The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-11-14
.By SEWARD w. HOPKINS.

I supplied more than ore poor devil
with food.
There was a Mexican not far from
the colony who had small farm.
The products of this he disposed of tc
the lepers. The colony was in charge
of an officer from the Reception Hos
pital at Honolulu, and he made certain
that his unfortunate wards were well
cared for. This Mexican farmer had
a few scrub horses, and through the
superintendent, as the officer was
called, I was enabled to purchase a
steed for horseback exercise.
All this probably seems a very lux
urious life for a man supposed to be
dying. But it must be borne in mind
that I had not waited until my disease
had shown itself Indignantly before I
withdrew to the isolation of Molokai.
I had the same appetite, desires and
energy as a we'll man would have. 7
had even gotten over the lassitude
. that had felt at The Corals. This, OF
course, was on account of the unusual
excitement attendant upon the change,
and would, in time, end in a complete
relapse. Rut while I had the strength
I made the most of it.
I sat on my porch and smoked, and
read whatever I could get to read!
The Hawaiian Star, published in Hon!
olulu, came regularly.
Gordon came to see me. and we sal
in the clear starlight of a perfeci
evening, with our cigars and oul
friendship, RS though death had moi
laid his ugly hand on one of US. J
asked him about my uncle.
"He is failing rapidly, poor man:
said Gordon. 'He wants to see you,
but I advised against it. He could
not stand it. He urged me to bring
him along, but when Warren sided
with me. he gave in."
t'It would do no good" I replied,
although should like very much to
see Uncle Tom. By the way, there is
something I had wanted to ask you,
but almost forgot it. You remember
my last day in Honolulu, when I left
you and Uncle Tom in the Office of the
hospital, Warren said: 'Warringford,
wait, I want to see you What did
he want?"
Gordon hesitated moment, as if re-
tuctant to speak.
"Do not tell me if there is any rea
son for not telling" said. 81 asked
merely through curiosity"
"There is no reason why I should
not tell you," said Gordon, slowly.
"Yet there is. It is o matter, I pre-
sumo, that Warren would prefer to
kpeak on himself, when the time comes.
Yet he enjoined no secrecy upon u.s..
'1t concerned me, then?"
eyes, it concerned you and others.
You know how Warren has spent his
life."
s:.sAh! Has he found remedy .
leprosy?"
"He did not say he had. But he
said he had reached point in his eS-
periments where he saw hope ahead,
and bade your uncle hope also. But
Mr.. Warringford is not in condition
to hope. He is breaking down rapidly.
Winnie's misfortune and yours werc
zoo much for him."
Sc "You have learned nothing of VIM
aie." -. - -
Nothing, Tom. Not thing. =,
We were silent for time.
"Don't you think" I said. that il
Warren really thought he had sue.
,eeded or nearly succeeded, that it is
strange he said nothing TO me about
it?"
"No. Warren is very cautious; he
has tried and failed so many times that
I suppose he shrinks from arousing
any false hopes. In your uncle's case
it was q measure to stave off disastrous
results from your leaving"
saThen, do you believe there is any
thing in it?"
IT have hoped so, Tom, from the
first. Bat it is strange that Warren
has not been to see you. He said hd
was coming to Molokai o week ago.
and the ship I came on was his only
chance for fortnight. He may come
then"
Gordon returned late in the eyeninc
to the ship.
The next two weeks passed offwith
out incident. I spent my days as l
! had before. But my old lassitude was
coming back, and I knew that it was
the beginning of the end.
One afternoon, two weeks after Cor.
don's visit, 1 was working in the lit.
tie garden around my cottage, gather.
ing taro for more poi, when familiar
voice reached me from the road. g.