The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-04-24

feet. The hat, a cheap straw sailor.
trimmed with red and yellow roses,
perched on the top of her handsome
head at grotesque angle. Her anx-
ious face and trembling hands were
in strange contrast to the nodding
roses and bright colors of her cos
tune. She sat stiffly on one of the
chairs, placed in the middle of the
cool Samoan house, all that long af-
ternoon, her native retainers bring
ing her word constantly that the ball
was still tightly rolled on the signal
staff.
She could hear familiar sounds in
the distance-natives singing under
the hau tree on the beach, the cries
of children playing with stills; shouts
of rowdy sailors; bugle calls from
the distant men of war, and late in
the afternoon distant strains of a
band playing German airs.
Apia did not go to sleep till late
that night, for the whole town was
waiting, and beguiling the weary
hours; some with dancing at an i'm
promptu ball in the public hall:
crowds gathered on the veranda OF
the Tivoli hotel, where Fata' ALA
could hear their voices raised in ar
gument and laughter. Some of the
young people got up boating party
in the moonlight, and number OF
officers went in swimming off Mu1inu
Point. And all through the night,
Fata'al sat, immovable as a sphinx
in the blue cotton gown, the heavy
shoes and the red and yellow hat.
Suddenly, at early dawn, the most
beautiful hour of the day in Samoa.
when the sky is palest amber and the
sea shimmers like pearl, ripping
current of excitement ran along the
beach. Fata'alia felt 1t before she
heard the cry. The little ball had
rolled down the mast, and floating
on the morning breeze were their
bright-colored signal flags. The
noises grew louder. Voices called
and answered. Fataalia's retainers
flew back and forth. Some to un-
earth the Samoan oven and prepare
the feast; others to bring news
Their was smoke on the horizon
you could see the masts. You could
see the whole ship. She was coming
through the opening in the reef.
The doctors boat had put off. The
American consul's boat-the English
the German. Chug! That was
the anchor going down. There was
d great crowd at the gangway. The
passengers were coming ashore. And
there came messenger crying 81
have seen him! 1t is Siosi himself.
He was standing up in the boat!"
Fata ALA jumped to her feet sud-
denly, panic stricken. II can not
meet him like this" she said, and
then, in sudden revulsion of feel
ing, threw the hat on the floor.
"Quick!' she cried to her girls.
Help me off with these shoes and
stockings Bring me my lava-lava-
| am only a Samoan; I can not pre-
tend to be anything else. I must be
myself to my son."
Dressed in her own native CO.'S
tune, she turned to go and meet her
boy, and saw him running towards
her across the lawn. He was no for
eigner-no stranger-but her own
boy, holding out his arms. He caught
her as she tottered toward him, hold
ing her close. "My mother, my beau
tiful mother!" he said in purest Sa.
moan. 81 was afraid I might find
you changed. But you are yourself
your own beautiful, noble self.
Even the native dress that love so
we'll, and the little feet" he laughed.
looking down. 81 have remembered
all these years my mothers little
brown feet!"