Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-28

nothing, he went on: HE was not
alone, your Majesty; he had with him
here a young and beautiful woman,
| who loved him devotedly, and who
killed herself on his grave. He called
her Mifovna very beautiful
woman. They are buried side by
side /. /.
The old man listened unmoved. 1T
is not for me to Judge her. he said,
and with this comment never re-
;erred to Mirovna again, remaining
silent for long while, and sunk in
sort Of stupor. At last he rose unstead-
| lily to his feet and asked to be taken
to the grave. ut is the end Of my long
journey" he said. "The end Of many.
many things"
The little party, guided by Peau,
| took their way ashore and followed
him along the path that led across
the narrow width Of the island. The
moonlight streamed through the
palms, outlining on the sandy floor
beneath the giant branches that met
overhead; here and there spreading
jack-fruit cast blacker shadow,
through which they struggled like men
in cavern; occasionally they passed
Doggy pits, steaming miasmically,
orange trees Of penetrating fragrance,
groves of bananas, rustling their tat
tered leaves and grown together In
an impenetrable jungle. Soon, how
ever, they emerged from this zone
of cultivation, and with the drone of
the seaward breakers In their ears
found themselves in barren region,
broken in little hillocks, and open to
the unshaded brilliancy of the moon.
Here, in sandy hollow, and unut-,
terably melancholy in their aspect,
stood two small wooden crosses.
painted white, surmOunting pair or
narrow mounds, side by side
They stopped and the white men UNI
covered: Peau, who wore nothing on
| his glistening, black hair, reverently
inclined his head
(Which Is my son's?" asked the Ens
peror, gazing at the ground
Peau pointed at the nearest grave.
1.-THE chief sleeps there" he said TN
native to Matt; and then, with shud-
der of recollection: "The stones were
wet with Mirovna's blood, and the
/ fana faataamilo SO clenched in her
hand that l could not take it from
her-no, Excellency, I could not, and
thus it was buried with her, all
marveling at the fierceness of her
grasp"
The old Emperor had fallen on mis-
| knees in prayer with one arm about
the cross. 1t seemed sacrilege to
watch him. though not an eye was dry,
and rugged Won Todloben was shaking
with sobs. The unceasing moan of the
surf. the wierdness and loneliness of
the spot, that frail. stragic figure
crouching in the moonlight-all af-
fected the little company profoundly.
1t was relief to everyone when he
staggered to his feet, and with pitiable
resolution turned away.
i Nothing was said the unspoken
wish was obeyed; they slowly retraced
their steps, the old man walking apart,
unassisted. In this funereal manner
they reached the pier, where the EN-
peror at last broke the oppressive
! silence.
"And your he asked, turning tt
Matt. "Tell me what may do TO;
you; tell me how can reward your
/ Matt did not know what to say: II
fact, as he began to realize his owl !
situation, he felt greatly cast down
What. indeed, was to become OF him
and Chris? To go or to stay appeared
equally impossible; here they were
with nothing but the clothes they
stood in, waits where they had ex
! pected home and welcome. He die
rot answer. though perplexity and dis
may were evident on his face.
you are right" continued the En-
you to ask. Would it please you
this island and receive it from me as
a gift?"
ooh, your Majesty, nothing in the
world could make me happier"
",Then assemble these savages, and
let us inform them that you are now
the MASTER
1T Is not necessary your Majesty;
they will believe me when tell
them"
"And I must do more" went on the
old man with pathetic earnestness.
THAT sum once offered you as bride
and so honorably refusedit must also
be yours. l shall send 1t to you by
a vessel, and if then you find this
isolation greater than you can bear,
my officers will be instructed to take
you wherever you Wish.'
Matt was overwhelmed.
~ should be most glad of the yes
sell he said, after stammering his
thanks. But as for money, what there
is here must already be fortune"
Accept the one from me and the
other from my son. returned the En-
peror. "Good-by, my friend, and keep
us both in your remembrance, as l.,
on my part, will ever cherish you In
mine.'
i With another word to Chris, whose
hand he bent over and saluted with
stately courtesy, he descended into
the pinnace and took his place with
Won Todloben. The latter looked up
and raised his cap; even as he did SO
the boat was pushed off and the
water began to boil under her stern.
i A moment later she was Swimming
over the lagoon toward the lights OF
the man-of-war, now twinkling at the
entrance of the pass. Matt and Chris,
hand in hand, gazed after her spell