The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-12-26
copyright, by ROBERT BoSSER's SoSs.l
CHAPTER XIX.
CONTINUED.

ture l had ever seen. Every line ol
her form, showing through the thin
white robes she wore, was a line oi
beauty. Every motion was q poem
every breath she drew made hel
bosom rise and fall with o majestic
rhythm.
When the high priests, leading mt
in their midst, came before Kaumais
throne, they knelt upon their knees
and bowed low before her. I did the
same. There was great contrast be
tween this bow and the one I had
given in the Temple Of the Glistenina
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 tt
her feet and standing impassively be
foe us.
"We have come, Oh, priestess, to Ia,
before you the question Of this priestf
fate"
"Have I not already said that hI
should be put in the dungeon, ant
there await the judgment?" she asked
"True, oh, priestess, wise and goo'
Kaumai, said the leader of the high
priests, "and we fastened to do you,
bidding. We carried him to the dun
geon. While on our way we though
to please you, oh, priestess, and t.
please the goddess Pele by maxim
this erring priest assist in the sacrifici
of the sacred one, when Pele demand
it,"
"Well?" she asked, as the hign
priest paused.
''He agreed" continued the high
priest, "and as we were about to leave
him he offered strange suppositior
to us. He said there might have beer
two new priests received to-day in.
stead OF one. That both might havt
desecrated the temple by laying hand.
on the sacred one, and both might
be condemned to the dungeon. Then,
oh, priestess, he said that we might
have made the proposition to assist ir
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 this,with 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 Knumai, softly.
ooh, priestess, you who are so bean.
tiful," began, "must be also noble.
I came here as priest, having beer
made the successor of old Lowai in
Oahu. I saw at your feet, awaiting
sacrifice, one whom I loved. I forgot
my orders. I forgot reason. You
know what I did. You do not forgive.
These high-priests suggested to NE
that assist at the sacrifice Of this be.
| ing whom I loved, and then, as re-
ward, become one of themselves. I acI
oepted. Now, o Priestess, in the case
that has been placed before You, il
the other priest had refused, he would
60 to the dungeon. I, having &C.
cepted, do not deserve so harsh q
treatment.
A CLEAN came into the eyes Of Kau.
mai, but it was there one instant
only.
"What the priest says Is true" she
sail "What, 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. Lee,
him sleep, however, in the dungeon,
| without ,bolting the door. Let him
eat with the common priests in their
hall. But let him not escape" said
Kaumai.
"Thank you, o Priestess!" I said.
"I shall be- ever ready to do your bid.
ding"
With q low bow, the high-priests
turned away, leaving me free to walk
where would, but with certainty
that I would be watched.
Kaumai swept past mo, aud there
was something strangely fascinating
in the glance she gave me. There was
l. ~ c1inht