Mrs. M. A. Pittock

“ Ahleka, never! The young men in my land are not nature’s children as you are, living pure and wholesome lives, but most of them are dissipated, and vicious creatures to be abhorred, rather than loved, or else, weak, worthless beings that no noble woman could give herself to without degrading herself. The men of my land do not study nature in her wondrous, varying moods, as you do. Nor do they make manly vigor and perfection their first aim in life. They have no time to give thought to these things; they are taken up in the mad rush in the pursuit of money.”
“And is not love before money?” ”

“ Why are not all alike, happy and equal as in my land?”
“Ah, Ahleka, this is civilization. It would never do for every one to be happy in this enlightened country. Equality is only to be found in savage life. Such a thing as universal contentment could not be allowed here. To keep the thousands from making any attempt at equality, it requires the foot of prosperity to be kept firmly and constantly on the neck of adversity.”
“But, Mabel, I thought that your country was different from other countries. ”

“ Maula loves Allen. Oh, how she loves him. But she would have waited until the moon maidens had chosen. Then, if you had chosen him, Maula would have taken her canoe far out beyond the reef and thrown herself to the sharks.” As the girl spoke, a passionate light shone in her eyes, forcing Mabel to believe her. “But now he is Maula’s. How I love him. I shall be so kind, so gentle, to him that he shall love me in return. Maula shall be a soft, cooing dove in his hands, a wild beast of the hills to his enemies.” ”

“ Maynard was one of those women who all her life had lived for society, and struggled continually to be a leader, but as yet her ambition was ungratified, for, though she was a prominent figure socially, she was by no means a leader; whereas, Mabel, having lost her mother in early childhood, had been the companion, more or less, of her father, a man kindhearted and thoroughly good, but who regarded social duties as rather a bore, and consequently Mabel saw the world through his eyes and had learned, very young, the bitter lesson of disenchantment as far as the social system was concerned. ”

“ How long the happy pair would have remained 85reclining under the fragrant trees, with the sweet songs of bright, winged birds, and the soft plash of the waves breaking at their feet, the only sounds to reach their ears, we cannot tell, if at that moment Etta and Kaelea had not come bounding down the beach in the direction of their retreat, Etta crying out to them:
“Oh, you idlers. Why are you not dressed for the feast? The hour of rest is over and every one is ready for the festival, except you two. What in the world have you been about, that you are not ready also?” ”

“ Now that I am leaving my people, you two will rule over them. Govern them with love, and that love will be returned to you a thousand fold. Our sister, Kaelea, I give into your keeping until the next festival, when she, under your guidance, shall rule her people,” saying which, Ahleka embraced Allen and Kaelea for the last time, then stepped into the boat which was to bear him to new sensations and strange experiences amidst civilization. As the boat pulled off to the Eliza Judd, a sweet song of sad regret was borne over the water to the travellers. ”

“ All through the afternoon they kept in sight of the other boat load of fellow sufferers. As the day advanced, the breeze, which had been blowing all day, was a strong gale by the time night had fallen, with that suddenness, which seems, in a moment, to envelop the sea and earth as with a dark shroud dropped by mysterious hand from heaven.
There is in the tropics no gentle approach of night, no soft shades of twilight, that time when all heaven and earth is hushed in dreamy, restful quiet ”

“ It would be far better if every woman would cling to the one man she loves; but you are not right in meeting him secretly. You should not be ashamed to acknowledge your love before all. When one is ashamed of their love it is not the pure, strong unchangeable passion that alone should be called by that name.” She spoke warmly, for she did not like this concealment on the part of her friend.
“But Mabel, you do not understand me at all. I am not ashamed of my love for Uala, but papa has said I should never marry any one on this island with his consent. ”

“ Think well, Allen, 90before you leave this paradise where all is happiness and contentment, where strife and contention are unknown, to return to the cold-hearted, calculating world to meet, you know not what evils, but remain here among a people who have their every want provided for by nature, thus relieving them of the drudgery of existence, where men live as God intended men should live; where love is love, not licentiousness; where each man is proud to claim his own children; where no woman blushes with shame when she beholds the fruits of her unhappy love ”

“ Maynard, Lucy’s mother, who had entered the room in time to catch a part of the conversation, came toward Mr. Miller with rather a troubled look on her face, saying, “James, how can you propose such a thing as this trip for Mabel; you really encourage her in her foolish notions of dislike for conventionalities. She has no mother, poor child, to explain to her, her duties and responsibilities, and I’m sure I have tried my best, if ever a woman tried, ever since I have been living here, to make her see how foolish she is to be always wishing for some new mode of life. ”

“ One afternoon the two friends sat idly watching the soft play of the waves on the beach when Mabel suddenly said, “Do you know, Etta, 77if it were not for my father I believe I should never wish to leave Kaahlanai, but as it is I long for something to happen that I may once more see my father.”
“I feel as you do, Mabel. It is so pleasant here with these days of perpetual summer. There seems a feeling of perfect contentment to steal over one without one’s knowing why it is.” ”

“ Beautiful children lie on the sand, or in childish play half bury themselves, heaping the bright sand high on their little bodies. Older children search for shells or bits of delicate coral. Young men and maidens may be seen in the water, some going far out to the reef on surf boards. Among these latter are Ahleka and Mabel, Ahleka guiding with skill the lightly floating board, while Mabel lies almost her full length upon it. ”

“ Their girl friends of darker color also made hats for themselves, as women of whatever land or clime, are ever ready to follow a caprice of fashion which appeals to their ideas of the beautiful or useful. The girls had also become interested in teaching their language to a large number of the young people of Nahua and learning in return, the soft, poetic tongue of their entertainers. They learned to sing the sweet songs of tender love that seemed to float on the fragrant air, for there was music and dancing continually, as this happy people gave expression to their feelings without restraint. ”

