Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-07-28

y
/ followed my uncle's advice and
put on a pair Of shoes capable Of keep
ing my feet dry; for we hadhad a show
ef, and. she said, the ground was still
wet. Lighting cigar and taking q
bottle Of wine aud some dainties from
the larder, / started of to see the old
ex-chief.
A woman, old herself, met me at the
door. II was Lowai's daughter.
Lowai is ill?"I said, half question
ingly, as l entered.
"Abl He is worse than i'll. He is
in . very bad way-is my father"
Z "What is the trouble?"
81 know not He tells me nothing.
He lies upon his couch and calls for
you. And he cries to the Goddess
Pele to have mercy"
'Pele? i thought all that nonsense
was done away with long ago"
mot so. He believes in Pele.
But he wants you. Will you see him
now?"
yes Take me to him at once"
She led me into a small room,
where an old shrunken figure lay
upon bed.
SO old was Lowai, that hts skin was
like leather stretched over his frame Of
bones. FF s
He saw me enter, and smiled.
I stepped to the side of the bed aud
took his hand.
"What is the matter, Lowai, you
are never ill.,.
sNo, ;" he said, with an effort. 81
am never i'll. l am not ill now. am
just going TO die. That's all. -
''Oh. no, think you will get up
again. have brought you some wine,
and Malliauki has gone for Doctor
Tilling."
81 do not need him. 1 need only
you. Lawai's time has come. He
knows it, He is not sorry"
poured out some wine into glass
and gave it to him.
"Thank you," he said simply. "It
gives me strength. And l need it.
] must hurry. I have not long to
live and, before go, l must tell you
much. h."
was surprised at this. The old
man was excited, and spoke as if un-
der strain.
"You have something to tell me;
something you want done if you do
not get well?'
No. Something for you alone"
He motioned to his daughter, and
she bent her head down to him. He
whispered something into her ear and
she went out. While she was gone,
Lowai moaned and rubbed the palms
of his hands together. When she re-
turned, carrying large bundle done
up in leather, he became calm.
''Give me more wine, he said.
I gave him a glassful. He drained
it, aud fell back on his pillow.
He made a sign to his daughter.
leave us, he said.
] sat down by his bedside.
"We are alone, Lowai," I said.
''You have something of importance
to tell?"
"Yes. You must listen well. Imust
save my words. And upon your fol
lowing my advice depends your hap
piness.
SIS it about my uncle?'
"No-your sister"
"winnie" l cried. "Do you know
Of her? She is dead?"
"No, she is not deadl She is alive
and well-but in horrib,eidauger.
l sat stunned and chillei by the ter
rible words full of hope and
life, yetladen with fear Winnie alive,
and yet in dangerl Had she been
secretly hidden only TO be in danger
now, or had she been tortured and ill.
used since she had been stolen away?
Ny hand shook violently us laid
it upon that of old Lowai.
''Go onl' said. ''Tell me all
''Give me more winel l am grow
ing weak"
Fearful lest he would not live to tell
me the secret he held, gave him
plenty of wine. My heart throbbed
painfully. A cold sweat poured from
me.
The old chief fell back again upon
his pillow with half-closed eyes. He
feebly pointed toward the leather pack.
He spoke again.
Old Lowai's voice was very weak.
He was going fast BreLthlessly, my
heart palpitating, leaned over him
to catch his whispered words.
ssGuard that pack" he said, "and
upon the use you make of its contents
depends your sisters life. /"
$50 on, for Heavens sake, go onl'
1 said, as he paused.
'sDon't hurry me. My strength is
spent. If 1 become exhausted my
secret cannot be told Guard that
pack with your very life. In it are all
the vestments and belongings Of a
priest of the goddess Pele. Breathe
to no living soul what l am about to
tell you-save those to whom I send
you. Do you promise?'
''Yes, yes, / promise. Go on"
.''Listen carefully. There exists in
all the islands of Hawaii secret or
der devoted to the worship Of the god
dess Pele, who dwells in the crater of
HaleakaIa. Haleakala is dead vol
vano, and the goddess, having killed
it, and being pleased at its obedience,
took up her abode within il. Tho
goddess has killed other volcanoes
taken away their power-and she will
to do so until Hawaii has no
more ernptions. But the goddess
Pele is fierce goddess, and we make
sacrifices to her, to make her kind anG
gracious. Whenever an eruption OF a
volcano is threatened, sacrifice IS
made to Pele. This calls her atteL-
ton to it, and she Stays the evil spir-
its who control the fires under MS and
send the lava out Of the mountains.
That is why every volcano speaks and
remains silent each time for a longer
period. Do you understand
.'Yes. yes, l said. but about Win
ME, my sister-where is she?"