The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1894-06-23
CHATTER VIII Continued.

Instantly as she did 80, the whole
aSsembl seemed to change its mind
again as if by contag ious magic. a
loud shout of she cries: the Queen OF
the Clouds cries" went up from all the
assem- led mob to Heaven. 1T Is a
good omen. )" Toxic, the Shadow, whis-
pered in Polynesian to Felix. seeing
his puzzled look I'VE shall have
plenty OF rain now: the clouds will
break. our crops will flourish AL
most before she understood it, Muriel
was surrounded by an eager and
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 d second
against Muriel's eyes, handed them
back with Just a suspicion of wet tears
LETT glistening in the corner. The
happy recipients leaped and shouted
with Joy. NO more drought they
cried merrily, with loud shouts and
QesticulatiOns. The Queen OF the
Clouds is good: she will weep well
from Heaven upon my yam and taro
plots
Muriel looked up, all dazcd 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 respectfully. laying their fingers
on whatever she had wctted with her
tears, while the women and girls took
her hand in theirs and pressed it
sympathctically. Mali explained their
meaning with ready Interpretation.
NO cry too much, them say, she OBJ
served. nodding her head sagcly. Not
good for Missy Quccnie 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 POlync5ian
by his own Shadow, tended somewhat
to detract from the disintcrestedness
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
taro plants.
BY this time the little bride had
reused herself from her stupor, and,
smiling away as If nothing had hap
pened, said few words in a very low
4 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
today. 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 II make her a pres
emf OF it
But the bride drew back as before
in speechless 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 nIisun
Outstanding. "kOrOng must not tOucf
or give anything to bride he said
quietly: mot with his own hand. II,
must not lay his finger on her: tina
would be unlucky. But he may hanC
il by his Shadow" Then he turnec
to his fellow -tradesmen. These gods.
he said. in an explanatory voice, llkt
one beSpcaking forgiveness, though
they are divine and korong and VERY
powerful see. they have come from
the sun, and they are hnt strangers il
Boupari-thcy do not yet know tn,
WAYS Of our island They have no
eaten Of human flesh. They donot un
derstand Taboo. But they will sOol
be wiser. They mean very well, bu
they do not know. Behold. he give
her this divine shining ornament iron
the sun as present. And, taking !
in his hand. he held it up for me
ment to public admiration. Then h
passed on the trinkct ostcntatiously i
the bride, who, smiling and delighted
hung it low on her breast among he
other decorations.
The whole party seemed sOsurprise
and gratilied at this proof Of cOnde
sccnSiOn on the part OF the diyin
stranger that they crowded rom
Felix once more, praising and thank
ing him yolubly. Muriel. anxious I
remove the bad impression she ha
created by touching the brides dress
hastily Withdrew her own brooch an
offered il in turn to the Shadow as a
additional present. But Toxic, shakin
MS L4tdtA fI2OtOuNIa IoIHttb VIII IA
toretinger many times to Mali. 'Tok
say him no take it." Mali explaine
hastily in her broken English "Hir
no Your Shadow: me your Shadow: IN
do everything for YOU: me give it {
the lady" And taking the brooch i
her hand, shel passed it over in tur
amid loud cries of delight and shout
OF approval.
!, a no a
over again. They seemed By their il
teryenton to have Interrupted som
set formula At It's close the wOme
crowded around Mm.iel and took he
hand in theirs. kissing ii many time
over, with tears in their eyes and b.
traying an immense amount Of genuin
feeling. one phrase in Polynesia
they repeated again and again;
phrase that made Felix's check tur
white as he leaned over the poor II
glish girl with Il profound emotion.
'What does it mean that they say.
AIuriel asked at last, perceiving il We
all one phrase, many times repeated
Felix was about 10 give some cyasiy
explanation when Mali intcrpo4ed wit
her simple, unth;nking translation
Them say Missy Queenc very GOO
ana kind. Maze them sad to thini
Make them cry to see her. Max
them cry to see Missy Qucenle koron!
Too good Too pretty
Why so Muriel exclaimed draw
ing back with some faint prcsentmcI
OF un7pcakable horror.
Felix tried to stop her: but the gi
, wo I'D not be stopped. Because whe
. korong time up, she answered, blur
! ing il out, 'koron- must