The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-10-04
THE NECKLACE.
CCoptiui,ed)


played with her blocks ON the floor. From |
some indcfinable cause, l suddenly raised |
my eyes and found my father intently re-
garding me.
"Your mother was very beautiful |
woman, my dear, and you are strikingly |
like her." he said fcclingly Won't you
come and sit by meY' There was an cx
preston on his face which | had never
seen before, ard his eyes were full of re-
trospcCtion.
"Ah, first love is strongest and best,
after all, " sang my happy heart as has
tened to him. but Mildred, pert and off
cious, as usual, anticipated me by throw
ing herself i'm his arms, ard, while she
motioned me away. shuwcIcd kisses on his
face, crying:
HE is my Papal Hc is my papa"
/ returned to the desk My father re
sumod his paper and mask of reserve, and
never again was it lifted between US.
After dark we sat on the gallery, when
the naia kallu, warmed by my neck, gave
forth u lovely light, which terrified the
servants, who all shared the ayahs belief
in its sinister omen
When | went to my room, laid the
necklace on my dressing table and stood
threading my white fingers through the
mcshcs of my e,0ldcn hair as l gazcd at my.
self in the mirror, with my fathers words
in my mind. Perhaps ! was really beau
tiful 1t seemed TO me that looked diff
fcrcnt from the girl had been in Eng
land A new feeling had certainly come
over me. but did not wish nor attempt
to analyzc it. That night my sleep was
fitful and disturbed, and half waking, half
dreaming, l heard gliding noises about
my room, with the faint, resonant click
of metal. When the ayah came in the
morning to bring my little cup of black
Mocha coffee she found me up and dressed
instead of asleep as usual.
] did not think of my necklace until
after breakfast, and then, when l went to
look for it, it was nowhere TO be found.
Sadi, the young Hindoo man who did the
chamber work, when questioned, denied
most earnestly having seen it, which
however, failed to convince the consarml
Of his innocence, Judging from the sound
of blows and wells which aftcrward pro
ceedcd from the stable yard. My father
employed IA native detective, who assured
him that the necklace would be restored
in short time.
Three weeks had waxed and wancd
since l reached India, and during the time
had seen Captain Rochester almost daily.
But the easy familiarity of our first inter
course was succeeded by a certain con
straint, which Jared like IA discord, and
often, when l suddenly raised my eyes, ]
found his fixed upon me with melancholy
intontncss. For four days his visits had
been discontinued altogether without any
assignable cause, and grew restless and
miserable Next week he would leave for
England and might bring back wife on
his return. ! was too much Of a child too
undisCiplincd, to disscmblc. When l was
hurt cried out like any other savage.
In a needless, dcsutory way | stIullcd
through the park, out into the dusty road.
How funereal the passing, black topped
shegramsl How sutTocating the air.
hurried on toward the beach, when, turn
ing sharp curve where the road Rugged
the bank as though dizzy at the prccipi
tous depths below, l saw Captain Rochcs-
ter coming toward me, walking slowly,
his head bent down and Ticking the peb
bles out of his path with small cane, Re
turning health was transforming him int
IA remarkably handsome man. He had no
seen me, and | would not force my com
pany upon him. With my heart beating
like n trip hammer, l stepped behind
rock for concealment, when IA large liar
dartcd across my feet, and / sprang back
bit my lips in chagrin at my cowardicc
but the action was unconscious and auto
matte In an instant he was at my side,
holding my hands, with such glad, hap.
ply look in his honest gray eyes.
Where are you wandering TO all ny
YOURSELF" he asked, retaining my hands.
"Oh, started out for a little stroll hut
that nasty lizard has frightened me so
that l believe I'll turn back, " l said petu-
lantly.
!"These lizards look formidable, but are
harmless, " he replied, smiling ut my We
hemence as he poked about in the leaves
until it ran away.
Still l stood irresolute for l was sud
denly confronted with the fear that if
went home he could do nothing less than
accompany me, and thus l should max
his visit compulsory.
LET us sit here awhile he said select
ing for me a stone with fewest asperitie
of surface and seating himself on gnarle,
root at my feet. \ soft breeze was blow
ing across the purple ocean-blowing froI
the direction of my home. l turned m
face toward it and held out my arm
longingly.
do you love England so muchS'
asked softly, while the troubled look cam
back to his eyes.
Il would give my life to return to it,
l answered, choking back "a sob.
And do you think you will never gro
reconcilcd to IndiaT he qucried gently.
Il would not live here, if | had an
choice in the matter-not if you made II
empress of the whole country" l answe
ed, with an aggressive tilt of the chil
The consciousness that Twas appearing
disadvantage added to my irritation al
made me say things that went like dagg'
thrusts to my own heart
LAS this is your fathers home, you
only chance of escape is to marry son
man who can take you away, )" he said,
though thinking aloud
Yes, " / responded recklessly, drive
TO bay by his cool assumption Of such
possibility; yes, would marry an og
to escape from this country" He did n
reply, but sat quite still, looking out upc
the ocean. Presently | got up and stoC
ON the projection Of rock. a monk,
swung himself from limb to limb of a tn
near by, pausing occasionally to eat u
beans out of long black pods that hun
ON its branches IridesccnU insects buzzc
in the air, and flock of green parro
futtered about with discordanU ChattC
Below me the ocean, with sullen, battle
roar, was hurting itself against the blaCl
volcanic rocks and sending up showers
white spray almost to the testOOns
vines that tapestrcd the upper face Of Il
cliff. Altar off through shimmCring vel
of mist rose the island of Elephantus, ell
sive, dreamlikc, while over the rusting tn
tops, landward, the Ghaut mountains
billowy undulatlons melted into the hon
zon.
Where is your usual appendage, Dor
thear Captain Rochester inquired, oy
IDENTIFY from "a desire to break the emba
RAISING silence.
AT home, replied with her ava
where l should be, too, " and moved off.
We walked slowly through the gathc
ing twilight, the moon appearing like
fairy boat in "A luminous archipelago
stars.
''Ah, what large and brilliant glo'
worm!" l exclaimed, pointing to the dal