St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-10-29
.NNSISISEINISV

II AOMAO'S matched hut was far up
n on one Of the hillsides OF the
Nuuanu Valley. It was sheltered from
the MONDAY sun by far-spreading
banyan tree, and on one Of the lower
branches of this Kaomao was resting.
Her white cotton muunuu revealed
soft rounding curves and long slender
lines; her eyes were Swallowed by her
dusky hair, and her fingers idly plait--
ed lei of heavily perfumed, heavily
petaled jasmine. From her lips fell
q cadence of tones softer than the
wind that rustled the tattered banana
leaves, sweeter than the ripping brook
that hurried by. But Kaomao was not
happy, and her song was more plain
tive than the note of the mourning
dove.
Umanunu, the girls grandmother.
thrust her wrinkled face between the
leaves; with her skinny arm and hand
she snatched the jasmine wreath.
SIS it your wedding wreath, Kao-
mao?" The tone was mocking and the
girl did not answer.
"And you sing funeral dirge!" the
old woman jeered.
ut may be my wedding wreath. :"
The girls voice was still soft and
sweet, still full Of mournful music.
1.-THE perfume Of the jasmine last long
after the flower dies" ,& ,s7g
"Ah! But even its perfume will not
last until the coming of faithless
lover" croaked Umanunu.
"Paliopaleke is not faithless!" cried
Kaomao. Il will believe in him for
ever. l will believe in him until he
himself tells me that he is false"
The old crone laughed, but her mer-
riment was cracked and discordant.
"Paliopaleke is beautiful" she
tainted, 'tand the girls in the town
have eyes. He is strong, but the girls
down there will not let him leave
them. His voice is sweet, and the
women have ears"
HE is strong for met" Kaomao's
voice was passionate. He is beautiful
for me, and he sings only for me. l
know that he would come II he could.
We are far-far out OF the world, and
he has been detained. He can not
come to me know. And there Is some
good reason. !"
Far out Of the world" echoed the
woman. Three hours to the coast! II
/ were q girl, and my lover deserted
me, would find him. I would go 20
him, and II he were faithless would
- The sinister laugh conveyed her
meaning quite as well as words would
have done.
And would not have Paliopaleke
imagine for IN instant that doubted
him, that l thought him faithless,"
answered Kaomao. HE will come in
his own good time, and his time will
be my time"
Umanunu, angered by the girls OBJ
stinacy, hobbled back to the hut, NUT
tering her scorn for the girl who
trusted, her maledictions on the lover
who fingered. For many weeks no
word had come to Kaomao from her
betrothed, although the day for the
wedding was drawing near, and the
old woman's heart burned with vicar
fous vengeance for the grandchild
she loved.
Kaomao, left alone in the banyan
tree, lay silent now, her fingers rest
ing on the heap Of blossoms in her
lap. The MONDAY sun, high above
her sheltering. leaves, dropped warm
patches Of go1d on her white gown. on
her black veil Of hair, on her small
brown hands So motionless she lay
that a brilliant iridescent lizard crept
cautiously ct first, then carelessly
along the twisting root, across her
breast, and nestled In the warm flow
ers in her lap. She was not asleep,
but her thoughts were far away from
her surroundings. They were with
Paliopaleke, searching for him, follow
ing him, calling for him, assuring him
of her love that would last forever,
Of her love that would believe in him
forever.
When she opened her eyes at last It
was to see Paliopaleke sitting on the
ground at little distance from her,
his eyes intent upon her, his hands 20
tightly clasped abopt the gnarled root