THE CURING OF KEMILIA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10516, 26 July 1910, Page 6

THE CURING OF KEMILIA.

(By, Wade. Warren Thayer.) Down in W.rocKy bed of Kalihi Stream, Kemilia was washing the clothes She stood • knee-deep m tlio running water, her loose white gown ■kilted about her hips. Her sleeves were r.olle&-up to her elbows and from the -vigor of her toil, a button at her neck had flown off, -leaving her smooth ■Kb" ■Shoulders and the full,.rounded throat, .exposed to ,the cool breath o. the'trade, wind. , She sang blithely as she worked, and now aiid then she looked up to toss back 'from' Let.shoulders, the two hcavj plaits'of diirk'liair, which hung to her waist l A leaning p.oinciana naming with scarlet.blossoms,: cast cool shadows on the water, and now and then a bright petal fell, to .float away seat on the soapy tide from Kemilia s laundry • , , ~ Alon"- the narrow path through tue lantana bushes came a young man, whistling, a familiar hula dance "Eh ' K'eoki!" called Kemilia, without glancing up "You are back early; I am-almost, through We'll have time for''"a'swim "in the pool below the tali. Then you can helpine home with tiic clothes." "' ■', ~ The whistling ceased as the newcomer a tall and not unhandsome Hawaiian vouth, paused at the edge of the bank 1 and looked down at the girl. "Let's have the swim first, jvemiha, lie said. !'You can finish your work aftcrwarcl." "' " . ... At the sound of his voice Kemilia looked up "in startled surprise. ~ . "Oh, it's you, Pehu.!".. she. cried, dropping the' garment' she ' was raising and clutching at her throat to close her gown. "I thought it was Keoki. What are you doing here ? Aren't you working?" .. . "' "fmade five dollars in a che-fa game this morning, so I quit," said Pehu. "It's easier than working—che-fa. im "oing to make a lot more to-morrow./ ° He came down the bank and seating himself on a stone, leisurely rolled a 'cigarette', "while he talked' at length on the scheme he had evoked for beating the Chinese che-fa lottery. Kemiha listened for a moment in contemptuous silence and then, turning her back on him, resumed her labor. . "And I'll be a rich man and ride m a hack all the time," he concluded triumphantly, blowing, a a great cloud of smoke into the air and watching her, to see the effect of his words. "You better go along home," Kemilia flung over her shoulder to him, scrubbing away industriously. , "It's too nice and-cool down here, " he objected, "and besides —you said we'd go swimming. Come, let the washing go! It will be fine in the big pool." . - -., ' » "But I won't go swimming with you , the girl replied scornfully. "Go on about your business and let .me finish my work." '"All right if vou won't}" the young fellow, said philosophically "But say! You're pretty when you're angry, Kemi 7 lia," he added, leering at her Quite evidently he had been .drinking, and it made him bold. ' 'You mustn't send me away like that," he coaxed. "I never have a chance to see you since you got married. Come over here and sit down and let's talk a while." Kemilia's wrath blazed at his insolence. Gathering, up the garments she had 'washed, she stepped.to the shore.. Pehu rose at her approach and barred lier. way to the path. V "Get out of the way, ".she. command:. Ed curtly. "I'm going' home." ... "Trying to run away from me, eh? •he sneered. "Give ine a kiss then, and 'l'll let you go." ;. Her reply was a sound box on the car arid a- quick shove. With a shout .of dismay lie toppled full length into a shallow pool among the rocks. With- ■ out a" glance at him as he rose spluttering and cursing, rubbing a whacked head, and a 'damaged elbow, Kemilia snatched the last of her washing from a lantana bush and climbed the steep bank. ■■ The bedraggled and discomfited swam made his stumbling way back to the shore.' Over her. shoulder as she sped homeward the path she caught his parting maledictions.

