Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-08-25
by RonKnr BossKE's sossl
CHAPTER XIX.

So back 10 the temple was led.
kaumai was resting on her throne,
aud as she moved easily to note what
the tumult might be that was coming
toward her. thought again that she
was the most superoly beautiful crea-
t1re l had ever seen. Every line Of
her form, showing through the thin
white robes she wore, was line of
beauty. Every motion was a poem;
every breath she drew made her
bosom rise and fall with a majestic
rhrthm.
When the high priests, leading me
in their midst, came before Kaumai's
throne, they knelt upon their knees
and bowed low before her. / did the
same. There was great contrast be-
tween this bow and the one / had
given in the Temple Of the Glistening
Rock at Nimolau's bidding. That
seemed farcical. / laughed at it. But
there was no mirth left in me now.
The dangers and horrors of the situa-
tion stood out before me in awful dis
tinctness.
why do you thus disturb me?"
asked the priestess severely, rising to
her feet aud standing impassiyely be-
70 9 us.
eve have come, oh, priestess, to lay
before you the question Of this priests
fate"
"Have not already said that ho
should be put in the dungeon, and
there await the iudgment?" she asked.
True, oh, priestess, wise aud good
Kaumai, said the leader of the high
priests, "and we bnstened to do your
bidding. We carried him to the dun
geon. While on our way we thought
to please you, oh, priestess, and to
please the goddess Pele by making
this erring priest assist in the sacrifice
of the sacred one, when Pele demands
it,"
''Well?" she asked, as the high
priest paused.
''He agreed" continued the high
priest, land as we were about to leave
him he offered strange supposition
to us. He said there might have been
two new priests received to-day in
stead Of one. That both might have
desecrated the temple by laying hands
on tho sacred one, and both might
be condemned to the dungeon. Then,
oh, priestess, he said that we might
have made the proposition to assist in
the sacrifice to both of them, and he
would agree, and the other priest
+ would refuse. Then, oh, priestess,
the other priest would be sent to the
dungeon to await his doom, and what
would be done with this priest?"
"But the dungeon is empty"
Kanmai said thisswith peculiar in-
Election. She was looking at me in
tently. My mask was gone and she
was studying my features. And un-
der the glance of those ravishing eyes
my pulse beat more quickly and my
heart throbbed strangely. What force
might not lay in the magnetism Of this
great loveliness.
True, the dungeon is empty, oh,
priestess," said the leader, ''but we
will let the successor of Lowai speak
for himself"
Speak" said Kaumai, softly.
"Oh, priestess, you who are so beau
tiful, l began, must be also noble.
| came here as a priest, having been
made the successor Of old Lowai in
Oahu. / saw at your feet. awaiting
sacrifice, one whom loved. ] forgot
my orders. | forgot reason. You
know what | did You do not forgive.
These high-priests suggested to me
that l assist at the sacrifice Of this be-
ing whom loved, and then, as a re-
ward, become one Of themselves. ac-
cepted. Now, o Priestess, in the case
that has been placed before You. if
the other priest had refused, he would
go to the dungeon. /, having ac-
cepted, do not deserve SO harsh a
treatment"
A CLEAN came into the eyes Of Kau-
mai, but it was there one instant
only.
"Whai the priest says is true," she
aail .'Wbat, then, is your desire?"
''To be allowed my freedom until the
time for the sacrifice has come"
''Let the successor of Lowai be al.
lowed the freedom of the temple. Let
him sleep, however, in the dungeon,
without boiling the door. Let him
eat with the common priests in their
hall. But let him not escape" said
Kaumai
Thank you, 0 Priestesslr said.
81 shall be ever ready to do your bid
ding
With a low bow, the high-priests
turned away, leaving me free to walk
where would, but with certainty
that L would be watched.
Kaumai swept past me, and there
was something strangely fascinating
in the glance she gave me. There was
suspicion Of exultation in her slight
smile. Her brilliant eyes beamed
upon me- Her hslf-parted lips showed
two rows of exquisite pearly teeth.
Her neck, white as alabaster and full
rounded as that of Venus, was slightly
bent as she passed me. The odor Of
incense came from her robes. Her very
presence was intoxicating.
"You have chosen well," she whis-
pered, and the low, trembling voice
sounded in my ears long after she had
left the temple.