The day after the arrival of the Eliza Judd, Captain Gray left for New
York, where his former home had been. His long exile from his native
land and the loss of his family had embittered him. He felt no desire to
return to Kaahlanai, where his daughter had defied his commands,
following the promptings of her own heart. Life seemed to Captain Gray,
a battle to be fought anew. He was no longer young, and it was a hard
trial, at his age, to face the loss, not only of his family, but also
his vessel, and, with her almost all his worldly possessions; therefore,
we need not be surprised that he appeared a broken old man, as he
boarded the train bound eastward.
“Lucy,” said Mabel one morning, about six months after the arrival of
the Eliza Judd at San Francisco, “Ahleka and I have been talking over
our intended return to Kaahlanai. We, both of us prefer the free life
there, to that which is led here. We have chartered the Eliza Judd for
the trip. Captain Harris says that he will be ready to leave in about a
week.”
“Oh! Mabel,” exclaimed Lucy, “how am I going to exist without you? It
seems dreadful to think of your leaving me again; but Mabel, after all,
why need you leave me behind? Cannot my little Mae and I go with you?
There, among those people, whom you have already taught me to love, I
may still be happy; there I can bring my darling child up according to
the dictates of nature, and need not follow the false ideas that are
adhered to among our own people. May we go with you?”
“Indeed you may; we will be only too glad to take you to that paradise
where all are so happy. But your husband, will he not object? And will
not your mother place obstacles in your way?”
“My husband has passed out of my life entirely. Why, do you know, it has
been over two months since I have seen him, or even heard from him. I
know he is travelling somewhere in the east accompanied by that
creature, Rosie Hastings. As to my mother, I cannot help it, if she does
not like it. I shall not let pass this opportunity of securing happiness
for myself and Mae.”
“Lucy, you do not know how glad I am that you have decided to accompany
us. I did so want to ask you to go, but thought it best to wait until
your own heart made you speak.”
That same afternoon Mabel had a long talk with Mr. Faxon, her lawyer, in
regard to money matters, the result of which was, that Mabel set aside a
certain sum of money for the use of her aunt, Mrs. Maynard. The residue
of her property was to be divided amongst deserving people of the middle
class; that class, whose whole existence is one struggle to get on in
life without letting outsiders know how hard the battle is, in which
they fight.
“For theirs is the hardest lot of all,” said Mabel; “they cannot ask
help, and cannot take it without lowering their self esteem. The very
poor ask, and receive help, but these, never; they must suffer in
silence.”
The money was to be sent to them in such a manner, that none of the
recipients should ever know whose hand had relieved them of the heavy
burdens they had borne so long and patiently.
On Wednesday morning, the 16th of April, 1890, there was a wedding at
Mrs. Maynard’s home, which was unique, to say the least of it. 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. The
departure was watched by a curious crowd of acquaintances, who all
wondered if Mabel were not a little affected, mentally. Little did the
departing voyagers care what was thought of them; they were content to
know that they had chosen the better part.
The trip to Kaahlanai was uneventful. Day after day being passed in the
same lazy manner, until one morning Captain Harris at the breakfast
table, said: “We shall see Kaahlanai to-day and, if the wind keeps fair
as it is now, we shall land there to-night.”
His words proved true. It was not long before they sighted the island.
From that moment, until they landed in the evening, the excitement of
the little party was intense. The ship had been seen by the inhabitants
of the island, so that by the time they landed, there was an expectant
crowd on the beach. Imagine the delight of the assembled throng, on
beholding in the approaching boat, Ahleka, their beloved king, and
Mabel, whom they loved almost as dearly. The meeting was touching in the
extreme; there was feasting and merry making for days after their
arrival. Mabel and Ahleka tried in vain to induce Captain Harris to
remain for a few days with them, but he answered, “No. As you know I
came considerably out of my way to bring you here, and now I must be on
my way to Australia. I hope I shall never have to come into such a
dangerous neighborhood again.” So, bidding them good-bye, he departed,
leaving them happy and content, to be again united with their loved ones
on this isle of the sea, and there we will leave them also.
THE END.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_PRESS NOTICES._
The sketches of Hawaii and the Hawaiians, with illustrations, which
appeared last week and are completed in this issue, were written by Mrs.
M. A. Pittock, who spent a year on the islands, and has recently become
a resident of Chicago—_Graphic, Chicago, Sept. 27._
* * * * *
Mrs. M. A. Pittock, who has contributed a number of bright, readable
stories for the _Inter-Ocean_ and leading papers and magazines, has just
written a clever little book descriptive of tropical life, entitled “The
God of Civilization.”—_Inter-Ocean, Chicago, Sept. 28._
* * * * *
“The God of Civilization” is the title of a romance, by Mrs. M. A.
Pittock, which is soon to be published. The scene of the opening
chapters is laid in San Francisco, and the story is said to have a very
tropical flavor. Mrs. Pittock is well known on the Pacific Coast, and
has written much for the eastern magazines and papers.—_Argonaut, San
Francisco, Oct. 6._
* * * * *
“The God of Civilization” is the odd title of a charming story of
adventure, which has just been issued by the Eureka Publishing Company,
Inter-Ocean building, Chicago. The author is well known in Portland,
being the wife of G. W. Pittock, formerly of Portland, and the daughter
of R. Weeks, Esq. The favorable notice which her writings have attracted
of late from leading eastern papers is very flattering.—_Sunday
Oregonian, Oct. 5._
* * * * *
One of the brightest books of the season has just made its appearance,
entitled “The God of Civilization.” The author is Mrs. M. A. Pittock,
whose writings in Chicago and eastern papers have been favorably
commented upon. It is an extremely interesting novel, treating of life
in the mid-Pacific tropics in a style that shows that she is both
familiar with the people and the customs, and loves the scenes which she
describes so vividly.—_New York Journalist, Oct. 11._
Chicago Opera House
COR. WASHINGTON AND CLARK STS.
Most Comfortable, Fire-Proof Theatre in the City. Supplied with the
Latest Ventilating Devices.
DAVID HENDERSON, MANAGER.
The summer season of 1890, the most successful in its history, during
which was given an extended run of the CRYSTAL SLIPPER and a season of
BLUEBEARD, Jr.
The fall and winter season will include, among other attractions,
LAWRENCE BARRETT.
FRANCIS WILSON,
And his “MERRY MONARCH” Company.
CITY DIRECTORY COMPANY.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
1. P. 55, changed “For drinking, were provided” to “For drinking, we
were provided”.
2. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in
spelling.
3. Retained archaic, non-standard, uncertain spellings, and chapter
numbers as printed.
4. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.