“ Here, in this land where money cannot buy man’s honesty or woman’s love. Here, my dear son, is to be found true happiness, and it is the dying request of your father that you live among this gentle, lovable people as your father has done. ”

“ During the absence of captain and Ben, Hans had busied himself making a bucket of the staves of the broken water cask and needed only hoops to complete it. The two girls started to the boat after them. They had been gone but a few moments when they rushed back, with their faces as pale as death. Etta, throwing herself into her father’s arms, cried: “Papa, what shall we do, where can we hide? They have come, they have seen us, I am sure they have. Oh, papa, papa, what shall we do?” ”

“ Their religion is sincerity, purity and love. What more can there be in any religion?”
“You talk it very nicely Mabel, and I presume you believe what you say; it is as well that you do, as you are going to marry Ahleka; but I said, and I meant it too, that I would rather see Etta die than have her marry one of those heathens, and, mourning for my dead child as deeply as I do, I still say that I would rather have her dead than married to Uala or any other beggarly, black-skinned rascal.”
“Captain Gray, your daughter is not dead,” broke in Ahleka. ”

“ Captain Thornton took Mabel in his arms and said: “May heaven bless you my child. I know you will be happy with Ahleka, for he is lovable, gentle and kind.”
Captain Gray looked at her, with a peculiar expression, and said to Etta: “I would never allow you to marry one of these black Apollo’s, so don’t you fall in love with one of them.”
Captain Thornton overhearing this remark, spoke up, “You make a mistake, my friend; if she loves one of our young men it is far better that she marry him, for she will not be happy otherwise, and you surely do not wish to see her unhappy.” ”

“ At sunset to watch the sun, slowly losing itself in the sea, and as it sinks, throwing broad beams of shimmering crimson light far over the gently dappling waves until it reaches the shore line, as if it had stretched out a loving hand to give a gentle good-night touch with warm fingers to the land on which, all days in the year, the sun smiles. ”

“ The few friends who had assembled to witness the ceremony, were astonished beyond expression, to see the bride and groom enter the room clad, not in the conventional bridal array, but simply wearing the grass skirts, shell bracelets and necklaces belonging to the native land of the groom. Mrs. Maynard felt that she could never get over the disgrace of such an unheard-of performance.
After the wedding, the happy pair, accompanied by Lucy and little Mae, left for the Eliza Judd. An hour later the Judd was towed clear of her wharf, and Mabel looked for the last time on the land of her birth. ”

“ Etta and Mabel spent their time in learning to weave the beautiful, soft mats, in the plaiting of which they grew very skillful. They also made for themselves large hats of delicate white bamboo. These drooping, broad brimmed hats, when surrounded by wreaths of natural flowers and placed upon their heads, gave the girls an exceedingly quaint and picturesque appearance. ”

“ That is what my father used to tell me. He has many times told me that your country was the haven of refuge for the poor but honest men of all other lands. Is this not true?”
“No, not in practice. It is the theory which we hold, but, alas! we do not put into practice. It is the man who has heaped up gold that is honored. Wealth, not worth, is the standard by which men are measured now-a-days.”
As Mabel finished this remark the carriage stopped in front of a substantial looking dwelling. Mabel sprang lightly out crying, “Come, Ahleka, we are home.” ”

“ Sailors running here and there, officers shouting out orders, and above it all, the smoke arising in dense clouds. The life boats were soon ready for their precious human freight. Into one boat Mrs. Gray, Allen Thornton, the three girls, the captain and four sailors went, the rest of the crew taking another boat. The men set the sails on the captain’s boat, and, as there was a brisk breeze blowing, together with the fact that the men bent manfully to the oars, they were soon a safe distance from the burning ship, and looking back could see the flames bursting out all over her. ”

“ Thanking Kalui, they retraced their footsteps to the beach.
107“Now Ahleka, do you doubt my love?” enquired Mabel, as they walked slowly back.
“No, I do not doubt you, how could I? but I have a terrible dread of the difference you will see between the young men of your country and myself. They have the advantage of me in education, refinement, in fact in everything.”
“Not in everything, and really, but in very few things; not in refinement, surely, for no refinement can be greater than true manliness. ”

“ They really did not heed the passage of time as the vessel, day after day, brought them farther into that realm of delight—the tropics. All day long they lie lazily on deck under an awning that had been put up to protect them from the fervid rays of the glorious king of day, and drink in the fresh sea air so warm, yet so refreshing, so delicious. ”

“ Mabel had become a very expert swimmer. Gay groups of happy young people were constantly to be seen enjoying the delights of surf riding and swimming; our friends were often of the number.
So drifted on their happy life for three months, with no thought of care entering their lives, no idea of concealment of their pure love for one another, until one day, about three months after the festival, Ahleka came early to the cottage of the girls, bringing fruits and flowers to them, as it was his custom to do each morning. ”

“ But Mabel had a peculiar way of her own of keeping young men at a friendly distance, and the young man who looked at her with such a longing in his heart had not dared to speak of love to her, fearing to meet the fate of more than one of his acquaintances, for already she had had a number of offers of marriage, for she was not only a girl of wonderful beauty, but also exceedingly fascinating and entertaining. ”

“ When you are dressed as we are, you will be free; you will never wish to again put on those clothes which make you so uncomfortable.”
“Well, you see, they do not seem at all uncomfortable to us,” laughed Mabel, “but, as our clothes are completely worn out, we are obliged to dress as you do, and I have no doubt we shall like it, too,” this she added as she noticed a slight frown on Maula’s face. Kaelea took Etta aside and soon arrayed her in the costume. In the meantime, Maula was showing Mabel the mysteries of a Nahua maiden’s toilet. ”