Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-09-29

Gle not ten you ABOUT IT. uSSdu ia "
very little idea that it would mean
ANYTHING to US. You see, mothers
brother, my Uncle John, went out to
Honolulu over 20 years ago. He did
not stay long. but while he was there
he befriended some rich native. We
never did understand just how il was,
but when the man died he left a will by
which Uncle John was to inherit GER
tain tract of land in the Unuanu valley
provided there were no direct heirs.
OF course, we did not think anything
of il, because Uncle John used TO laugh
about his Hawaiian estate, and say
that there was no danger but that
there would be plenty of heirs to keep
! him out of ii.
However, the interesting part is
this, and that is why l am so happy,
dear. The land is ours now. Since the
United States have annexed the islands
the property increases in value and al!
question about the.validity of the title
will be settled satisfactorily.
do you know what that means,
little girl?" and Tom leaned tenderly
toward Laura, who sat looking a him
with wide-open, surprised eyes.
There was quick gleam in her eyes
as she looked into his. Then her head
dropped, and vivid blush mounted to
/ her cheeks.
Eyes, dear" exclaimed Tom, press
! ing her hand. "It means that you and
/ 1 can marry very soon. We will not
! have to work and wait, as we thought.
! The path is plain before us. Won't you
| tel me that you are glad2" and he
drew her within the circle of his arm.
"Tf seems too good to be trse,"
sighed the happy q
Tom was too hapAto remain silent.
He was excited and eXultant. How
much this news from the capital meant
to him and to Laura could not be esti-
mated at once.
Tell me about it, khispered Laura.
! "You see, we knew Several months
| ago that the last of the Hawaiian heirs
was gone. That.is, that he is as good
as dead. Just think, Laura, he had
leprosy, and was sent to the lepe1
colony. You see, the estate should have
been ours then, but N6ative agents
out there kept the facts away from US.
| The agitation about the annexation,
however, brought all these things to
light. The will of Uncle Johns friend
was plain. If his heirs were not able
TO inherit it it was to go to Uncle John
| and his heirs. Mother and l are the
heirs, you know. So we come in for
a good income, they tell me-"
"And we get this blessing because of
the curse of leprosy upon those poor
people out there?" said Laura, in a
| tender voice.
Eyes, dear" said Tom, sobered sud-
denly He looked up into the Staying
branches above him; he saw Il 4e July
| flowers nodding in the breeze, and then
| he looked at Laura. fair queen. of his
heart. His happiness had been pur-
chased at dear price, indeed. Hid
| eous leprosy had robbed another man
| of all that was dear to him-home and
wife and friends and the enjoyment Of
the commonest things of life.
'It seems that the old native who
was Uncle Johns friend had a horror
of leprosy." said Tom, in explanation
] of the singular will. "In fact, he had
| II himself when Uncle John was there,
but he kept it a secret. There was
curse upon his family, he often said
He hoped much, however, Of this
youngest son-the one who has just
been taken into the leper colony"
Tom was silent for few moments
| and then went on.
THE old fellow explained to Uncle
John that if the leprosy carried off his
entire family, the property would go
to some collateral relatives. 1t was to
prevent their obtaining possession
| that he made the will. He hated them.
Their grandmother had cursed his ia
ther. and his fathers children. You
know how queer and superstitious
those people are. Leprosy has taken
the entire family of these cousins, too
so that there is no one but that one
leper to inherit the property. Now
that the United States government is
taking hold, the title will be cleared
up; we will prove our claim, and the in
come will be paid TO US"
But the poor leper," exclaimed
Laura. Surely he has a right to the
land. just think how miserable he
must be-"
We'll, 1t is pretty hard" admitted
Tom. you see, he is as good as dead
now. In the eyes of the Hawaiians
themselves he Is dead. No one who
goes to the leper colony ever comes
back He will be fed and clothed and
that is all the poor wretch can want"
How old Is he?' asked Laura sud
denly.
LET me see" and Tom drew out
some papers and turned them over.
"Puoa Hunau must be about "a now"
Three years younger than you are"
said the plying Laura. Then, turning
to her lover she exclaimed: Tom, he
ought to have some Of that money. We
have no right to it. That is, of course.
you and yeur mother may do as you
think hest ahout Il hrt can't take
any Of it. What have 1 ever done that
/ should enjoy the result of that poor
fellows misery?"
"What a conscientious little thing 1t
is" said Tom, caressing her brown
hair. "Bu' don't you see, Laura" he
continued rgumentativsly, "the prop
tIlJ - ours IL dOGS IOl DC4OuS "
one else. The law gives it to u.s."
Yes" replied Laura, still doubtful,
"but you said that the annexation al
tered the state of affairs"
$50 it does. There will be no diff
Guilty, now, about establishing our
title, and when that is done-O, Laura,
you and can be happy together"
mo, Tom, not at the price of an
others unhappiness," said Laura very
firmly. 1--WE have no right to that
property away out there in the Pa
cific; it belongs to the islanders. We
would be usurpers. L cannot do it,
Tom. You mustn't ask me-"
Trust a woman to have all the
scruples in the world" exclaimed Tom
in disgust. Cant you be reasonable
for one minute, Laura? The property
is there. 1t must be used by some
body. II it does not belong to us il will
be contiscated by some one with no
right to it, while we have a right there.
Haven't i been explaining and explain
ing that the old native wanted Uncle