The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-11-21

l
ward my uncle and myself.
l. followed in the footsteps of my
unole.
Whenever a native vas i'll he always
sent for me. I would go to his cot.
! tage and have medical attendance
with proper care, procured at once
! and talk with the sufferer as q friend
So i was not q surprise to me wEc1
/ my boy, Malliauki, came to me ont
day aad said:
| master, old Lowai wants to &C.
! you"
cold Lowai? Is lie ill?"' -
Every ill, sir. He is a very ole
nan-is Lowai."
| Lowai was q native that had beer
IN the plantation for many years. H'
| bad grown old in my uncle's service
''I will go to him at once. Where
Is heat his cottage?"
Eyes; his daughter is with him."
| l had been lounging on the porch
| 7ith. Uncle Tom and had on slippers,
Put on your shoes, Tom, my boy,
said my uncle. ''The ground ls wet
lee that the old fellow has every thing
he wants. If he is dangerously i'll, J
will get over and see m-myself."
Probably only the trouble of age
said. "Lowai is very old. and can
not last much longer"
"That is so. He was a. great chieI
in his day."
$50 old as that?" asked.
"Lowai must be nearly hundred.
1 followed. my uncle's advice and
put on pair of shoes capable of keep.
ing my feet dry; for wehad had a show.
er, and, she said, the ground was still
wet. Lighting cigar and taking Q
bottle of wine and some dainties from
the larder, I started of to see the ole
e1-chief.
A woman, old herself, met me at the
door. 1t was Lowai's daughter.
"Lowai is ill?" I said, half question:
ingly, as I entered: 80
"Ah! He is worse than i'll. He is
in a very bad way-is my father"
"What is the trouble?"
"Iknow not. He tells me nothing
He les upon his couch and calls TO,
you. And he cries to the Goddess
Pele to have mercy"
"Pele2 thought all that nonsense
vas done away with long ago."
"Not SO. He believes in Pele.
But he wants you. Will You see him
aow?"
Eyes. Take me to him at once"
She led me into q small room,
where an old shrunken figure lay
upon bed.
So old was Lowai, that his skin wa
like leather stretched over his frame q
bones.
He saw me enter, and smiled.
1 stepped to the side of the bed and
took his hand.
What is the matter, Lowai, yop
Ire never ill.,"
"No," he said, with an effort. q
Inn never i'll. I am not i'll now. I am
, lust goingto die. That's ALL"
"Oh. no, I think you will get up
lgain. I have brought you some wine,
End Malliauki has gone for Doctor
Wiling"
81 do not need him. I need only
sou. Lawai's time has come. H
Knows it. He is not sorry"
poured out some wine into a glass
and gave it to him.
Thank you," he said simply. "I,
gives me strength. And need it.
must hurry. T have not long to
i've and, before I 60, I must tell you
much"
] 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, anc
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 wlne," he said.
I gave him glassful. He drained
IL, and fell back on his pillow.
He made sign to his daughter.
"I.care u.s." he said.
I sat down by his bedside.
1--WE are alone, Lowai," I said.
"You have something of Importance
! 70 tell?"
eyes. You must listen well. Imust
save my words. And upon your fol,