Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-06-30
Copyright. BY RopERr BoxSER's soSsl
CHAPTER X.
CONTINUED.


Had 1 wished, 1 could have donned
q uniform. and become an officer, but
with peace at hand did not care for
empty military honor. Moreover,
wanted all my time to be free, that
] might be untrammeled in my now
seemingly hopeless investigation into
the mysteries of my beautiful sisters
disappearance. 1t was understood,
however, that il at any time my SER
vices were needed, or the army was to
be increased, commission should be
mine.
1 took very little interest in any
thing save the one great object of my
existence-to find my sister Winnie.
Yet mingling daily, as l did, with men
whose minds were full Of the revolu-
tion, | could not be blind to the needs
of the hour. When Gordon's duties
took him away from Honolulu 1 ac-
companied him, il / was not working
up clue that might lead to the dis
covery of Winnie.
At the town of Hilo, on the island
of Hawaii, Gordon had fortress
built which commanded the situation
in the harbor-the only good one at
that island And at Lahaina, small
settlement on the island of Maui, an-
other fortress was built. There
seemed to me no need for this, but
Gordon pointed out the excellence of
the place as a stragetic point in case
of invasion.
Hilo was not far from the great vol
cano of Mauna Loa, aud it seemed
probable that if the old mountain kept
on vomiting lava many years longer as
fiercely as it had in times past, the
town would be destroyed. As it was
located in beautiful spot, particular
ly healthful, it was deemed foolish
carelessness to allow the destruction,
il it could be avoided. Gordon made
a note of his observations, aud pro
posed, when we returned to Honolulu,
to suggest to the government that
something be done to protect the town
from the molten flow, if it everreached
that far.
We also visited the island of Molo-
kai, and went to the leper colony.
The horrors of this disease had
never before been known to me. I
knew it was terrible. l knew that
words could hardly express its terrors.
But when | saw it in all its putrefying,
death-dealing reality, L shuddered
and turned sick.
The poor creatures who were far on
their torturing road to death looked at
us piteously. A wall, prayer, plea
for some kind Of help seemed to be in
every glance aud every gesture. Yet
there was no help to give. All they
could do was to wait there, growing
more hideous in their in6rmity, day
by day, until death came to release
them from their awful sufferings.
| thought of Doctor Warren and his
noble efforts in behalf of these poor
accursed wretches. But in vain would
40 work while he lived. There was
no help, no cure. Yet Warren hoped
md worked and prayed. This was
he curse and, now that the rule of
svil was over. the only blot on the
beauty of Hawaii.
Gordon aud | visited Kauai, another
II the larger islands, and instituted a
most careful search and inquiry among
he people. Now and then our hopes
being aroused by what we would think
vas clue, only to have them dashed
% pieces in the deepening darkness
If the mystery. Then we returned to
Honolulu.
All this, of course, took some time.
Things had gone we'll in Oahu during
'ur absence, and every industry Of
he island seemed developing and i'm
proving. From time to time friendly
Messages had been received from the
United States, and the future seemed
ecure aud bright.
Then the news came Of a change OF
The Republicans, we knew, had
,aen defeated in the election in Nov
'mber, and, of course, we understood
hat ON March 4th the Democratic
President would be inaugurated. But
We did not look upon this as inimical
o our interests. To us in Honolulu,
he word American meant everything.
Party names meant nothing. A Re-
publican was an American, so was q
Democrat. Therefore, the policy of
america in Honolulu having been in
lorsed by one party of Americans at
Iome would naturally find favor With
mother party OF the same sort.
What was our chagrin and fear when
Fe learned that President Cleveland
Iad declared against us.
Captain Wiltse, of the Boston, died
Commissioner Blount with letters of
'ower from Cleveland and Secretary
arrived on the Rush, and
Admiral Skerrit assumed command of
he American forces in Hawaiian
faters.
Minister Stevens was recalled and |
ensured by Cleveland's administra- |
ion for unwarrantable intervention" |
nd ''an abuse of power as the repre-
Of the United States.
Commissioner Blount at once as
umed a hostile attitude toward DoIes
and began collecting evil |
encs in favor of the queen. Certain /
len, who had besn powerful under
he ex-4ueen's rule, and who hal
oped to gain by her ascendancy,
CURED their poisoned words into
'lount's ear until their opinions as
umed, in the mind of the commits
ioner, the dimensions of the will Of
he majority. So between Blount and
is advisers. President Cleveland was
i'll further misIed, and Liliuokalani's
ock went up.
Then Blount went home, Minister
Tillis came, aud Admiral Irwin as
imed command Of the American
rces. Disorder came with them.
1 was sitting on the porch one day,
noking and talking to Uncle Tom,
aving just returned from fruitless
,areh after slight elew of Winnie's
when Gordon dashed
p. Leaving his horse in the care of
i attendant. he joined us.
"There's the deuce to payi" he said. !
"What's IN now?" asked.