The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-12-12
Bv SEWARD w. HOPKINS
shouted q voice

priestess kaumsi?" shouted q voice
inside.
"Nimolau, the guide, with priest
of Pele, sue lessor to Lowai, OF Oahu,
who is dead" replied Nimolau.
The door opened. A figure, clothed
and masked like myself, stood there.
"Enter, successor to howal, and
make known your faith to Pele before
her priestess Kaumai.
I followed the masked figure
Nimolau turned and left me. I felt &
sensation of fear and loneliness whet
he had gone. Nimolau did not seen
to belong to this weird, wild scene
There was suspicion OF mocker,
about his worship. Here it was rea
enough.
In & temple, lighted dimly by hole
in Its rau,ted roof, the hund.ed priests.
spoken OF by Nimolau, knelt i'll semi
/ circles. with bowed heads and crouch
ing figures, moaning aad praying.
Before them, ten high-rriests, ar
raved still more grotesquely, swuns
pots of incense and chanted weird
! songs to Pele.
Upon throne sat kaumai.
Ny eyes fairly bulsel when I be
leld this priesteSs.
Dne was Tar ana away the mos
beautiful woman I had aver looked
upon. Her skin was fair, her hair
and eyes dark, her form perfect as
model. She sat calmly surveying the
scene. Kaumai was clad in flowing
garment of silk. A crown of jewels
was on her head. She wore girdle
Of Jewels that sparkled and shone LII
the candlelight, and sent sparks OF
light from her side. Kaumai =, looked
to be about twenty years of age.
advance before the high-priests,
and give replies to their questions,
said the priest who had let me In.
"Bow your head. Do not look upon
Kaumai, lest you die"
With bowed head I followed him
down the center of the temple, to o
position before Kaumai's throne.
"You are come to give worship to
Pele and to assist her priestess,
I Eaumai, to still the spirit of evil un'
der the mountain?" said one of the
high-priests, in monotonous, sing
song voice.
Before the altar of Kaumai-or
the throne, which they called it
there was smaller chair, much like
The one occupied by the priestess. II
was empty. I expected to be told to
lake that seat. But instead, I was
told to kneei.
st have come to worship Pele,"
seplied to the high. priests monotone.
"You swear before Kaumai, the
great priestess of Pele, that you will
10 her bidding in all things?"
eyes"
"Let the successor of Lowai wait,
said another high-priest. "Kaumai
is not to be interrupted in her worship,
Let the white fawn be brought for.
ward that Kaumai may once more
ook upon her, and annoint her to the
goddess Pele, to whom she is to be
,acrifced."
A murmur went around the temple.
A high-priest went sway, and from
some inner recess brought person
covered with q long white robe.
Head, face and all were covered.
This figure came with uncertain steps,
ed by the high-priest, and was placed
n the chair before the throne oi
Haumai.
Then the high-priest drew aside the
'obe.
Ny heart leaped and throbbed and
pounded my ribs. There, pale, faint.
{ ng, seemingly but half conscious oi
What was going on around her, was
Winnie, my long-lost sister.
Iforgot the words of Lowai. I for
got the advice of Nimolau. My brain
seemed on fire. I threw aside my
| mask and my hideous mantle, and
with a cry of "Winnie! Winnie! My
darling sister!" I sprang to her and
clasped her in my arms.
A tumult at once arose. Loud
shouts and curses from the priests fell
upon my ears.
Winnie looked at me, recognized
me, and with glad cry, put her arms
around my neck.
The next instant, rude hands tore us
apart. I I was surrounded by high
priests.
"Seize him!" they cried.
And, as I saw Winnie borne off at
the bidding of Kaumai, Twas knocked
down and fettered by the maniacs who
xorshiped Pele.
| CHAPTER XIX.