There the whole populace appeared to have taken up arms against their
executive; for a lowering of that flag in the nearby Pacific, had
effectively turned pride into hatred.
Their countrymen had planted it, right or wrong, to stay: as evidenced
by the native element’s inability to prevent another’s taking its
place. Young’s final coup had proven to all Americans at home
conclusively the wisdom of Harvenoiq’s supposed initial interference.
Designing politicians and interested spectators everywhere advantaged
themselves and weakened the administration by antagonizing credits and
curtailing investments. Another election loomed close at hand. Idle
men crying for bread on the one hand, and patriotic citizens shouting
the freedom of Hawaii on the other, cut short the president’s oldtime
influence. The would-be sage at the White House and attempted patron of
autocracy roared defiant at the touch and take of inadvertent omission.
Kaiuolani purposely held aloof; a constantly increasing comprehension,
in truth convinced her that neither kings nor presidents could nor
should stay or deny the inevitableness of public will. Floyd Young
might for the time being raise himself above the good of country,
and perchance the president of the United States abuse confidence
temporarily, but in the end those who laid an ear most closely to
the unmistakable soundingboard of universal sentiment should finally
triumph over individual belief of whatsoever kind or import.
She lingered and Bender came upon the scene, clandestinely
and--enthusiastic.
“You are wasting your time here, Kaiuolani. These people are not in
sympathy with your cause, and their executive is bound underhandedly
to the interests responsible for his election. It is a give and take
proposition, and you have nothing to offer--except, perhaps, it were
possible for you to accept and avail yourself of my fortune, which I
beg the privilege of placing at your disposal.”
“No; I had sooner take you--there could be no disgrace in that; now my
rank is gone: my heart is stone; would you like me?”
“This is not at all a jesting matter, with me, Kaiuolani. I am serious,
though you have had occasion to believe me wholly mercenary. There
was a time when borrowed or, shall I say, married station would have
satisfied me; but, I pray you, let me now prove my sincerity. I can
put an end to foreign meddling, so far as we are concerned, and Young
is----”
“A traitor! Fie on him, and his kind. I hate him! God shall surely
strike them.”
Bender did not finish the sentence, though he really believed Young
a dead man, and buried, too, at that very moment. Kaiuolani had,
however, broken the spell and prudence saved him the consequence of an
incorrigible blunder.
“You didn’t think so, once upon a time,” replied he, with returning
confidence. “Had you reasoned differently then--but in that case
Bender might not have had an opportunity to prove his worth.”
“A woman never reasons.”
“She is right, nine times in ten, though--just as you were when you
first declined, as you do now, my favors.”
“I had rather you won than bought your spurs.”
“Good. Now then: there is one thing you’ll promise: poison Elmsford----”
“Against the republic? That is easy, if you are quite agreed.”
“I can trust you.”
“How confiding!”
“I haven’t told you my plans, though.”
“Nor would I have you do so--however much I believe you ought to begin
with the United States, as you would have me influence Elmsford;
American recognition might go a long way toward establishing Young’s
regime. Prevent that, and I shall believe you worthy of--well, most any
old thing.”
Having sooner conceived and determined a scheme larger and better than
his, Kaiuolani inwardly shrank from seeming impossibilities, thus
outwardly may have assumed an apparently astonishing attitude; for no
other living soul whom she knew could or would serve as Bender should
the means to a desired end.
They had both set upon Young’s downfall. He, solely because he believed
that were enough to win Kaiuolani--but she, in view of an ultimatum to
her of larger consequence.
The wailings and the admonitions of eighty millions inspired her:
Young heard and voiced only the askings of one little plea. Self had
conquered both, but the starting point of each had been as widely
distant as the race is swift. Either would sacrifice anything,
everything to win, and had Bender been as guilty as he believed himself
Kaiuolani would yet lay even love at his feet to crush a foe and
reinaugurate the liberties that gave her being.
“No, Bender,” said she after a little, neither one having fully
recovered the effect of her last remark; “I would not have you believe
me always fickle. I too desire to do a real woman’s part, but before
you and I can think of our little selves we must attend to striven
duty. Go back to my people and tell them that you do not falter: the
influence that I alone may exert at Washington shall make you possible.
