Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-26

"Eo. she is not my wife, said the old
trader as he glanced at the pretty Souiis
Samoan woman who had just entered and
greeted the strange papalangi with grace
full talofa ALI
He was not at all offended at my random
suggestion. 1t was quite excusable. for IN
ii csc reg. ons a trader without native wife
IL a phenomenon. But 1 might, II L had
used nv faculties of observation. nave
kr own better. There was no trace OF "o-
manly care in the dingy. unkempt mite
dining room the wooden walls were dirty
ard bare of adjournment, the table was III
tered with old books and ragged, much
V orn newspapers, while the floor looked as
if it We're d stranger to the broom.
The girl FER smiling greetings over
sguatted cross-legged on tine floor. and bus
led herself preparing a bowl of kava, WHICH
o. course. had been suggested as soon as
arrived. An ample laya-FaVa OF blue creek
cred stuff was wrapped around her IONS
her full. maidenly bosom was but partiaily
concealed by the black silk handkerchief
knotted carelessly over her shoulders. Il
single flower of the red hibiscus lit up her
lCng. carefully dressed black Fair.
Ii was the ordinary native costume, such
as any girl will put when called in to
make kava for a stranger But she wore
81 with air of grace: everything she mad
"
more favored than her dinry Samoan sis
ttrs who passed to and fro among the huts
outside, hung around the edge OF the
yerapda striving to obtain a glimpse or the
rev arrival. They could not get any near
or. because the ia was inclosed with
n high fence of hdrhed wire. device OF
the trader TO keep the too curious natives
at q djst2rce.
L watched the girl closely, but the trader
took TO ro;iCe: he seemed absorbed in his
suiui. or native cigarette. which gave forth
great clouds of smoke at each vigorous
Puff. The 1.-THE. slender wrists, with mus
.les like fne-drawn wire. were wrinslng
cut the fau. or strainer of bark fiber, with
which the pounded kava root is separated
from the water. The vice-like grip on the
fiber never ceased until every drop of juice
had been expressed ard then. with pref
". graceful gesture, she tossed the strainer
over her shoulder to a boy standing out
side. who shock the dry dust free ard
threw IL back.
Again ar,i again tine process was repeat
e. With The utmost care every grain of
iiGrnt was drawn from the bowl, and
1he d.rk-hrown liquid, naUseous, but re-
f,==h!Eg. was ready.
The first cup seemed to arouse the oil
Mons GorEar: Ioquacity. She is z
sts2-..e girl he remarked. letting his
'ErS rs~i Tor q moment on The kaYa maid
~. "N-;- Ike any Of the other SamCans.
I can't I-a k her cut SIZE never goes CAD
dir" arrUt with the other girls, nor flirts
Win the young men. She just stays quiet
j. cJ home. ard refuses all ne Suitors who
ask for be: hand. She might have been
lad ST, chosen
PERHAPS I hcsitated
iie nodded Yes. perhaps she has eye
on this establishment People do say go.
and taeE Than me about the girl. Rlt
sh"'s nothing To mo. She just washes the
clothes ana looks after me. that is all.
There was n' trace of unseeAIy levity
in his t-ne. | waited in respectful silence,
for h WIS one Of those kindly men V no
wear their hearts upon their sleeves. AMI
knew that h. would. If left to do il in his
own way. tell Tie the tragedy of his life.
He took another bowl of kava, rolled q
fr- Sh cigarette and sighed. | smoked pa
u atly- Then h rose. and. opening small
wriring DESK which stood in a corner. drew
I, m il old and faded photograph
There is my wife" he said
II was Just ordinary. common picture.
taken 10y cheap photographer. and. thanks
10 the climate. rapidly fading lnto obscure
~ one could make out the features of a
Samoan woman. rather stout and shOwiIy
dressed. q baby in her arms and little
girl Of about two holding on by the 81 irts
As i work Of art il was beneath con-
tempt. but the old man handled it rever-
entity. and. before he spoke again. laid the
picture back in its receptacle.
It's fading quickly he remarked. scr
rpwfuny. though l keep it from the light
al l can 1t was taken BY a travelling pho
t"Erapher in New Britain just before
BITS It's all ! have left Of her. There's
only the boy ana alone now"
y smile iii NJ his thin face. Here he
Is. he exclaimed, fine little fellow
Of about ten rushed into the room.
''r':ta-nsoIe-n1le pa" began the young
St-r. IN that strange mixture Of Samoan
and Eu.li~1 which half-Caste boys speak
in this country Then he stopped. noticing
ny prs. u. -.
All right J9cky." said the father. Civ
ing The curly head q kindly pat. go and
say tai"f- - the gentleman" And hash
fully In boy. who hi! not seen a strange
white man for I.oujhs. hold out his hand.
and th-u took tho first opportunity of o.
'aai-E FROM Tie room - join his playmates
outside.
Hes I'll I have left" continued the
t-#sis-. Ind I;u doing my hest TO brin:
Inn up 1F an Englishwan- But what can