Safe at home, she debated whether she should tell her husband of the incident; but Keoki 'was quick of temper, so when he .finally rode up to the door, in all the .bravery.of his mounted policeman's uniform; she had concluded that it was best to say, nothing. Furthermore,, she felt (lull. She had an ■ uncomfortable headache —perhaps from the" hot,sun of the.early afternoon.. ''Ou-the doorsteps in the early evening, while Keoki smpked his cigarette and- related;the ; day's ; doings, she was silent .and sat- with.-her head leaning against the 'door-post, looking off to the west; .There the 'sun was sinking to rest-behind the. Waianae hills, painting the. cloud curtains of his evening'couch in gorgeous hues of..crimson and gold., "Why. are. yon."so- quiet, Kemilia?" Keoki asked at last, as he concluded a funny tale of a runaway milk-wagon, at which she did not even smile. "I don't believe you've heard a word I've said. Aren't you feeling well?" "I think. I am only tired," 'Kemilia replied, "but my head aches a bit. I believe I'll go to bed." Keoki sat- alone while the tropic night .dropped-fast-,: and his ! cigarette glowed in the gathering gloom. The evening breeze rustled the leaves of the banana trees< beside "the steps, and across the way -a Portuguese" woman, was loudly • berating her husband who had come home drunk front his work; down at the wharves. By and bye a sigh, that was almost a groan, "came froih within, and roused Keoki front.his 'drowsy He went indoors. • ■ ; "Are you. sick, Kemilia ?" he asked, pausing at the 'door to light a match and hold it over his head. Kemilia "had thrown herself on the bed fully clothed, and there was a feverish look in her eyes. , "I don't know. I feel rather ill. I'll be all right in the morning," she replied, turning her head iiway from the sudden light. - But ,in the morning she was. no bet-, ter. Keoki prepared liis/simple breakfast find ate it-alone., r ..- At the police-station he telephoned to

r.Du-.J.100d,« and, then started out on his •aUrdaiY.,tuur, aiding slowly up.-and down tlie long iength of King" street or standiii"- at attention at the turn into the "Wnikiki road, where the .; an tomobiles raced out the broad avenue to __the beach. When" his relief came ' in." the late afternoon "he galloped homeward to Kalihi, very muclr worried. , It was not' like Kemilia to be ill. In all her healthy young life she had never had a serious sickness and he was anxious. The doctor's, uiqtor-car was at the gate as ieij reined up Jus, horse. He came to the.door as Keoki entered. "How is Kemilia, sir?" he asked. "I think she is all right. She has rather a high-fever and she talks; a bitqueer, but she will be all right to-mor-row." l ~ ~..■.. . I . The doctor seemed worried, however, and he did not look Keoki in the eye. "Didn't you come this morning;; sir, when I 'telephoned you?" Keoki demanded, accusingly. .. ,:, ■ '"Of course," Dr Hood answered. "She seemed feverish then, though, so I thought best to come again. Give her the medicine I have left. I think she will be better to-morrow. I. shall return in. the morning." The doctor climbed into his ear and glided away down the hill. Indoors, Keoki found Kemilia still in bed, and she did not notice lum at first when he spoke to her. , Then she looked, up from her pillow'and said harshly:, . i; "Go away; I will not go swimming with you,"" and she turned away and threw her arm over her eyes.