You know thus far my plans, and I yours. What the future holds, let
truth itself unfold.”
“I believe I understand you,” replied he, truthfully. “I came here
to reveal an undertaking that you have sooner anticipated. We are
agreed in everything except its inauguration. I had desired bringing
the administration,--you know money talks in America,--but as you
have conceived wiser I shall return, as you suggest, and trust me,
Kaiuolani, there shall be no failure thence--true chivalry lies deep in
respect.”
Upon Bender’s going, as he had come, Kaiuolani brightened with fresh
encouragement. She believed him capable of playing his part, and
well; and now that so much depended upon her she directly turned all
attention to the big gnarly president, her only hope.
On the other hand the newly found champion sped returning toward
Hawaii, the place whence, but a few days ago, he had departed, yearning
and un-certain. Kaiuolani’s assurances now displaced doubt and
possessed him with a better courage; nor was his withered conscience
wholly devoid of character; he should have in turn relieved her of
further duties or burdens distasteful had he not foreshadowed a
danger--and Bender courted success at any cost.
Landing at Honolulu in confidence bolstered with connivance, the police
grabbed their intended victim. Young was on the lookout, and before
Bender could realize it or comprehend his escape, another had been
thrust into jail, heavily ironed and doubly guarded.
“I have got you now,” said Young, confidently, upon entering the
darkened cell, late that evening, alone and unobserved. “You thought
me dead, but you see me risen. Yes; alive, as a result of your bad
marksmanship; and, I am going to kill you!”
“No you’re not; Floyd Young wouldn’t kill anybody, much less one in
irons. Come, what do you want of me?” replied the prisoner without a
quaver.
“Those papers; you undertook to guard, so graciously. Where are they?”
“Norton can tell you that; she must have them by this time.”
“Liar!”
“A pretty speech--for a gentleman.”
“It is in vogue--and, virtue abides recognition, I assume.”
“When questioned?”
“The underdog is disbelieved--I can give or take.”
“Strike, then!”
“A woman? Not I; yet I have a mind to unmask you.”
“Floyd! I couldn’t help it.”
“And you have served me, though jealousy prove the means of our
undoing. I’ll not ask the reason. Let bygones be such, and--well it is
that Kaiuolani had not played me the trick; I could never have forgiven
her, as I shall you.”
“Nor love her as you do me?”
“No; not as you; that would be impossible. But, have you the papers? We
must quit this place; Bender is at large, and Kaiuolani--what of her?”
Norton boldly walked from her cell, disguised and in company with
Young, her ready protector, notwithstanding the incident soon reached
and roused Cole, their astonished president, if not some others less in
authority.
Love knows no alternate.
As Kaiuolani, too, had good reason to exemplify; for out of
anticipation there arose silently but forcefully a success gentler,
more fanciful than lone realization had ever brought: base gratitude
worked its pitiful compensation; and in her mind Bender soon glorified
by deed a just if bitter appreciation.
Surrendering wholly to the demands of conscience and believing herself
obligated inviolably, body and soul, to the man who dared brave death
that she might attain the half she really conceived, Kaiuolani faced
round and turned progress with a confidence which comes we know not
whence or how, but evolves solely within the driven reach of stern
responsibility alone.
Her associations at Washington had been most confidential and
agreeable, secretly placing her in a position to reach and influence
the president without its being at all necessary for her personally to
intrude or suggest a wish--very happily so, as all thought and every
expedient supposedly must originate within the halo of his own masterly
comprehension.
There should, however, be some apparent ground upon which he might base
a reasonable presumption: Kaiuolani pondered.
“I shall draft a letter, submitting to congress an impossible appeal.
My personal grievances and their innate helplessness should rouse the
president’s sympathies. Some friend may suggest a remedy. He must
refuse Young recognition, and Bender shall do the rest,” said she, to
herself, bursting out with exuberance.
Losing not a moment, the conjuring elements that should resolve a last
triumph had scarcely rippled the surface before American interference
ended and the _U. S. S. Bonton_ weighed anchor for home. Their
president did as Kaiuolani willed, and the republic failed to gain
recognition.