Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-10

and the crew would be running to
their places. His heart ached with the
desire to land. but something-he knew
not what-withheld the order on his
lips.
Did he not owe it to her to keep the
promise Of forty years, a promise CIV
en- in the flush Of youth and hope and
sealed with scalding tears?
His resolution was taken. He or
dered Commander Stillwell to stop the
ship and lower boat.
II am going to treat myself to run
ashore" he said by way of explanation,
The vessel slowly stopped. The COW
ers were whipped off the gig. She was
hoisted out and lowered. the crew drop
ping down the ladder into their places
at the peep-peep-peep of the whistle.
He was landed at little cove where
in bygone days he had often whiled
away an hour waiting in charge of
Hadow's boat. 1t gave him singular
sensation to feel the keel CRATE against
She single and to say to himself that
this was Lihua! He drew deep
breath as he looked about and noticed
how unchanged 1t all was.
1t came over him with start that
the village was empty. Then he re-
membered 1t was Sunday, and they
were all at church. Thank God, there
was none to watch him! No prying
curious eyes to disturb his thoughts.
But they would soon be out again, and
1t behooved him to make the best use
Of his solitude while he might. He
struck inland, his heart beating with a
curious expectancy. At every sound
he held his breath, and he would turn
quickly and look back with haunting
sense that Tehea was near him; that
perhaps she was gazing at him through
the trees. He approached his old home
through overgrown plantations. 1t
awed him to part the branches and to
feel himself drawing near at every step
to the only house he had ever called his
own. AS lie heard the splashing water
fall he stopped. not daring for the mo-
ment to go on. When at last he did so
Huu EuOuulCu IAE llll4C I'LL NC AOlAAA AS
house at all. Nothing but ferns and
weeds, man high. He moved about
here and there, up to the armpits in
yerdlre. In CONSERVATION at discover
ing 1t gone.
His foot struck against bowlder
He had forgotten that there We're rock
on the hill. III. moved along and h
foot struck again. He pressed I'll
weeds back and looked down.
He saw tomb of crumb!ing cemen.
green with age and buried out of sigh
under the tangle.
1t had never occurred to him befol
that Tehea might be dead.
He held back the underground again
and peered into the depths. Yes. 1t was
the grave of chief or woman Of
rank. He laid both hands on the thick
stem Of shrub and tore it out Of the
ground. He seized another and drag
ged 1t out with the same ferocity. II
was intolerable That's she should sui
focate under all this warm. wet jungle
that intruded itself. like horrible
canaille. where there was none to
drive 1t back He would give her CT
and sunshine. she that had loved the,
both. He would uncover the poo
stones that marked her last Resin
place lie would lay bare the earl
that wrapped her dead beauty.
He worked with desperation until h
hands were bleeding. until his eye
were stung and blinded with steamin
sweat. Dizzy with the heat. parchc
with thirst and sick with the steal
that rose from the damp ground. :
was forced again and again to desis
and rest. He cut his waistcoat int
slips and bound them round his blood!
hands. He broke the blades of his per
knife on recalcitrant roots that defe
the strength Of his arms. He laboret
with fury to complete the task he hati
set before him. Here he stood within
four walls Of vegetation, the sky above
him, the cracked and rotted tomb be-
low, satisfied at last by the accomplish
ment of his duty.
He called her aloud by name. He
bent down and kissed her messy bed.
He whispered with strange convic-
ton that she could hear him, that he
had kept his promise to return.