The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-22

pected. But somehow she had con-
tracted the disease. II broke us all
up, / assure you. We've kept Il out of
the papers, though. Nobody but our
selves and her family knows what has
become Of her. In fact, n you we're
10 ask any man I'm Honolulu, he'd tell
you Il was his impression that she was
somewhere In Europe, II was al her
request that we've been SO quiet about
H."
But who is she7" I asked. Certain
ly, from the way you talk about her.
she must be somebody"
"Did you ever hear Of Lucy Moku-
nui?"
Lucy Mokunui2" ! repeated, haunt
ed by some familiar association. I
shook my head. 1T seems to me I've
heard the name. but I've forgotten It."
Never heard of Lucy Mokunuil The
Hawaiian Nightingale ! beg pardon.
OF course you are a malahini new
comerl and could not be expected to
know. Well. Lucy Mokunul was the
best beloved Of Honolulu-of all Ha-
wall, Tor that matter.
you say was" I Interrupted.
"And I meal II. She is finished"
He shrugged his shoulders pityingly.
"A dozen haoles--I beg your pardon,
white men-haye lost their hearts TO
her at one time or another. And I'm
not counting in the ruck. The dozen
| refer to we're haoles Of position and
prominence.
"She could have married the son OF
the chief justice n she'd wanted to.
You think she's beautiful. Ell? But
you should hear her sing. Finest ma
tive woman singer In Hawaii Nei. Her
throat is pure silver and melted sun
shine. We adored her. She toured
America first with the Royal Hawaiian
band. After that she made two more
trips on her own account-concert
work"
"Oh!" | cried. Il remember now.
I heard her two years ago at the Bos-
ton Symphony. So that is she. I rec.
ognize her now"
l was oppressed by a heavy sadness.
Life was a futile thing at best. A
short two years and this magnificent
creature at the summit Of her magnif-
cent success was one Of the leper
squad awaiting deportation to Molokai.
recoiled from my own future. II
this awful fate fell to Lucy Mokunui
what might not my lot be--or any
body's lot? I was thoroughly aware
that in life we are in the midst Of
death--but to be in the midst Of a
living death. to die and not be dead,
to be one Of that draft OF creatures
that once were men, aye, and women,
like Lucy Mokunui. the epitome OF all
Polynesian charms, an artist as we'll
and well beloved OF men
! am afraid | must have betrayed
my perturbation, for DR.. Georges has
tened to assure me that they were
very happy down In the settlement.
II was all too inconceivably mon
strous. | could not bear to look al
her. A short distance away, behind
stretched rope guarded by a police
man, were the lepers' relatives ant
friends. They were not allowed 4
come neal. There were no last EN-
braces, no kisses OF farewell. Tnel
called back and forth to n another
last messages, last words OF love
last reiterated Instructions. And thos'
behind the rope looked with terribl,
intensity. II was the last time they
would behold the faces OF their loved
ones, for they we're the living dead
being carted away in the funeral shit
TO the graveyard OF Molokai.
Doctor Georges gave the command
and the unhappy wretches dragged
themselves 10 their feet and undel
their burdens OF luggage began {,
stagger across the lighter and aboar,
the steamer. Il was the funeral pro
cession. At once the wailing startel
from those behind the rope. Il wa
blood curdllng; Il was heartrending.
never heard such woe, and | hop
never to again. Kersdale and Nc
Weigh were still at the other end O
the wharf, talking earnestly; politics
Of course. for both we're head owe
heels In that particular game. Whei
Lucy Mokunui passed me, I stole
LOOK at her. She was beautiful. Sh
was beautiful by our standards, a
well-one OF those rare blossoms tina
occur but one in generations. An
she, Of all women, was doomed TO NJ,
lokai. She walked like a queen, acros
the lighter, straight ON board. and al
on the open deck where the leper
huddled by the rail, wailing, now. {
their dear mes on shore.
The lines we're cast on, and IN
Noeau began TO move away from IN
wharf. The wailing increased. Sue
grief and despair! ! was just fesol'
ing that " again would l be
witness to the sailing OF the Noea,
when Mcveigh and Kersdale returne,
The latter's eyes were sparkling, an
his lips could not quite hide the smll
I / - 1.NN-La HLAN -. A. UH-uM--au. -