Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-06-14
The words had hardly escaped her

The words had hardly escaped her
| lips when very pretty young girl,
half smothered in flowers, and decked
out in beads and fancy shells, emerged
slowly from the hut, and took her way
with stately tread along the path car
peted with native cloth. She was girt
round the waist with rio cOlOred mats,
which formed long train, like court
dress, trailing on the ground five or
six feet behind her.
That's the bride, suppose, Muriel
whispered, now really interested-for
what woman on earth, wherever she
may be, can resist the seductive de-
lights of a wedding:'
"Yes, her bride" Mali answered.:
''and ladies what follow. them her
bridesmaids.
At the word six other girls, similarly
dressed, thoug-. without the train, and
demure as nuns, emerged from the hut
in slow order, two and two, behind
her.
Murlei and Felix moved forward with
natural curiosity toward the scene.
The natives, now ranged in row along
the path, with mats turned inward,
made way for them gladly. All seemed
pleased that Heaven should thus au-
spiciouslv honor the occasion: and the
bride herself. as we'll as the BRIDE
groom, who, decked in shells and teeth,
advanced from the opposite side along
the path to meet her. looked up with
grateful smiles at the two Europeans.
Muriel, in return, smiled her most
gracious and girlish recognition. AS
the bride drew near, she couldn't re-
frain from bending forward a little to
look at the girls really graceful cos
tune. AS she did SO, the skirt of her
own European dress brushed for sec
ond against the brides train, trailed
carelessly many yards on the ground
behind her.
had happened q wild cOmmOtion arose,
as if by magic, in the crowd around
them. Loud cries of Taboo! Taboo"
mixed with inartlculate screams burst,
on every side from the assembled
natives. In the twinkling of an eye
they were surrounded by an angry,
threatening throng, who didn't dare
to draw near, but, standing q yard or
two off, drew stone knives freely and
shook their fists, scowling in the
strangers faces. The change was ap-
palling in it's electric suddenness. Mu
riel drew back Mortified, in an agony
of alarm. *"Oh, what have | doneW
she cried piteously, clinging to Felix
for support. ''Why on earth are they
angry with u.s."
Il don't know" Felix answered.
taken aback himself. 81 can't say eX-
actly in what you've transgressed.
But you must, uncOnsciOusly, in some
way have offended their prejudices.
hope it's not much. Atany rate they re
clearly afraid to touch u.s."
Miss Qucenie break Taboo" Mali
explained at once, with Polynesian
frankness. ''That make people angry.
SO him want to kill you. Missy
Queenie touch bride with end of her
dress. Korong may smile on bride
that very good luck-but Korong taboo;
no must touch him.
The crowd gathered round them,
still very threatening in attitude, yet
clearly afraid to approach within arms
length of the strangers. Muriel was
much frightened at their noise and at
their frantic gestures. Come away,
she cried, catching Felix by the arm
once more. ''Oh, what are they going
to do to us? Will they kill us for this?
I'm so horribly afraid. Oh, why did
ever do it,
The poor little bride meanwhile, left
alone on the carpet, and unnoticed by
everybody, sank suddenly down on the
mats where She stood, buried her face
in her hands, and began to sob as if
her heart would break Evidently
something very untoward of some sort
had happened to the dusky lady on her
wedding morning.
The final touch was too much tor
poor Muriel's overweight nerves.
She, too, gave way in a tempest of sobs,
and, subsiding on one of the native
stools hard by, burst into tears herself
with half-hysterical violence.
TO BE CONTINUED.