The Washington herald., 1914-05-17
I am afraid I must have betrayed my

i am AFRAID must nave betrayed my
perturbation, for DR.. Georges FASTENED
to assure me that they were very happy
down in the settlement.
II was all too inconceivably monstrous.
l could not bear to look at her. A short
distance away, behind a stretched rope
guarded by policeman, were the lepers
relatives and friends. They were not
allowed to come near. There were no
last embraces, no kisses of farewell.
They called back and forth to one an
other-last messages, last words of love,
last reiterated instructions. And those
behind the rope looked with terrible in
tensity. 1t was the last time they would
behold the faces of their loved ones, for
they were the living dead, being carted
away in the funeral ship to the grave
yard of Molokai.
DR.. Georges gave the command, and
the unhappy wretches dragged them
selves to their feet and under their bur-
dens of luggage began to stagger across
the lighter and aboard the steamer. 1t
was the funeral procession. At once the
rwailing started from those behind the
rope. 1t was blood curdling; it was
heartrending. | never heard such woe,
and | hope never to again. kersdale
and McVeigh were still at the other end
of the wharf, talking earnestly; politics,
of course, for both were head over heels
in that particular game. When Lucy
Mokunui passed me, l stole look at
her She was beautiful. She was beau
tiful by our standards. as well-one of
those rare blossoms that occur but once
in generations. And she, of all women,
was doomed to Molokai She walked like
a queen, across the lighter, straight on
board, and aft on the open deck where
the lepers huddled by the rail, wailing,
now, to their dear ones on shore.
The lines were cast off, and the Noeau
began to move away from the wharf
The wailing increased Such grief and
despair! l was just resolving that new
er again would l be witness to the
sailing of the Nocau, when McVeigh
and Kersdale returned. The latter's
eyes were sparkling, and his lips could
not quite hide the smile of delight that
was his. Evidently the politics they had
talked had been satisfactory. The rope
had been flung aside, and the lamenting
relatives now crossed the stringer piece
on either side of US.
That's her mother DR.. Georges
whispered, indicating an old woman
next to me, who was rocking back and
forth and gazing at the steamer rail out
of tear-blinded eyes. l noticed also that
Lucy Mokunui was also wailing. She
stopped abruptly and gazed at Kersdale.
Then she stretched forth her arms in
that adorable, sensuous way that was
her very own. And with arms outspread,
she cried:
"Good-by, Jack! Good-by!'
He heard the cry, and looked. Never
was man overtaken by more crushing
fear. He reeled on the stringer piece,
his face went white to the roots of his
hair, and he seemed to shrink and with
er away inside his clothes. He threw up
his hands and groaned. My God! My
GodT Then he controlled himself by
a great effort.
'Good-by, Lucy! Goodbye he called
And he stood there on the wharf, way
ing his hands to her till the Noeau was
clear away and the faces lining her after
rail were vague and indistinct.
Il thought you knew said McVeigf,
who had been regarding him curiously.
You, of all men, should have known
thought that was why you were here"
81 know now" Kersdale answered
with immense gravity. Where's the
carriage"
He walked rapidly-half ran-to II. I
had to half run myself to keep up with
him.
Drive to DR.. Hervey," he told the
driver. Drive as fast as you can
He sank down in the seat, painting and
gasping. The pallor of his face had in
creased. His lips were compressed and
the sweat was standing out on his fore
head and upper lip. He seemed in some
horrible agony.
For Gods sake, Martin, make those
horses gor' he broke out suddenly. Lay
the whip into themi Do you hear? Lay
the whip into themp'
They'll break, sir" the driver remon-
strated.
Let them break" Kersdale answered
I'll pay your fine and square you with
the police Put it to them. That's right.
Faster! Fasterl
And l never knew, l never knew" he
muttered, sinking back in the seat and
with trembling hands wiping the sweat
away.
The carriage was bouncing, swaying,
and lurching around corners at such a
wild pace as to make conversation i'm
possible. Besides, there was nothing to
say. But | could hear him muttering
over and over: