Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-09-22


mute as statues, watching me,
thought. Z
began to feel delicious drowsi.
ness coming over me. I closed MI
eyes and seemed to be dropping int
sweet slumber. Even then, as il the
voice came from q great distance,
heard Doctor Tilling say:
"He is going to sleep. That is the
best thing that could occur. II will
be the first natural sleep that he has
had, and will do more to restore his
strength than all my medicine. Let
him alone until he"
Consciousness ended there. was
off.
I do not know how long slept, but
awoke with a start. thought l
heard some hateful voices chanting a
weird, wild song to Pele. When l
awoke, the awful scenes 1 had been
through at Lanai came over me in a
food Of terrible recollections. The
high-priests, the cruel, hateful priest
ess who pretended to believe me and
love me, and yet who had consigned
my sister to horrible death.
was alone in my chamber.
Turning my head on my pillow I
noticed a small table standing near
me, and upon the table o small call
bell, evidently placed there for nv
use in the event Of my waking when
no attendant was near-as really oe-
CURED.
The bell seemed to be within easy
reach. 1 lifted myself upon one arm
and the effort was very great and
reached out the other to ring for some
one to come. The attempt was too
much for me. l reached the bell and
gave it one feeble blow; then / lurched
forward and fell from the bed onto the
floor, knocking over the table and
sending the bell clattering across the
room.
Instantly Gordon came rushing in,
"Myl" he exclaimed. "What did you
do?"
] looked up at him from the floor,
and essayed to smile.
Gordon looked disheveled. He was
in his stocking-feet. He looked thin
and worn. 1t was as if he had spent
himself watching over my sick bed,
and while was in my sound sleep he
had thrown himself down partly
dressed to get little rest.
He stopped down and picked me up
in his arms. I had never realized
how powerful he was. was but a
babe in his hands. He replaced me
on the bed.
There, old fellow" he said, with a
half-glad smile on his face, ''you Just
lie there and keep still. No more &c.
robatic feats and bell-ringing athletics.
You'll not be left alone again"
whats the matter with me, nny.
how?" I asked, my voice still little
better than a whisper.
"You have had brain-fever, he re.
piled, as he picked up the table aud
placed it in another portion of the
room and put the bell also out of my
reach.
"Gordon, come herel' said.
He came close to me.
"Where is she?" 1 asked.
A white, panied look came into his
face.
"We have never found her. We do
not know where she is, Tom. All we
know is what you raved about when
you were ILL.,"
ST know-I know" 1 said feebIy.
'sWinnie is dead. I SAW her killed
myself. 1t was the last thing saw.
That was what sent me of. But the
other. That accursed priestess.
Where is she? Did they kill her;
How did I come herep Who found
me? And, Gordon, you went away
suddenly. Where were you when ]
looked for you?"
Here, herer' he said, in misera.
BILE attempt to be playful for my bene.
fit. fYou are talking too much, and
you remember too much. If Tilling
catches me letting you gnbble like
that he will order me shot. Now lie
still, Tom, old man, and get strong.
Then we can talk.
"Where is Uncle Tom9' asked.
"Why does he not come to see me2'
"There, now, please he quiet" he
pleaded. "Uncle Tom-is-sleeping.
You try and sleep some more. 1t is
what you need most"
II know-but that horrible sight.
Gordon. Is she anywhere? Did any
one see her? Who found me, Gordon?
Tell me, or can't sleep any more"
81 found you," he said. Never
mind how. That will keep. Get
strong first and wise atterward."
"But the priestess -Kaumai?"
A puzzled look came in Gordon's
face.
"You spoke of a priestess, you
celled Kaumai, but l didn't see any.
think you were dreaming it ALL"
''Dreamingl If you saw it you
wouldn't say 1 dreamed it. That Kau-
mai is too horribly real. I am going
to kill her, Gordon"
Eyes, yes, know" said Gordon,
now looking worried. 1 think he was
afraid was losing my senses again.
''Now go to sleep and keep quiet till
Tilling comes. He will be here soon.
1t is time for your medicine now. ]
will give it to you"
He gave me spoonful of stuff and
fixed the pillow under my head.
''But, Gordon, how did you find me2"
I asked.
"Never mind. I found you. Now
go to Sleep" he scolded. 81 am going
to leave you alone so you cannot talk. "
lay there in solitude, puzzling my
weakened brain over the mysteries of
my temperance at The Corals. How
difI get away from the volcano? How
did I leave the island of Lanai? Did
the priests escape as well as Kaumai,
the murderess of my sister? Where
was Uncle Tom? What did his strange
absence from my sick room mean? All
these things were hard for me to un.
derstand, aud 1 was pondering over
them when Doctor Tilling entered.
.'Ah, better, eh?" he said cheerily.
"Gordon is a good nurse. But he
saws YOU insist on talking and falling