Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-01-07


up. assure yon. We've kept II ont Of
the papers, though Nobody but our
selves and her family knows what has
become Of her. In fact, II you we're
to ask any man I'm Honolulu. he'd tell
you IL was his impression that she was
somewhere In Europe II was at her
request that we've been 50 quiet about
It." "a
''fsut who is sheg" asked. Certain
ly. from the way you talk about her.
she must be somebody"
did you ever hear OF Lucy Moku-
muir"
Lucy Mokunui?" repeated. haunt
ed by some familiar association.
shook my head. 1T seems to me I've
heard the name, but I've forgotten It."
Never heard OF Lucy Mokunui! The
Hawaiian nightingale / beg pardon
OF course you are malahini thew
comer1 and could not be expected to
know. Well. Lucy Mokunui was the
best beloved Of Honoiuiu--of all Ha-
wall. for that matter"
/ "You say was" interrupted.
| "And / mean 1t. She is finished. :"
He shrugged his shoulders pityingiy.
"A dozen haoles--T beg your pardon.
white men--have lost their hearts to
her at one time or another. And I'm
not counting in the ruck The dozen
refer to were haoles Of position and
prominence.
"She could have married the son OF
the chief justice If she'd wanted to.
| You think she's beautiful, Ell? But
you should hear her sing. Finest ma
1 tive woman singer In Hawaii Mel. 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 ACCOMPLISHMENT
! work" -- ...
"0h!" cried. Il remember now.
I heard her two years ago at the Bos-
ton Symphony. So that is she. i rec
ognize her now"
I was oppressed by heavy sadness.
Life was futile thing at best. A
short two years and this magnificent
creature at the summit Of her magnifi-
| cent success was cne of the leper
squad awaiting deportation to Moiokai.
! recoiled from my own future. II
this awful fate fell to Lucy Mokrnui
what might not my lot be--or any
body's lot? was thoroughly aware
that In life we are in the midst OF
| death--but to be I'm the midst of q
living death, to die and not be dead,
to be one Of that draft of creatures
that once we're men. aye, and women,
like Lucy Mokunui, the epitome of all
PolyResian charms, an artist as well,
and well beloved of men,
/ am afraid must have BETRAYED
my perturbation. for DIR. Georges has
tened to assure me that they were
very happy down in the settlement.
1t was all too ineonceivably mon
strous. l could not bear to look at
her. A short distance away, behind g
stretched rope guarded by a police
man, were the lepers' relatives and
friends. They were not allowed to
come near. There we're no last en-
braces, no kisses of farewell. They
| called back and forth to one another
last messages, last words OF love,
last reiterated instructions. And those
behind the rope looked with terrible
intensity. IL 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 graveyard of Molokai.
Doctor Georges gave the command,
and the unhappy wretches dragged
themselves 10 their feet and under
their burdens OF luggage began to
stagger across the lighter and aboard
! the steamer. 1t was the funeral pro-
cession. At once the waiting started
from those behind the rope, 1t was
blood curdling; It was heartrending. |
never heard such woe and | hope
never to again. Kersdale and Nc.
Weigh were still at the other end of
the wharf. talking earnestly; politics,
OF course. for both we're head over
heels in that particular game. When
Lucy Mokunui passed me, stole o
look at her. She was beautiful She
was beautiful by our standards, as
well--one OF those rare blossoms that
occur but once In generations. And
she, Of all women. was doomed to Mo-
iokai. She walked like 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 OF, and the
Noeau began to move away from the
wharf. The wailing increased. Such
grief and despair! I was just resolv.
ing that never again would ! be a
witness to the sailing OF the Noeau,
when Mcveigh and Kersdale returned,
The latter's eyes were sparkling. and
his lips could not quite hide the smile
OF delight that was bis. Evidently the
politics they had talked had been sat.
isfacfory. The rope had been flung
aside, and the lamenting relatives now
crossed the stringer piece on either
side Of MS.
That's her mother Or. Georges
whispered. indicating an old woman
next TO me. who was rocking back and
forth and gazing at the steamer rail