Rebuffed, and puzzled at her strange words, Keoki stood.-a moment m troubled silence, looking down at the sick woman. Then he divested himself of his khaki uniform, and, in shirt and trousers, went.to" the tiny stable in the.rear to care for .'his horse. .* ..;. . .<: The 'intelligent animal seemed to understand her master's distress of mind, for she permitted herselt to be rubbed down with none of her accustomed high-spirited pranks, and she nuzzled his shoulder gently as he combed her heavy mane and forelock. Despondently Keoki returned to the house. Kemilia lay as he had left her, and Wheii he-spoke her name softly she looked up at him with unseeing eyes and gabbled something . unintelligible. Keoki turned away with a. sigh, and sadlv prepared his evening meal. Ho was trying to induce the sick woman to eat'something, when he heard the chugging of a motor-car just outside. Presently there was a tap upon the door, and Dr Hood appeared. He was accompanied by two other gentlemen, whom Keoki recognised as among the best-known physicians in Honolulu. With a nod to Keoki, Dr Hood went straightway to the bed and, leaning over the sick woman, spoke to her gently. She only turned away fretfully, muttering something m her delirium. The other doctors approached and the three held a low-voiced consultation. T"oor Keoki stood aloot, awaiting their verdict. He could understand very-little of their conversation, for it was in English, and was full of medical terms—words whose very ponderous length made Keoki's heart sink. Kemilia must be very, very ill, -n----deed, if she had all the terrible things the v,'were discussing. ■.'"...'.: j . After what seemed an age,to Keoki the conference ended. Dr,Hqod ,caine to him, and. spoke encouragingly,, of Kemilia. Briefly he showed Keoki. the medicines to- be. given,..and. tojd- him when each should be administered. Then they all went away. ~, , ,

Day after day the sick woman gradually sank. ■: Br Hood called twice dailv at first, then three times; and nearly always he was accompanied by some other physician. They shook their heads over the case. Kemilia took all their remedies witli doc'ilitv, but each day she grew weaker. Her form lost its rounded plumpness; her great brown eyes burned deep m their°sockets. Occasionally she had lucid intervals in which she spoke to her husband, and even discussed her illness with mild interest. Then would come a long period, when she knew no one, and would lie tor hours in comatose silence or wake to senseless babbling. Poor Keoki was distracted. He had secured leave of absence after 'that first dav, and spent his time in and out of the sick-room. Hours he would sit and watch the sick girl, ready to jump at her lightest request. When the delirium came, ' and she did not ! know him, he was helpless. ' Theii he would fly to the stables and confide his misery to faithful Kaipo, his mare. "More than a week passed thus, and Kemilia .steadily sank . She was seldom unconscious now, and lay most of the time inert and motionless, her eyes fixed staringly upon the ceiling. . Then one day, after his.morning visit Dr Hood called Keoki out of doors and crently told him that he feared the worst. Keoki received the news in silence. It almost seemed as though he did not care. The doctor, as he climbed into his".iuito' and 'sped away, shook his head over his apparent callousness. Had he been able to look into the recesses of Keoki's mind, perhaps he niKdit have thought better of him. I'or hours he sat upon the doorstep as the doctor had left him, smoking cigarette and cigarette, and thinking, thinking. The light faded from the hills, and all was dark, save for the winking of the electric lamp down at the corner as it swung to the evening breeze. Keoki was of the later generation pt Hawaiians. Born in the days of the sway of the missionaries, and educated at the Kameliameha schools, he was brought up to absolute faith in the powers of latter-day science. ; ;TJnauestionablv he had called in the white doctor when Kemilia fell ill, and he had blindly obeyed his commands. ■ But how' the white man's science had failed. : " '.' " ■'""-''.' ....'. . Kemilia was dying; Kennlia, his bride of a year. What should he do without her ? Could Nothing be done to'bring her "back' to ;'hihragain,'well and strong as .she had been a week ' °lt wis such a little, little illness, p'nlv a. fever, and yet the doctors'had been baffled by it. He almost believed ho could' cure her himself. , When he was a. little boy, he remembered, his sister' was ill, and .as. they lived in the country, and lib doctor was near, they called in.-a kahuna —a Hawaiian .witch, doctor—and he had cured her almost in. a day. But the missionary, "when lie' canie along next week, had upbraided his father, aud told liim it was wrong to have a kahuna pray over a sick person, and they had promised not to do it again.' What had the .kahuna: done? .. He was so small, then, that he could not remember the details, only there was something about a white chicken and ;. red pig. ' The other native boys had jeered at him about'the" matter, for it had been reported in the church by the missionary, and lie had fought one bby over. vindicating the family honor so completely that they, left him alone afterward. .' .

