The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-12-28

The night lowered dark and stormy
around the lonely island Of Sarbroo'
in the South Pacific Ocean.
The tall cocoanuts lining the beach
tossed their heads wildly to and FRO,
and the great seas came thunder1ng
upon the sand, sending showers OF
spray far inland.
About two hundred yards from the
beach, in little log house, sat an Old
missionary-the Rev. John Sturg1s,
with his only daughter, Leila, who had
accompanied her father to this distant
shore, that she might be near to COM
fort him and administer to his wants.
A lovelier girl than Leila seldom
greeted mortal vision.
The light of the lamp upon the
coarse table, in one corner OF the
rough but neatly-swept floor, fell up
on her chestnut hair, seeming to en-
circle it with halo, while the pure,
innocent expression Of the young face
might have moved a heart Of stone.
The eyes of this girl were OF deep
hazel, her skin was transparency
fair, ,her form perfect in its graceful
proportions.
At the moment of which we write,
she sat upon a little stool at her faith
er's feet, her bright head resting up
on his knee, and satisfied smile
lowering about her pretty mouth, as
she felt the caressing touch OF her
parents hand. ..-...
Leila" SAID he after while, do
you never feel tired Of living away
out here with me in the Pacific
ocean,"
"Tired!-oh, no, papa-no, indeed
"Alas! I feel that it is selfish Of me
to keep you here. Tell me, darling, do
you not sometimes think Of Charles
Graham?"
A vivid blush came upon Leilas
cheek, her bosom heaved.
"Oh, never mind, papa," she said,
softly.
THAT means that you do think; Of
him?"
81 will not deny it, she answered,
gently, burying her face upon his
bosom. "But Charles, you know, has
promised to wait for me; so I am sat-
isfied.''
Mr.. Sturgis smiled.
sIt is most time that his ship ar
rived off this place. You know he said
he would touch here on his way home
from Australia"
,"Yes-he said so when we parted
from him." she answered, her bright
eyes cleaning with joy.
81 hope he will come soon," said
Mr.. sturgis, a shadow crossing his
brow.
Leila looked at him earnestly.
Papa" she said at length do you
not think that fears of rising among
the sayages are groundless?"
"No, dearest, do not. That fellow,
Henry Seedcn, an afraid is doing
great mischief here"
The person to whom he alluded was
a dark-browed mana boatswaln S
mate. who had deserted vessel,
which several months previously, had
touched here for a supply of water.
The fellow had called frequently on
Mr.. Sturgis, and had been particular
" attentive to Leila, who, however, by
every means in her power, had shown
hum that such attentions were to her
far from agreeable.
The boatswain's mate, however, who
was coarse, conceited fellow, had
continued his unwelcome visits, and
finally had even cad the audacity to
propose to Mr.. Sturgis for Leila's
nauu, in the presence Of the young
girl.
Both father and daughter had then
given him to understand that his COM
pany was no longer desired, and he
then gone away with an aspect CT
countenance Which had made the
young woman fairly shudder-it was
SO demoniacal-so full Of bitter hatred.
Since then be had not again in
truded-had Stunned both whenever
they chanced to meet him in their
walks.
The behavior of the natives, <ho
had hitherto been friendly to them, al
so seemed to change.
Dark, sullen glances often directed
toward them by the island people, con,
vinced the former that Henry Seedon
was at work, endeavoring to turn the
natives against them. Vainly Mr.
Sturges had endeavored to counteract
this influence. Seedon was man
who had great power for e'vil-a willy
cunning villain, who knew just how to
deal with the ignorant ilaaderc-