Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-08-25
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g TWO GENTLEMEN g
d AOF HAWAII. @
o. --.~ d
"a BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS. "a
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BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS.
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1850 ANNNtNA No1OALB CfGA
side.
/ carefully and with caution exam
med the walls Of the place where it
was light enough for me to see. hoping
to find some door through which /
might reach Winnie or find where she
was being kept. But the gruesome
place was lighted only from a square
aperture in the roof, high above me,
and the light SO fell as 20 be conferred
around the throne, leaving the cavern
ous recesses at the sides in total dark
ness.
l remembered that when Winnie
was led away she was taken behind
the throne, aud | looked there for an
other dungeon; but found none. II
there were any doors in the parts of
the wall that ] could examine, they
were so carefully and skillfully made
as to defy detection by one not in the
secret of their construction.
felt at first, when the high-priests
departed, sense of exhilaration at
having gained my purpose in so far as
to be left free, instead Of confined to a
dungeon, and kaumai's glLnce and
smile had stimulated me with pecu-
liar thrill. But after 1 had been in
the temple a few hours | began to feel
the overwhelming solitude OF the
place. began to feel the danger, to
realize the horrors of my situation.
knew there was nothing to expect
from the high priests but the worst.
They were merciless in their fanat-
icism, and their delusious brooked no
opposition. The other priests l did
not fear so much, yet they we're no
doubt completely under the control of
the highs. But about Kaumai-my
heart beat more rapidly when thought
Of her. So lovelyi So magnificent in
her transcendent beauty Could she
be so cruel as to consign my sister to
horrible death, and compel me to
assist in the soul-sickenfng ceremony?
The more l thought of this, the worse
] felt. The main door of the temple
stood open. 1 knew where ii led.
had noticed when / came in the barren
ledge Of rock and the sluggish lake of
molten lava below it. Having spent
so much time in a futile endeavor to
find hidden door, / finally resolved
to go ont into the air and see how the
strange priests lived and acted when
they were not engaged in their horri-
bic worship of Pele.
had reached the ledge of rock, and
stood looking across the great crater,
overcome with new sense Of loneli-
ness and my insignifeance. Not an
other person could be seen. There
were evidently other grottoes than the
one used as a temple.
While l stood thus priest appeared
from some aperture in the rock and
came toward me.
Successor of Lowai, the priests of
Pele are not to sit before the daily
feast. You will follow me-"
He returned to the spot from which
he came into sight.
Half hidden by bnlging rock, a
small opening led into a grotto much
like the temple, save that it was bet
ter lighted. A long table was spread
in the center, and around it sat about
a hundred priests. These were the
ordinary or common priests, and had
thrown aside their masks aud out
landish costumes, the better to enjoy
the meal.
Among these 1 was welcome, for l
was one Of their order.
They cared nothing-or knew moth
ing-of the greater Or less sin against
PeIe, as judged tby the higa-priests.
They had seen me snatch Winnie to
my breast and kiss her, but they had
seen me taken away to be punished.
As they were probably punished for
misdemeanors more or less great, they
ielt rather with me than against me
IN account of my crime. While !
OWNED this in few minutes talk, |
also made certain that when it came to
a question Of taxing sides against the
authority Of the higk-priests, they
could not be relied upon at ALL Every
man seemed to be crazy in his infat-
uated worship of Pele.
There was place for me at one side
ot the rude table, and at the sign from
my guide took it.
''You are welcome here, successor
Of Lowai," said an aged fool who sat
at the head of the table. "Pele has
not many worshipers of your color.
You will be great priest"
II am glad you think so, replied
in the native tongue. II shall en-
deavor to please Pele. But why am
always called the successor of Lowai?
Do l have no name?"
mot for year, !" replied he who
seemed to be the chief among these
lower priests, 'For one year you are
on trial. During that time you are
known to us only as the successor of
Lowai, who was a good and true
priest, although he spent but little
time here. After the year. if you
have proven faithful, and Kaumai and
the high h-priests accept you, you vii
receive a name. You may keep th'
one you had in Honolulu or may taxi
new one.
"Great is Pelcl" said one of th'
''brethren. "Will you have SOM
''poi?"
There were no spoons nor fork
among the priests, so l dipped int
the great dish of taro-root with m,
Il