Expatriation

'Now you're a beauty, too, but in vatbev a different way." Expatriation By HUGH J. CANNON Chapter Five Illustrated by Paul C. Clowes -^ N, ELL told her story simply. It was the more pathetic because of her efforts to leave out of it all tragedy and per- sonal heroism. The young fellow listened with less astonishment tell you. I love you and want than she had anticipated. Before you to be my wife. You can the account was entirely finished make me as happy as an admiral he broke in impetuously: and at the same time solve your "But there's not a thing in this own troubles." history to keep me from saying "No, my dear friend, it can't what I came from Ellice Island to ever be. You are gallant and gen-

The Improvement Era for December, 1930 89 erous, but such a step, instead of solving troubles would multiply them. Besides, although he plead insistently, I refused to marry the man to whom I was engaged and I loved him as I shall never love anyone else." r ERHAPS I can't win as much love as he once had. I don't know about that. But if you'll let me try I'll prom- ise to make you love me a good bit. You're white clear through — blood's as white as your spirit. And anyway those things aren't looked at here as they are by your aristocratic friends." "Nate begged for permission to come with me to Samoa and .spend his life here. If marriage were to be consid- ered he naturally would be my choice. No, Dick, may I call you Dick to- night? Such happi- ness is not for me." "But my dear girl, I can't believe there is even a six- teenth of colored blood in your veins. In an amateurish sort of way I've studied these peo- ples and the pro- ducts of mixed mar- riages. Will you forgive me when I say that I have studied you ever since learning you were a daughter of John Z. Terry? And I cannot make myself believe your blood is anything but pure white." A TINY seed of hope awoke to life in the girl's soul but it was transitory, having noth- ing in which to fasten root. "But, Dick, with the same breath that tells me you believe me all white, you confess to sus- picions of my mother. Else why did you study me?" The young man had no ready answer and the other continued: "You knew my mother. Tell me honestly how she was con- sidered by the whites — by your said almost bitterly. "You have already indicated your knowledge that my mother was not white. Did you know she was a Fijian?" "Oh, Miss Nell! Why do you insist on nailing me to the cross like own parents, for example?" Officer hawley did not find it easy to meet the earnest, pleading eyes and voice of this? I'm not that cold-blooded." "Forgive me for my bitterness. I didn't intend to reproach you, but I must in- sist upon an honest answer." "Well, I did hear, as a small boy and quite by accident, that Mrs. Terry was part Fijian." I "A schooner which traded among the Sarrtpan and adjacent groups. .T was wrong of me, Dick, to insist upon an answer. And what do I get out of it? Just what I expect- ed, confirmation of an odious truth. I've thought my bark was cut adrift from its anchorage, but now I feel that it, too, is on the reef, and the watch- ers are as impotent to render help as they were in your story." "But, girl, you will break down under such stern discipline. Can't I hope that you will relax and be more human?" "Hope! Have you ever been on the desert and seen a the attractive girl. His too pal- pable embarrassment could not be concealed. "Come!" she insisted. 'There is no need for hesitation; you can do nothing more than confirm what I already know. Even the little children knew my mother was not pure white, didn't they? And after learning my identity, this information, never forgotten through all these years, was re- vived, and you watched to see if any evidence of Fijian blood could be detected. You fail to see any and decide to ask my hand in mar- riage, thinking if such taint is not apparent in me it will not be in my offspring. But I am answer- ing the question for you," she mirage r That's what hope would be in my case. It could lead to nothing but dis- appointment." "Please do not consider my question impertinent, but do you and this man Everett correspond?" "I have never written him, but he has disobeyed me and pleads that I come home or let him come here to live. My father, Mr. Red- field, got a promise from him that he would not see me without my own or his consent. Father will never give permission without first obtaining mine. And mine will never be given." I- LT was the first time she had mentioned Nate's name

