The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-03-16
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keys are going to make tracks that
win smoke-"
We sat silent, looking out to-
ward the river. Not that We could
see much out there Presently,
though, after our eyes were accus-
toned to the netting, we began 70
make out the dim drift OF 6rehies
over the Siderong
She said, They look like the
lights Of junks drifting N the
ghost Of some Chinese river"
She swayed to peer through the
folds Of the curtain, 50 that for q
moment she leaned against me. At
that touch the heart seemed TO
20 out Of me; that girl could have
an effect upon me such as nobody
should have on anybody else. i
would not have taken 4 Palowit
tribe to beat me then-any Dyak
infant could have downed me with
a little stick. For ahead Of me was
something which I had dreaded
for long time, but had to do. The
fever was beginning to bear down
on Christine. Somehow | had TO
find a way 70 make her 90 away
and stay away; and / would as
soon have sent away my eyes
%Are you sure" she said uncer-
tainly, that we ought to try to
punish them yeti We haven't sent
out any word that the TenvaIznr
were tabu."
That doesn't make any differ
ence Nothing Is so foolish IN
place like this as 70 send out a lot
Of orders, and make a lot Of laws
You never know what you're GO
ing 20 be able to enforce, and an
unenforced law IS the worst ham
dicap we could have You have to
strike first, and explain afterward-
In that way they presently learn
what makes the rsjah angry, and
what he is likely TO do. And you
don't lose face because you haven't
threatened anything you haven't
done"
You Must Leave BaIingong
CHE was silent; she knew that
, what ! said was true. PAU"
she said at last, @this thing is GO
ing TO take a long, long time"
Forever, maybe Clyde Is over
anxious; he wants to do lot Of
things that he can't do. He wants
to stop the head-hunting raids
within the raj night nov, and later
do away with hezd-taking alto
gether. He wants TO put an end to
inter-fribal war within the limits
of Balingong. But ne can't do any
Of that yet; he's UP against some
Of the most sacred sillinesses Of
Dyak custom. This thing is going
to be the work Of years"
Do you think they're going to
plant the rice?"
Some Of them might. We can
expect very much this first year.
They think the white rajah wants
the rice crop doubled because he's
going to seize all Of Il for himself.
There isn't anyway to make them
believe what We say. But II even
a single village an be inducet TO
make the double planting. others
vii follow next year; and some
day well have them all
Christine said softly, You're q
good man for this, Paul Most peo-
pie can't face a thing that is long.
They see th1t an island Ike SUI
mantang could be made rich over
night If the Dyaks would see sense.
But Of course the Dyaks won't see
sense, so there isn't any return on
invested money. A whole new
generation Of natives may have TO
come I'D before even the rice
paddles are brought back as they
ought TO be-"
christine, ] think Clyde IS 60
Ing 70 see Il through.
I'm sure Of IL Paul. James
Clyde is proving 20 be AL ] thought
he was-and more-the purest sort
Of gift from God"
Always before, when I had
guessed from this girls voice how
tired she was, there had been dam
ger pressing down on as, ugly and
very near. And thai danger had
driven Christine's words, 50 that
I had seldom heard her speak n
any way that vas not light and
rapid, even when her eyes were
blue-shadowed from WEAKNESS.
But now ! Sensed 3 different quail
ity in her speech, and az first ]
could not tell what i was. Then
all at once ] knew. II was peace.
And / thought, Clyde has done
this for her, He has made safe
the dream that was Anthony For
roster s-and ChriStfne'z"
Christine ] said. 7 have %
tell you something else. | don't
like TO say this-you must know
that But the time has cone for
you % leave BalinRong.
In the dark was beginning %
End her face. my eyes groping for
every least detail Of il 50 that
sight and touch seemed queerly
mixed together, reaching cut 70
take in Christine. while ! did not
move AZ al A thousand memories
Of her face were helping ny eyes
50 that / vas seeing hEr As clearly
As I had seen her in that blast Of
sunlight On the Linka1E. when
she had first shown me the gold
iinat Of the TenyalanE. And I
knew that she was deeply hurt
Il suppose that was the last
thing ia the world Christine
said slowly. shat I wanted 70 hear
you say.
.'cAf.sslae. are yOa gong %