In Inter years they had taught him at school that belief in the powers, of a kahuna could not really cure a sick person. Yet his sister lived! That fact came hack to him persistently. And the foreign elector had not been able to save Kemilia, with air his medicine. ' Why not call in th.e kahuna? Why not, indeed? . Confronted by its first real test, the faith of Keoki in the infallibility of his teachings began to waver. 'For centuries his forbears had been ministered to by the dread kahunas, with their weird spells and incantations.

Education told him their ways were vain and foolish; instinct made him turn to them in his trouble as his fathers had before him. It was just at this point in his brooding that the sound of footsteps aroused him. A lantern came bobbing along the lane, and stopped opposite the gateway. By- its flickering light Keoki made out a - queer figure—a little, weazened old' man with a shock of snowwhite hair and a wisp of white beard under his chin and chops..-; . .-. Keoki knew him well as one of the leading ; members of the Kauluwela church, a fervent Christian there, t Sunday school teacher, and a leader m prayer at the Wednesday evening meetings. Other things, too, he had more sinister—and /the man's" coming chimed uncannily With his thoughts. "Eh, Keoki," said the. newcomer, holding his'lantern over his-head and peering over the gate,' "how is Kemilia? T hear she is verj'sick.' . JNo better, eh? Too bad." / . , "She's : iiot very ; _ Keoki 'admitted. ,' . ' ''■--:. . , "Still sick?" the old v man .persisted. "What's the matter with her? She

was all right a week ago, tor 1 saw her down at the fish-market. What does the foreign doctor say:- Why doesho not make her well ? There was a. scarcely veiled sneer , k s he spoke of the'white physician. ■ Keoki stirred uneasily. His haltformed resolve weakened as lie looked down at the newcomer. He was a different' figure to-night, in his thin cotton undershirt, and dungaree trousers, bare-footed, hare-headed, hare-armed, from Elder,Solcmon'Kamaka, whom he saw in church every ' Sunday, clad m frock coat, linen, and }r.\-tent-leatlier'boots. ! Nor did he inspire confidence as he looked up at Keoki from under the littedlantern, a sharp and inquisitive look on his face. The young man dropped his eyes :nervously, and answered 11 monosyllables the question with which the olcl native .plied him.- " "I'm coming in .to take a look at her," said Kamaka, opening the gate ancT entering the house. < Almost as if hypnotised, Keoki watched him enter. Then, with an effort he roused himself and followed.