90 The Improvement Era for December, 1930 to anyone but herself since good- bye was said in Honolulu. To speak of him and to confess the love she still cherished, but must subdue, was too much. She broke down completely. "Poor little heroine!" Dick said sympathetically after a long silence. "I have an idea of how you suffer. I love you as intensely as it is in my power to love, but will you believe this positive truth, that I would give my life for your hap- piness? If I ever become convinced that you'll never marry me, I'll persuade you to go home and mar- ry my rival. But please get this firmly fixed in your mind. I've been trained as a fighting man, the greater the obstacles, the harder the fight, and I'll not abandon hope of winning you for myself. In spite of hurricanes and reefs you'll always find me, like Admiral Kim- berly, on the bridge fighting until the ship is saved or lost, but un- like the old sea dog, I'll save the ship," "Don't run your vessel heed- lessly on the reef. It's late, Dick. Please take me home," was her only comment. A SAD-EYED, dis- consolate young woman looked back at Nell from her mirror as she made tier toilette on the morning following the boat ride. The night had been populous with ghosts whose spectral hands snatched happiness away each time she attempted to grasp it. Dick's suggestion that she was too harsh with herself, offered as it seemed almost casually, had found lodg- ment in her brain, and doubt as to the correctness of her position added to her other troubles. Had he pursued the thought vigorously she would have fought and ex- pelled it, but left to itself it had insidiously gained some foothold. Another thing greatly surprised and startled her. She felt more than a transient pleasure in Dick's statement that he was a fighting man and would never abandon hope. But, she concluded, it wasn't that she cared for Dick except as a delightful acquaintance; she was starving for affection, to see her father and mother, Nate, Jessie. Her feelings had been pent up so long, like a steam boiler with the safety valve closed, that an ex- plosion was imminent. LATER in the day she resolutely headed Dick off as he was about to repeat the declara- tion of the night before and said good-bye with a smile so blithe Merry Christmas, Friend T, IS early eventide. Through skies of gray The rose hues of the sinking sun Send out their good-night beams To kiss the drooping eyes of sleepy earth And bid her quietly repose. The breezes stir, and stately sil- houetted trees Show plainly as the sinking sun Clothes them in robes' of amethyst and gold. And as the last rays slip away The snowflakes, slowly falling Seem to pause, and bid the sun good-night, Then drift on down to earth and nestle there Content to know their work is done. Above, the stars begin to twinkle overhead, A million diamonds in a sea of blue; Their silvery light serene and clear Reflecting through the falling snow. A cloud of dull transparent thin- ness Moves lazily along, and as it passes The moonlight meets the starlight And all the world is bathed in glo- rious sheen. Silent, tranquil night! Serenely calm and beautiful to see; Oh rest in peace; Let alt the world in reverence bow — - Tonight is Christmas Eve. And with the dawn of Christmas Day From lands both far and near In song and book and every way Will come the Christmas cheer. "Health, happiness, and luck, Old Friend, I want them all, for you; Along with these I want to send Good wishes, not a few. For Old Time's sake: you'll un- derstand. These thinos I want to say; I mean it. Merry Christmas. Friend. Man Heaven bless your way; A Happy New Year. also. Friend, For ca^h and every day." — Blanche Robbins. that it was apparent the lieuten- ant's fighting spirit was put to the test. For her part she made her way homeward, with heavy heart, to the cottage which now seemed unbearably lonely. Once there, she picked up her doll, the childish plaything which had been brought to share her banishment. Her own father had sent to New Zealand for it and had given it to her the Christmas before he died. Talita, the name given it, had been her companion ever since. "It's because I'm so homesick," she persisted in telling herself. "Dick is nothing more to me than an old friend. His boyish kind- ness made me, a mere baby, love him and his many qualities have resurrected that love. But my re- gard for him now is as innocent as it was then — and of the same character. If I were free to marry of course I should consider no one but Nate. Free to marry! I'm adding to my misery even to per- mit the thought to enter my mind. My real father's attitude must nev- er determine mine. This doll is the only babe ever to be pressed to my bosom; I am never to know the sweetness of my own baby's hand upon my neck." Ti HE girl was sure Nate was the embodiment of chivalry and honor. Nothing could tempt him to waver in devotion to her as long as any ties bound them together; but now these ties were all severed; he was released from every obligation to her and she herself had urged him to find for- getfulness in the society of other worthy young ladies. No doubt sooner or Hater he would avail himself of this freedom. To Dick no promise had been given or im- plied. So long as he was stationed in this vicinity, seeing her occa- sionally and deprived of the as- sociation of other girls, he might go on fighting, but once away she would be a mere memory as she had been for twenty years. Both men would marry elsewhere; bet- ter for her to become reconciled to the inevitable. Her thoughts without proper guidance ran wildly from the past to the present and future. But confusedly she determined to re- construct her defenses. She must never give up the fight. Only one thing, she wisely concluded, would keep her from utter collapse. That was hard work. W ITH seemingly ex- haustless energy and strength dur- ing succeeding days she pursued her self-appointed duties. Among

