Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05

ONTO, SHE is not my WIFE," said
IN the old trader as he glanced

ONfo, SHE is not my WIFE," said
IN the old trader as he glanced
at the pretty young Samoan
woman who had just entered and
greeted the strange papalangl with q
graceful talofa alii.
He was not at all offended at my
random suggestion. 1t was quite ex-
cusable, for in these regions a trader
without a native wife is phenomenon.
But might, If had used my faculties
of observation, have known better.
There was no trace Of womanly care
in the dingy, unkempt little dining
room, the wooden walls were dirty
and bare of adornment, the table was
Uttered with old books and ragged,
much worn newspapers, while the
floor looked as II 1t were Q stranger to
the broom.
The girl, her smiling greetings over,
squatted cross legged on the floor and
busted herself preparing a bowl Of
kava, which, Of course, had been sug-
gested as soon as arrived. An ample
laya-laya of blue checkered stun was
wrapped around her loins, her full.
maidenly bosom was but partially con-
cealed by the black silk handkerchief
knotted carelessly over her shoulders,
and q single flower of the red hibiscus
lit up her long, carefully dressed black
hair.
It was the ordinary native costume,
such as any girl will put on when
cn11ad in IN rnoko koyo Por n o<ro N oar
But she wore 1t with an air of grace;
everything she had on was new and
clean; she looked certainly more favor
ed than her dingy Samoan sisters who
passed to and from among the huts
outside or hung around the edge Of
the yeranda striving to obtain q
glimpse Of the new arrival. They
could not get any nearer. because the
veranda was inclosed with q high
fence Of barbed wire, a device Of the
trader to keep the too curious natives
at distance.
watched the girl closely, but the
trader took no notice. He seemed alb
sorbed in his sului, or native cigarette.
which gave forth great clouds Of smoke
ut each vigorous pun. The 1.-the, slen-
der wrists, with muscles like fine
drawn wire, were wringing out the
fau, or strainer Of bark fiber, with
which the pounded kava root is sepa-
rated from the water. The viselike
grip on the fiber never ceased until ev.
cry drop of Juice had been expressed.
and then, with pretty, graceful GEES
hn no 81 hos
shoulder to q boy standing outside.
who shook the dry dust free and threw
1t back.
Again and again the process was re-
peated. With the utmost care every
grain of sediment was drawn from the
bowl, and the dark brown liquid, nau-
seous, but refreshing, was ready.
The first cup seemed to arouse the
old mans dormant loQuacity. "She is
strange girl" he remarked, letting
his eyes rest for a moment on the kava
maiden. mot like any of the other
Samoans. l can't make her out. She
never goes gadding about with the
other girls nor firts with the young
men. She just stays quietly at home
and refuses all the suitors who ask for
her hand. She might have been mar
ried dozen times during the past year
had she chosen"
"Perhaps"-and hesitated.
he nodded. Eyes. perhaps Rhe has
an eye on this establishment. People
do say SO. and they char me about the
girl But she's nothing to me. She Just
washes the clothes and looks after me.
That Is ALL"
There was no trace Of unseemly lev
lty In his tone. waited in respectful
silence, for he was one of those kindly
men who wear their hearts upon their
sleeves, and knew that he would, If
left to do 1t in his own way, tell me the
tragedy of his life.
He took another bowl Of kava, rolled
fresh cigarette and sighed. smoked