The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-06-09

The steamer from Honolulu was sew
eral hours late. and when she finally
poked her black PROV around the
headland to the north, Charley Curtis
was asleep on the beach.
Regularly, once week, he came
down to the wharf with his wheelbar-
row for the mail, and while the Kinau
lay at anchor and the passengers and
baggage were being hustled ashore, he
exchanged greetings with Buckley and
talked over the news. Not that he ever
had much to say. The town of Kawai-
haze was a mere name, and the monot-
onou< life of the outlying ranches af-
forded little occasion for comment of
any sort. But Buckley, in his official
role of purser, was a connecting link
with the outside world and thoroughly
enjoyed the prestige of his position.
Then there was the woman, Kawiki,
who made periodic trips to the capital
and returned with the gossip of the ma
tive world. Curtis's generosity in al
lowing her these outings created COM
ment, and Buckley made it a. personal
matter to hunt her up and bring her
back on schedule time.
The shrill whistle of the steamer
aroused Curtis and sent men and wo-
men scurrying from the shade of the
trees to the wharf. This was the oc-
casion of one of Kawiki's reluctant but
triumphal returns, and Curtis waited
until the first boat had come ashore
before moving. Then he started slowly
down to the wharf.
The native women were still ex-
changing cultural grunts and rubbing
<aoses, but the glory Of Kawikis pres
ence was beginning to affect them.
Even the half-dozen Japanese brush
ing past stopped for a second look at
the red holoku trimmed in white, with
its long train, and the browning spien-
dor of new hat with blue and red
ribbons and feather. Below We're
shoes with shiny leather over the toes.
'.Aweh. Kawiki wearing shoes!'
Nevertheless there they were.
Hello, Kawiki,' Curtis called as he
set down his wheelbarrow. -'What'd |
You bring me-anything?"
She bore down on him in glory and |
kissed him instead of rubbing his nose. |
SHOW you by and by" she answered. |
Then she went back to the women.
Al second boat brought Buckley. |
THAT you, Charley? How are you?
Well, brought your wahine back all |
right She didn't much want to come /
though. Had a time getting her. How's
Kawaihae?"
same as ever
Telephone working?"
Twas all right an hour ago. Want
to ring up Hilo?''
The two men started down the wharf
followed by a group of hangers-on.
Kawafhae seems pretty bad to any
one who comes ashore from the steam
er for a half-hour. There are two
abode buildings, a Chinese restaurant,
and a few shacks. Poles carrying a
single Wire connect the landing with
the ranches, and between stretch brown,
dry slopes, where nothing grows but
wild lima. However, the crudeness of
the place did not bother Buckley. He
had been casting anchor there once
week for twenty-odd years, and the
fact that it offered a convenient land
to soften his judgment 1t also served
to vary the monotony of his brief stay,
and these personal concessions, togeth-
er with the telling of news and the
handling of business. served to keep
him occupied
When he came back to the wharf
the last boat was ready to shove off.
jumped in. Two Cinnamon looked anx-