The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-12-05

At the gate of the princess Wills
LAM left John Arden holding her horse
90 l won t keep you waiting more than
FIVE minutes" she promised.
She ran up the pathway through the
palm trees to the big silent house, and
In a moment the key was clicking II
the lock of the front door All was
dark within, for the shutters were
closed tightly, and she stood a moment
aceustoming her eyes to the gloom
Then she CROPPED her way to the broad
staircase. At its foot she collided
with some one coming hurriedly down.
and she cried out in fear.
Hush, Miss Comyns; don't make a
noise a voice whispered in her ear,
and man darted TO the open door to
close it. The light from without dis
closed his identity to the girl.
"Robert Williamsi How you fright
ened me!' she exclaimed, leaning
against the wall and pressing her hand
to her breast to regain her composure.
"D0n't close the door. It's so dark in
here that / can't see my way about. -
The man did not reply. He was
peering out into the garden anxiously.
Presently he closed the door silently
and shot the inside bolt.
'"Why do you do this?' the girl ask
ed in rising alarm. "Why are you
locking the door? Is anything wrong?"
He made no answer. Through the
gloom she heard his steps upon the
polished floor.
Robert Williams, I insist upon an
explanation she cried, retreating up
the stairs as she spoke. "What do you
mean by locking the door when | ask
81 can not tell you,' came tho
reply. ''You should not have come;
but, now that you are here, you must
remain for a while.'
Panic seized LAM and she DARED Bp
the stairway.
"stop; stopl'' called the man. "Do
not be frightened, Miss Comyns, and
please come back. I will explain"
LAM paused at the turn of the stairs
and looked down. 1t was silly to run
away, and she was angry at herself for
her sudden fear.
"Explain them she said CURLY.
"What is all this mystery2 And what
are you doing in this house alone?"
"fDon t speak so loud" Williams
urged. s'The others will hear, and if
they knew you were here they would
not let you go again.
"The others? What others?'
"Listen,'' the man said.
From abovestairs there came low
murmur of voices.
"Who are those people. What are
they and you doing in the princess s
house when she is at Waialua?'
"Her royal highness is" began
Williams, and then he hesitated. eyes,
the time has come to speak, he went
on f'Friend of the princess as you
are, you should be told the facts. We
are settling today, Miss Comyns, the
last details of a plan, we-and all who
are loyal to the king-have long con-
templated. You know the position of
his majesty, ruled by a missionary
clique; YOU know how he chafes under
the hated thraldom which he has not
been strong enough to throw off. To.
night he sleeps at his boatb6use, and
in his absence, we shall seize and for
tify the palace and proclaim a new
constitution At dawn we shall throw
open the gates of the palace to him,
and welcome him to throne where he
will be surrounded and advised by a
new cabinet. composed of those who
love him and who love Hawaii iei. The
reign of the missionaries ends to-
night!''
LAM listened with fast-beating heart
and eyes that widened, as she realized
the meaning of Williams words.
''Rut this is revolution, Robert"
she cried ''And there will be fighting
and bIoodshed! The cabinet will not
give up without struggle
We know that, and we are ready"
Williams answered. 81, myself, am to
lead the loyal forces. We are well
armed and all our men are drilled and
disciplined. "
"'Does the king know of this9 Does
he approve. "