Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-06-21
CHAPTER II.-Cont,nued.

again as II by cOnta9 lOuS magic. IA
loud shout of "She cries; the Queen of
the Clouds cries." went up from all the
assem- bled mob to Heaven. ''It is a
good omen" Toxic, the Shadow, whis-
pered in Polynesian to Felix, seeing
his puzzled look. eve shall have
plenty Of rain now: the clouds will
break, our crops will flourish" Al
most before she understood it, Muriel
friendly crowd, still afraid to draw
near, but evidently anxious to see and
to comfort and console her. Many of
the women eagely held forward their
native mats, which Mali took from
them, and, pressing them for second
against Muriels eyes, handed them
back with Just a suspicion of wet tears
left glistening in the corner. The
happy recipients leaped and shouted
with 10y. mo more drought" they
cried merrily, with loud shouts and
qesticulations. 1.-The Queen of the
Clouds is good: she will weep well
from HeaYen upon my yam and taro
plots!''
Muriel looked up, all dazed, and saw,
to her intense surprise. the crowd was
now nothing but affection and sympa-
thy. Slowly they gathered in closer
and closer, till they almost touch the
hem OF her robe: then the men stood
by especially, laying their fingers
on whatever she had wetted with her
tears, while the women and girls took
her hand in theirs and pressed it
sympathetically. Mali explained their
meaning with ready interpretation.
mo cry too much, them say she OBJ
served, nodding her head sagely. mot
good for Missy Queenie to cry too
much. Them say, kind lady, be COM
forted."
There was genuine good nature in
the way they consoled her: and Felix
was touched by the tenderness of
those savage hearts: but the additional
explanation, given him in Polynesian
by his own Shadow, tended somewhat
to detract from the disinterestednes
of their sympathy. "They say, 1T is
good for the Queen of the Clouds to
weep" Toxic said with frank blunt
ness; "but not too much-for fear the
rain should wash away all our yam and
&arO plants.
reused herself from her stupor, and,
smiling away as if nothing had hap
pened, said few words in a very low
voice to Felix's Shadow. The Shadow
turned most respectfully to his master,
and, touching his sleeve-link, which
was OF bright gold, said, in a very
doubtful voice, "She asks you, oh,
king, will you allow her, just for
to-day, to wear this ornament?'
Felix unbuttoned the shining bau-
bic at once. ana was about to hand it
TO the bride with polite gallantry.
"She may wear it forever, for the
matter of that, if she likes" he said,
good If make her pres
ent Of it. "
But the bride drew back as before
in speeches. terror, as he held out
his hand, and seemed just on the
point of bursting out into tears
again at this untoward incident. The
Shadow interviewed with fortunate
perception of the cause of the misun-
Outstanding. "Korong must not touch
OR give anything to BRIDE" he said
quietly; mot with his own hand. He
must not lay his finger on her: that
would be unlucky. But he may hand
It by his Shadow" Then he turned
to his ellow-tradesmen. ''These gods"
he said, in an explanatory voice, like
one bespeaking forgiveness, Though
they are divine and KOrong and very
powerfui-see, they have come from
the sun. and they are but strangers in
Boupari-they do mott yet know the
WAYS of our island. They have not
eaten of human flesh. They do not UNI
derstand Taboo. But they will soon
be wiser They mean very we'll, but
they do not know. Behold. he gives
her this divine shining ornament from
the sun as present." And, taking it
in his hand, he held it up for mo-
ment to prblic admiration. Then he
passed on the trinket ostentatiously to
the bride, who, smiling and delighted,
hung it low on her breast among her
other decorations.
Z The whole party seemed SO SUI prlsed
and gratif.ed at this proof of conde-
scension on the part of the divine
stranger that they crowded round
Felix once more, praising and thank
ing him volubly. Muriel, anxious to
remove the bad impression she had
created by touching the brides dress,
hastily withdrew her own brooch and
ofer red it in turn to the Shadow as an
additional present. But Toxic, shaking
his head vigorously, pointed with his
'forefnoer many times to Mali. ''Toko
SAY him no take it," Mali explained
hastily in her broken English. Him
no your Shadow; me your Shadow: me
do everything for you: me give it co
the lady" And taking the brooch in
her hand, she's passed. it over in turn
amid loud cries of delight and shouts
OF approval.
Thereupon the ceremony began all
over again. They seemed by their in
tervention to have Interrupted some
set formula. AT It's close the women
crowded around Muriel and took her
hand in theirs, kissing it many times
over. with tears in their eyes, and be-
traying an immense amount OF genuine
feeling. One phrase in Polynesian
they repeated again and again;
phrase that made Felix's cheek turn
white as he leaned over the poor En-
elish girl with profound emotion.
'.What does it mean that they say"
Muriel asked at last, perceiving it was
ali one phrase. many times repeated.
Felix was about to give some evasive
explanation when Mali interposed with