The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-03-13

oOuu0 dI0 oOWh S3OA % A0 tOk<ASN%t
pointing into the lake oflava, no longe,
rumbling or smoking. 'The soldiers
killed them and Patua and I buried
them in there. The others are wan.
dering about the island. There, was
no way to leave it, for Patua's boat
was broken in storm.
sAnd the Observation-Disclosures"
I asked. "What of that?"' ::sf:.
He did not answer: He stepped
toward that, chamber in which Kaumai;
had sheltered me and had raised my
hopes and had ibade me trustlher.
Nimolau gave n peculiar cry: -
$50 in,"' he said. =.
Gordon and I, with our nerves
braced, dragging Jean Chicot between
u.s. stepped into the. chamber Of the
oriestess. -,
..Tremblihgly, paralyzed in limb ana
tongue, we stood there.
Two beautiful women came TO greet
US.
One was. Kaumai, more radiant, more
lowell than ever. Theother-God open
my eyes clearer that I May see!--waa
Winnie. T.,
"Winnie!', I cried at last, lost in
fog of fbewilderment. "Winnie! Ny
voice was broken; my sight dim. !
covld say no more than that. "Win-
nie!' g.
IT was no phantom. My sisters
arms were around my neck. She was
weeping and kissing me, and was
weeping and kissing her.
"God be praised" I exclaimed at
nst. ."But saw you thrown into the
lava lake. How were you rescued
md by whom"
A happy laugh drove her tears
away.
CT wasn't thrown in, Tom dear"
she said, and now she found time 70
stretch out her hand to Gordon, who
stood staring at her and st Kaumai
and at the room in which we stood
cit was only bundle that was thrown
in, Tom. Kaumai was true, and
saved me. Nimolau and Patua were
true to us and her and did not betray
the secret" Now she lowered her
voice to a whisper. "And Kaumai
loves you, Tom, and saved me fol
YOU. and I love Kaumai.
NY eyes were swimming with tears,
Through them I could see Kaumai,
beautiful Kaurnai, crouching upon
cushion. her face buried in her hands.
Gordon found his tongue, and with
the light of a resurrected love strug-
Cling for the mastery with the wonder
ment in his eyes, he took Winnie and
told her how happy he was to find her.
I stepped to Kaumai's tide. She
knew my footstep and jumped to. her
feet.
"You could not trust mew she
cried, shrinking from me.
at trust you now," said. 81 trust
you, love you and worship you.
Come"
held out my arms. She came to
me. All! The misery was wiped out
in that embrace. of love. 1t needed
no words to say that. Kaumai loved
me. This beautiful woman, whose
only teachers had been Jean Chicot
and Nature, was mine. She had
earned my ,lqye,f my gratitude, my
trust. With my arm around her waist
]. turned to Jean Chicot..
The old Frenchman stood palsied
with surprise, fearssand bewilderment,
rubbing his hands together and moan
ing to himself. Seacamp stood with
his hands in his pockets, staring with
wide-open eyes and pale face at Win.
ME, at Kaumai and at me-.
"Speakr" I commanded Jean
Cbicot. "I know your answer, but 7
brought you here to discover Helene.
Speak! Is this the daughter, of Thomas
Warringford?"
"Yes," hoarsely cried the old man.
"That is Helene. She does not know
me! She does not know mel"
I bent and kissed my priestess
again.
"You are my cousin" I said,
'and fortune is waiting you at
Honolulu"
She tenderly put her hand in mine
and drew me toward Winnie and
Gordon. Embracing Winnie and me
she said:
81 have my fortune now"
"Kaumai our cousinw exclaimed
Winnie. "Uncle Toms daughter; and
Uncle Tom is dead!
eyes," I replied. ''Kaumai be-
longs to us. Uncle Tom left her to us
to care for-and how tenderly we slaIl
do it."