The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-11-25
BaWaii'S Hnnexaticn
ALTERED THEIR LOVE STORY.
st AURA, Hawaii is annexed" ex-
Observation-Disclosures,

sat on the low bench under the old
tree. Tom had looked at her with q
thrill OF exultation as he came up the
path. She had not heard him. and her
brown head was bent over a book. She
looked up with smile as he sprang
across the grass, and approached the
bench.
Hawaii" she queried, doubtfully,
smiling because he was smiling.
"Yes. don't you know that Uncle
John had coffee plantation near Hon
olulu?"
mo-" said Laura.
"Of course, | remember now that l
did not tell you about II, because had
very little idea that 1t 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 will by
which Uncle JohB Sas 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 IT, 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 it.
However. the interesting part Is
this. and that is why am so happy.
dear. The land is ours now. Since the
I,py . hat 10, IL
the property increases in value and all
question about the validity of the title
viii he settled satisfactorily.
"Do you know what that means
little girl?" and Tom leaned tenderly
toward Laura. who sat looking at him
with wide-open, surprised eyes.
There was quick CLEAN in her eyes
rs she looked into his. Then her head
irooped. and vivid blush mounted to
her checks.
YES. dear" exclaimed Tom, press.
ing her hand. eft means that you AMI
{ can marry very soon. We will not
have to work and wait, as we thought
The path is plain before MS. Won't you
tel me that you are glade" and he
drew her within the circle Of his arm.
at seems too good to be trse,"
sighed the happy girl.
Tom was too happy to 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," whispered 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 10 the lepeI
colony. You sec The estate should have
been ours then. but the native 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 il il was to go to Uncle John
ard his heirs. Mother and | are the
heirs, you know. So we come in for
good income. they tell me-"
And we get this blessing because Of
the curse of leprosy upon those poor
people ont there?" said Laura, in a
tender voice.
"Nes. dear" said Tom, sobered sud-
denly. lie looked up into the swaying
branches above him; he saw the July
flowers nodding in the breeze. and then
he looked at Laura, fair queen of his
heart. Hi, 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 o.
the commonest things of life.
at seems that the old native who
was Uncle Johns friend had a horror
Of leprosy." said Tom, in explanation
of the singular will. "Tn fact, he had
II himself when Uncle John was there.
bu, he kept it secret. There was Il
curse upon his family, he often said
He hoped much, however, OF this
youngest son-the one who has jus:
been taken into the leper colony"
Tom was silent for few moments
and then went on.
"The old fellow explained to Uncle
John that II the leprosy carried off his
entire family, the property would go
to some collateral relatives. 1t was u
prevent their obtaining possession
chat he made the will. lie hated them.
their grandmother had cursed his "a
Their, 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 viii prove our claim, and the in
come will be paid 10 us"
But the poor leper," exclaimed
Laura. surely he has a right to the
land, Just think how miserable he
must be-"
We'll, it is pretty hard" admitted
Tom. "You see, he isas good as dead
now. In the eyes Of the Hawaiinns
themselves he is dead. No one who
goes to the leper colony ever comes
back. lie will be fed and clothed and