The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-13


The younger removed his hat;
the other did not-and IL was he
who replied:
This is the Island of Oblivion, {"
said he slowly. who are you,
and whence come your"
I'VE are travellers and citizens
of the United States on a voyage
through the West Indies" Brins-
made answered. I'VE sighted this
island, which is not on the chart,
and we stopped to investigate.
This island is not on the
chart, you say?"
1T is mott"
You see, Beauchamp," said he
to his companion; lit is as we
have thought. How deep is the
fog, sirs, where you came
through"
Possibly half a mile" said
Brinsmade.
"And beyond?"
"Other islands of the West
Indies, the Atlantic ocean, and,
some 1000 miles away, England. !"
The mans face lit up.
England 5000 miles away!
You hear, Beauchamp, you hear"
II hear, my Lord" the other
answered. England, however,
does not interest me now; I'm too
old for transplanting-and, saw
ing your pardon, we of the island
have been lost for too many gen.
erations to go back, even If we
could"
Tut, tut, james, who said we
thought of going back?" the Duke
replied. I'm satisfied with my
island; and so, ! think, are my
people" He turned to us. you,
sirs, are the first strangers that
Oblivion has seen since our an
cestors came here in 1799.'
Has no one gone back to Eng
land in all that timer" asked.
Neither there nor elsewhere, ="
he replied. IAN oblivian is sworn
never to leave the island? We will
be glad to have you accompany
us to our residence, messieurs;
there we can talk more at our
ease. The steps on the east side
of the pyramid are the ones we
use"
I'VE shall be delighted" said
Brinsmade.
threw a glance over my Shout
der to insure that Hatch and Con-
nor were on the job.
The steps on the east side were
about two feet high, in fine re-
pair, and fairly easy of ascent.
The summit was at least three
hundred feet square. | am not
familiar with Maya customs, fur
Their than that the pyramids con-
stituted a temple having the YES
thule and sanctuary on it's top.
The Oblivian Englishmen, how
ever, had transformed it into a
royal residence for the reigning
Duke; it's height making every
breeze available, and shade was
provided by roofs of woven grass.
The Duke led the way to one
corner, where a number of Chip
pendale chairs were scattered
around a table, and motioned us
to a place. Scarcely were we seat
ed when a servant appeared with
a flagon and goblets of silver and
served us with a drink-which
Brinsmade and l instantly recog-
nized as Vino de Coyal, commonly
called Chicha in the West Indies.
IF you won't consider it an i'm
pertinence," said Brinsmade, 81
should like to know how a Royal
Duke of England ever happened
to come to this remote island
and the reason for the name Obli-
vion?"
Certainly, sir!" responded the
Duke. Duke William, my great
grandfather, was cousin-german
to his Majesty of England. He
had been previously misused by
his royal cousin and his govern
ment; and after duly protesting
and receiving no redress, he en-
barked his household, with their
wives and families, on three mer-
chant vessels purchased for the
occasion, and set sail for the West
Indies, to seek some remote and
isolated island that had not yet
been taken up by any nation. Why
he chose the West Indies, no one
knows.
I'm due course, he came upon
the bank Of fog; he penetrated
| it, found this island, investigated
the underground passage. and
landed. Then he burned the YES
sells, issuing an edict declaring it
capital offense for anyone to at
tempt to depart the island. And
from that day until this, Oblivion
has never had a visitor from the
outside world. The fog has been
sufficient protection, 1t seems.
And that reminds me, l have not
had the politeness to ask your
Names"
| told him our names and resi-
dences; adding that New York
was the metropolis of the West
ern hemisphere, and the second
largest city in the world. Then
we arose to go.
The Duke held out his hand
and smiled. Come back tomor-
row and dine with us at 1 O'Clock,
and bring your wives along"
I'VE are not married." said l..
WHAT said he. you both
are certainly over thirty"
I'VE admit the impeachment"
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