The Improvement Era for December, 1930 91 other things she had responded to the invitation of one of the Church of England missionaries and was conducting the school which his wife, because of poor health, had been obliged to relinquish. The alert children sat in a semi-circle about her on the pebble floor, their dark faces, lustrous eyes and glis- tening teeth making a charming picture. It was customary for them upon assembling to commence with scriptural quotations, and Nell was greatly surprised at the number of passages with which they were familiar. It touched her deeply when a little maid with cherubic face lisped in broken English, "Trust in the Lord, and do good: so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. De- light thyself also in the Lord : and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart." Emboldened by the pleased smile, the child continued; "Mother say 'Misi Re'field' do good and she'll live long time with us. "If I am doing good, little one," came softly from the teacher, "the Lord is giving me the desires of my heart. I have no other desire which can possibly be fulfilled." Gi A. MONG the natives and those of mixed blood, Nell found many intelligent and beau- tiful characters. Robert Emmett, named after Robert Louis Steven- son, who was a dear friend of the Emmett family, and his wife Lena, both of them half white, became her intimate associates. Young Emmett was interested in a schoon- er which traded among the Sa- moan and adjacent groups of is- lands. Often Nell had promised herself and them to accompany Mr. and Mrs. Emmett on one of these trips. Upon renewal of the invitation she consented, and late one afternoon they left Apia with Gardner Islands of the Phoenix group as their destination. No highly polished mirror could be smoother than was the sea. The lustrous colors of a perfect tropical sunset were artistically mingled with the changeable verdure of the shore. Before them, on their right hand, was the island of Savaii which disputes with Hawaii the honor of being the original home of the Polynesian race. GRADUALLY the colorful picture was supplanted by one less brilliant but no less beauti- ful; mellow purples and yellows replaced the brighter hues. Gaz- ing oceanward one could not be sure where sky and water met; apparently one contained as many luminous bodies as the other. Of course the north star and the great bear could not be seen, but the southern cross was readily discern- ible. Immediately west of Samoa lies the imaginary 180th meridian, and someone has said that here the traveler sails from today into day after tomorrow. The Emmett party left Apia Tuesday afternoon and when they got up on the fol- lowing morning it was Thursday. The lost day could be recovered only by crossing this same line traveling eastward when, if it were traversed on Wednesday the fol- lowing day would be Wednesday also. Ti HE love of adventure was strong upon Nell and each hour brought with it a rich load of delight. The Emmetts were companionable; the accommoda- tions, though in no manner re- sembling those of an ocean liner, were adequate and comfortable. While depending usually upon the wind for motive power, the boat possessed a small gasoline engine which could be used in a calm and in working its way in and out of the intricate harbors, guarded as most of them are by coral reefs. That these are extremely danger- ous is attested by the numerous hulks of wrecked vessels so com- mon in the South Pacific. Even Nell's dependable nerves were not strong enough to witness without an occasional scream the shark fishing which they saw upon arrival at the harbor at Gardner Island. In other places she had seen the natives use large pieces of pork as bait in their fishing, but here they were using nothing less than human beings for such haz- ardous purpose. The harbor swarmed with man-eating sharks which, though urged on by appe- tite and curiosity, were rather shy and would not venture too near the boats of the fishermen. 1 O attract attention, natives with ropes fastened around their waists would jump into the water. Nell could not restrain a terrified shriek as one of the swim- mers got fairly into the group of dangerous fish. Hungrily .they darted toward him, but he dex- trously avoided them and with the aid of the men in the boat, who tugged vigorously at the rope, was jerked out of the water just as a dozen hungry jaws snapped at his legs. Then harpoons were thrown into the backs of the dis- appointed sharks, and the natives made a great haul. From the Phoenix group the schooner sailed unexpectedly to Fiji. More than once the oppor- tunity had come to Nell to visit Suva, main port of the Fijian Is- lands, but each time she had shud- deringly refused to go. The thought of looking upon these peo- ple— her own people, with kinky hair and thick lips — had been in- tolerable; but now Mr. Emmett saw a chance for profitable trading at that point. In addition he was sure the more extended trip would prolong the pleasure which his wife and her friend daily had ex- pressed. They were on deck at twilight enjoying the cooling breeze after a sultry day when he told them of the changed plans. Nell, visibly perturbed, could not wholly conceal her dismay. Lena asked: Wi 'Nelly was deuced smart and clever," HAT'S the matter? Don't you want to go to Fiji?" "Of course we must go since [Continued on page 108]