman, Rogor though
N in her simple white muslin, as 81
20 stood up to b. married on the broi
I