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


up, | assure you. We've kept 1t out OF
the papers, though. Nobody but our
selves and her family knows what has
become Of her, In fact, III you were
to ask any man in Honolulu, he'd tell
you it was his impression thatsshe was
somewhere in Europe. It was at her
request that we've been so quiet about
it," .v*
But who is she?" asked. Certain.
". from the way you talk about her.
she must be somebody"
did you ever hear or Lucy Moku.
nui?"
Lucy Mokunui?" I repeated, haunt.
ed by some familiar association.
shook my head. 1T seems to me I've
heard the name, but I've forgotten IL. 81
Never heard Of Lucy Mokunuil The
Hawaiian nightingale! beg pardon
or course You are maIahini (new.
comar) and could not be expected to
know. Wen, Lucy MoiCunui was the
best beloved Of Honoluiu--of all Ha-
wall. for that matter"
you say was" interrupted.
"And l mean 1t. She is finished. "
He shrugged his shoulders pityingly.
"a dozen haoles--I beg your pardon,
white men--have lost their hearts to
her at one time or another. And Pm
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 IA.
tive woman singer In Hawaii Mel. Her
throat is pure silver and melted sun
shine. We adoreG her. She toured
America first with the Royal Hawaiian
band. After that she made two more
trips on her own ACCOMPLISHMENT
work"
"Oh!" / cried. Il remember now.
I heard her two years ago at the Bos-
ton Symphony. So that is she. / rec
ognize her now"
/ was oppressed by heavy sadness.
Life was futile thing ut best. A
short two years and this magnificent
creature at the summit of her magnifl-
cent success was one Of the leper
squad awaiting deportation to Molokai.
/ recoiled from my own future. IL
this awful fate fell to Lucy Mokunui
what might not my lot be-or any.
bodg's lot? I was thoroughly aware
that in life we are in the midst of
death--but to be In the midst of
living death, to die and not be dead,
to be one of that draft of creatures
that once were men. aye, and women,
like Lacy Mokunui, the epitome Of all
Polyaesian charms, an artist as well,
and well beloved of men $50
am afraid l 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 inconceiyablya mon
strous. could not bear to look at
her. A short distance away, behind a
stretched rope guarded by a police
man. were the lepers' relatives and
friends. They were not allowed to
come near. There were 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
II 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 to their feet and under
their burdens of luggage began to
stagger across the lighter and aboard
the steamer. 1t was the funeral pro-
At once the wailing started
from those behind the rope. II was
blood curdling: it was heartrending.
never heard such woe, and / hope
never to again. Kersdale and Nc.
Weigh we're 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 q
look at her. She was beautiful. She
was beautiful by our standards, %
weli--one OF those rare blossoms that
occur but once In generations. And
she, OF all women. was doomed to Mo-
okai. She walked like a queen, across
he lighter straight on board, and eft
IN the open deck where the lepers
nnddled by the rail, wailing. now. to
heir dear ones on shore.
The lines were cast of, and the
Soeau began to move away from the
wharf. The wailing increased. Such
grief and despairl I was just resoIv-
ng that never again would be a |
Witness to the sailing OF the Noeau,
when McVeigh and Kersdale returned.
fhe iatter's eyes we're sparkling, and |
lis lips could not quite hide the smile |
,f delight that was his. Evidently the |
'olitics they had talked had been sat
sfactory. The rope had been flung |
side, and the lamenting relatives now |
'rossed the stringer piece on either
ide Of us.
That's her mother" Or. Georges
indicating an old woman |
iext TO me. who was rocking back and