Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-07-21
La PLATA, MARYLAND, JULY 2l, 1899.
BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS.


sat on my porch and smoked, and
read whatever could get to read.
The Hawaiian Star. published in Hon
olulu, came regularly
Gordon came to see me, and we sat
in the clear starlight of a perfect
evening, with our cigars and our
friendship, as though death had not
laid his ugly hand on one Of u.s.
asked him about my uncle.
"He is failing rapidly, poor manp
said Gordon. "He wants to see you,
but l advised against it. He could
not stand it. He urged me to bring
him along, but when Warren sided
with me. he gave in. h"
1t would do no good, 1 replied,
although l should like very much to
see Uncle Tom. By the way, there Is
something had wanted to ask you,
but almost forgot it. You remember
my last day in Honolulu, when / left
you and Uncle Tom in the oiiiee of the
hospital, Warren said 'Warringford,
wait, l want to see you. What did
he want?"
Gordon hesitated moment, as fire
luctant to speak
''Do not tell me if there is any rea-
son for not telling" / said. 81 asked
merely through curiosity"
'There is no reason why shonld
not tell YOU" said Gordon, slowly.
''Yet there is. 1t is a matter, pre-
sumo, that Warren would prefer to
speak on himself, when the time comes.
Yet he enjoined no secrecy upon us. "
'It concerned me, then?"
eyes, it concerned you and others.
You know how Warren has spent his
life"
"Ahl Has he found remedy for
leprosy?"
"He did not say he had But he
said he had reached point in his ex-
periments where he saw hope ahead,
and bade your uncle hope also. But
Mr.. Warringford is not in condition
to hope. He is breaking down rapidly.
Winnie's misfortune and yours were
too much for him."
"You have learned nothing of Win
ME"
Nothing, Tom. Not thing"
We were silent for time.
'Don't you think, said. "that il
Warren really thought he had sue
ceeded or nearly succeeded, that it is
strange he said nothing 10 me about
it?"
"No. Warren is very cautious; he
has tried and failed so many times that
/ suppose he shrinks from srousing
any false hopes. In your uncle's case
it was a measure to stave of disastrous
results from your leaving"
''Then, do you believe there is any
thing in it?"
81 have hoped SO, Tom, from the
first But it is strange that Warren
has not been to see you. He said he
was coming to Molokai week ago,
and the ship I came on was his only
chance for a fortnight. He may come
then"
Gordon returned late in the evening
to the ship.
The next two weeks passed offwith
out incident. 1 spent my days as
had before. But my old lassitude was
coming back, and 1 knew that it was
the beginning of the end.
One afternoon, two weeks after Cor
don's visit, was working in the lit
tie garden aroGnd my cottage, gather
ing taro for more poi, when a familiar
voice reached me from the road.
''The boy is working, eh?" l heard
Doctor Warren say.
Looking up, saw Warren and Cor
don coming. Gordon waved his hand
at me. Warren seemed to be in a rapt
frame of mind. They entered the
garden. l dropped the tools l had
been working with, and went to meet
them.
"Come here in the sunlight, and let
me look at you, said Doctor Warren,
abruptly.
Stepping out from the shade OF a
palm under which we were standing,
/ stood still for inspection. Warren
turned and twisted me in every way.
He closely examined my face, head
and neck.
There are no marks, save the
scales" he said
mo, l replied, nothing dis6gur-
ing."
''Come inside" he said. "Show me
how you live"
They followed me into my cottage.
Both Warren and Gordon carried a
bag. These they put down in my lit
tie sitting-room.
'This is my parlor, drawing-room,
reception-room, and so forth, 1 said.
"Quite tidy and comfortable, is it
not, doctor?" asked Gordon.
"Show me where you bathe, said
Warren, ignoring Gordon's question.
1 showed him my bedroom, in which
was large wooden bath.
''How do you fill it?" asked Warren.
''By getting the water yourself or hav-
ing some one else do it?"
81 do everything myself" / re-
piled. 'I carry the water from
spring not far from the lower end of
my garden. 1t is clear, sweet water.
I use it for drinking, cooking and
bathing"
Sea water would be better.
But farther away
''True. Now get to work and fill
that tub
I wondere.' what the old man was
going to do; put as he did not seem
to want to be questioned, l could do
nothing but obey. l knew whatever
he did would be for my own good.
His calmness, his authority and the
order he had given me aroused hope
within me. Perhaps his life's obie,.
had been attained.
| took two water Jars and started for
the spring.
''Herer' said Gordon. 'Let me take
a hand Have You anything else that
will hold water?"
"Yes, take this, if you want to go,
1 said, giving him large, wooden
pail.
We carried the water into the house
and poured it into the tub, Warren,
standing by, Watching us.