The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-03-26
ANNEXATION.

| Laura, daWall Is annexed exclaimed
Tom Worthington as he walked briskly
into Laura Glenn's dooryard
1t was a fair, brown haired girl who sat
| on the low bench under the old tree. Tom
had looked at her with thrill of exulta-
ton as he came up the path. She had not
heard him, and her brown head was bent
over book She looked up with a smile
as he sprang across the grass and ap-
preached the bench
"HawaiiP" she queried doubtfully, smil-
ing because he was smiling.
"Yes, y don't you know that Uncle John
had a coffee plantation near Honolulu"
mo" said Laura
t'Of course I remember now that
did not tell you about it, because l had
very little idea that it would mean any
thing to US You see, mothers brother,
my Uncle John, went out to Honolulu
over 20 years ago. He did not stay long,
but while he was there be befriended some
rich native. We never did understand just
how it was, but when the man died he left
will by which Uncle John was to inherit
certain tract of land in the Unuanu val
ley provided there were no direct heirs.
OF course we did not think anything of it,
because Uncle John used to laugh about
his Hawaiian estate and say that there
was no danger but that there would be
plenty of heirs to keep him out of it.
However, the interesting part is this,
and that is why l am SO happy, dear. The
land is ours now. Since the United States
have annexed the islands the property in
creases in value and all question about the
validity Of the title will be settled salts
factorily.
tDo you know what that means, little
grip And Tom leaned tenderly toward
Laura, who sat looking at him with wide
open, surprised eyes,
There was quick CLEAN in her eyes as
she looked into his. Then her head droop-
ed, and blush mounted to her cheeks.
"Yes, DEAR" exclaimed Tom, pressing
her hand. 'It means that you and / can
marry very soon We will not have to
work and wait, as we thought The path
is plain before U.S. Won't you tell me that
you are gladP" And he drew her within
the circle of his arm.
1T seems too good to be true sighed
the happy girl.
Tom was too happy to remain silent.
He was excited and exultant How much
this news from the capital meant to him
and Laura could not be estimated at once.
10ll ul6 dDOuU Al, whispered
"You see, we knew several months ago
that the last of the Hawaiian heirs was
gone-that is, that he is as good as dead.
Just think, Laura, he had leprosy and
was sent TO the leper colony. You see, the
estate should have been ours then, but the
native agents out there kept the facts away
firm us The agitation about the annex
alton, however, brought all these things
xx,;1 If % frio1lA
was plain If his heirs were not able to
inherit it was to go to- Uncle John and
his heirs Mother and 1 are the heirs, you
know So we come in for good income,
they tell me. ("
aAnd we get this blessing because of
the curse of leprosy upon those poor people
out there?'' said Laura in tender voice.
eyes, DEAR said Tom, sobered sud
denly. He looked up into the swaying
branches above him. He saw the July
flowers nodding in the breeze, and then he
looked at Laura, fair queen of his heart.
His happiness had been purchased at a
dear price indeed Hideous leprosy had
robbed another man of all that was dear
to him-home and wife and friends and
the enjoyment of the commonest things of
life
sit seems that the old native who was
Uncle Johns friend had horror of lep-
rosy" said Tom in explanation of the sin
gular will ''In fact, he had it himself
when Uncle John was there, but he kept
it a secret. There was curse upon his
family, he often said He hoped much,
however, of this youngest son-the one
who has just been taken into the leper
colony"
oil for a fQxU and
then went on:
1.-The old fellow explained to Uncle
John that if the leprosy carried off his en-
tire family, the property would go to some
collateral relative 1t was to prevent their
obtaining possession that he made the
will He hated them. Their grandmother
had cursed his father and his fathers
children. You know how queer and SUI
perstitious those people are. Leprosy has
taken the entire family of these cousins,
too, SO that there is no one but one leper
to inherit the property Now that the
United States government is taking hold
the title will be cleared up. We will prove
our claim, and the income will be paid to
us.
but the poor lepera' exclaimed Laura
"Surely he has right to the land just
''Well, it is pretty hard, admitted Tom
you see, he is as good as dead now. In
the ewes of the Hawaiians themselves he is
dead. No one who goes to the leper colony
ever comes back. He will be fed and clothed
and that is all the poor wretch can want.
stHow old is her" asked Laura suddenly
Let me see, - and Tom drew out some
papers and turned them over Puoa
u.,,c,, ,,,,,ct ,o oh011t Cd NOW -
.'Three years younger than you are,
said the plying Laura. Then, turning to
her lover, she exclaimed: ''Tom, he ought
to have some of that money We have no
right to it-that is, of course you and your
mother may do as you think best about it,
but can t take any of it What have
ever done that should enjoy the result OF
that poor fellow misery?'
what conscientious little thing it isl
said Tom, caressing her brown hair. But
don t you see, Laura " he continued argu
mentatively, 1.-THE property is ours. 1t
does not belong to any one else The law
gives it to u.s.
''Yes, " replied Laura, still doubtful,
.sbut YOU said that the annexation altered
the state of affairs.
$50 it does There will be no difficulty
now about establishing our title and when
that is done-oh, Laura, you and l can be
happy together
mo, Tom, not at the price of another's
unhappiness, said Laura very firmly.
"We have no right to that property away
out there in the Pacific. 1t belongs to the
islanders. We would be usurpers. can
not do it, Tom. You mustn't ask me. F"
'sNot ask you to share what is mine with
me'' exclaimed Tom. That plantation
is ours because it does not belong to any
one else According to Hawaiian CUSTOM
lepers have no legal rights. 1t is impossible
for them to have, shut up in that colony
as they are Besides in the clause Of the
will there is a paragraph which mentions
the conditions under which Uncle John
was to inherit it, In case of death or lep-
rosy removing his heirs the old fellow left
the plantation to Uncle John. told you
that he had dread of leprosy. That is
why he put that clause in the will. He
did not want the property to be enjoyed by
a native. He wanted Uncle John to have
It,"
"Granting all that, " returned Laura
'syou cannot get around the fact that If 1t
had not been for the leprosy we should not
have got the property. The rightful own
or is that poor fellow on the plague strick-
en- island l think the income should be
used in making him comfortable for the
rest Of his unhappy life That plantation
is an inheritance from his ancestors. We
would be interlopers.
thrust woman to have all the scruples
In the worldP' exclaimed Tom in disgust
'Can' t you be reasonable for one minute,
Laurap The property Is there. 1t must
be used by somebody. If it does not be-
long to us, it will be conflscated by some
one with no right to it, while we have
right there. Haven't been explaining
and explaining that the old native wanted
Uncle John to have it in case his own
heirs had leprosyY / can't make 1t plain
or. wish you would be reasonable
al can't be reasonable enough to do
what / think is wrong, said Laura, with
great tirmness and dignity. II do not say