IV. » ' The little, low-ceiled hedroom was . lighted bv a single lamp, turned low. , This Kamaka lifted, and. approaching , the bed, looked long and silently diiivu upon the sick woman. She was dozino-, and- for a ' moment did not move. Tlien, -under his scrutiny, she wakened. and, stirring restlessly, turned over awl ■razed into his eyes. It was one ol tier lucid intervals, and she smiled wanly as she realised the native elder. ; Briefly he questioned her about her illness, but elicited nothing. I hen lor a space he" stood pondering, while the lamp in his hand llaved m the breeze that blew in at'the window, and Keoki, ur th 9' background, shitted uneasily from one foot to the other. Suddenly he wheeled on Keoki, and shot a sharp question at him. ' 'i. "Who has she been quarrelling with, .Who is. it Tell me quick." . "I—l don't know," Keoki stuttered in surprise. , T * "Yes. vou do. \es, you do. I w;ant to know' who it is, right now;." •'But; I don't know,'' Keoki protest, ed "Kemilia has no enemies. I. never heard of her having any trouble with anyone." ~ The old man turned again to the bed "You've been quarrelling with some one," he asserted. "You tell me all about it." Kemilia looked up with mild surprise.' ''Whaf do you menu-.-; 1 have had no trouble with anyone, she replied in a feeble voice, puzzled at the old man's excitement. Then, m a liniment, she added slowly, with an evident effort to remember: "Oh. yes. I think t did.' have a,little trouble with Pehu. a Kauai boy 1 used to know. U was the other day. down in the .stream where I '.was washing- the clothes the dav'l was taken sick. Pehu was drunk and he insulted me." "Ha" 1 thought, so. the-old man 'exclaimed with satisfaction, "101 lme all about it." . I, Kemilia described the incident, and under the spur of awakened interest, her voice regained some o its strength, and she even smiled weakly as she told of the discomfiture of the intruder. Keoki's fists doubled,in his pocket as ho listened, and he uttered an imprecation, but Kainakay'waved him to silen"When he fell Into., the- water and vou ran home, did you bring all ot th( clothing' witli you?" he asked. "Yes, 1 think .so. lamsi ue Kemilia said. "I hung it all out to dry before Keoki came home. . The old man turned to KeoM. "Where are the clothes she washed that day?" he asked. . t Shamefacedly, the young man policed to a- chair in the corner, wlierc-r----with masculine disregard ol .such domestic matters—he had heaped the clean clothing, leaving it there through all the days of his wife's illness. Kamaka examined the garments, • looking each over carefully, while Keoki stood over him with the lamp,. > The sick girl watched him with curious ■ ° J Finally with a grunt of satisfaction, ' lie pounced upon a white holoku. or ' women's gown, at the hem ol which was a triangular tear, a small piece ol the cotton being missing. . i "When did this happen-' lie mi quired, carrying it to the bed. I "I don't know. 1 never saw it uei fore. It is a new holoku, too," "Looks as though it had been torn by : a thorn. Can't you tell me when you > .did itr" , i i i "Perhaps I tore, it when 1 snatched it from the lantana bushes," Kemilia I said. "I was frightened at Pehu. I i wanted to get away quickly.' s "Who is this Pehu?. What docs he 5 do? Where does he live? . Where can I find him?" The old man's question* t came quick and fast. 1 "I know him," growled Keoki. 3 "Leave him to me. I'll 'fix him." "Yon bo still," snapped Kamaka. i "This is.my affair now. Tell mc when 1 I can find him." . 5 Uilwillinglv enough. Keoki told him. There was that in the old man's nian- - ner that compelled obedience. 3 Possessed of the desired information, r Kamaka pondered a moment. Then 3 witli sudden resolution, he went t(i tin 3 .door and picked up his lantern. J' ron the porch he turned again upon pool 1 Keoki, and pointed a menacing hugoi e at Him. - t "Don't you dare to move from thai spot until I return," he said, f Swiftly he left the house, and the; e heard the slam of the gate and the sof I patter of his bare feet on the road s Keoki'squatted in the corner, too over e come with mingled fear and supers! i :- tiou to move. THo little'old kahuna ; i- methods had been so mysterious, am i ilii's last command had been accompanici by so baleful a glance, ■ that Keoki' d nerve had gone completely. On what sinister errand he was bent s.: Keoki could not guess. Ho scared; o dared think. He remembered terribL e tales of the kahunas in the old days II li'ow 1 tliey prayed men to death, win k had incurred their displeasure. •'■ : : 'He would' have liked to settle mat y -tors with Pehu 'with his own fists; hu ii not'for his life would ho have callei c down upon Himself the terrible angc of 'the,kahuna, i- ; An hour, passed and then another; y 'on the.' bed Kemilia had sighed ani is tossed for a moment or two, and thei i- sunk into a deep lethargy. All sound d ceased in the dwellings round about i- and only the chirp of a cricket, or th, c, restless'stamping of Kaipo in her stable h broke the silence of the night. Tli y wind blew cool from 1 tli'o Hills, and tli 3 - lamp upon the table.flared dangerous], once or twice; but Keoki did no ;e jmoy.e. . .'

j At last there came the patter uf bare ■feet, on tlie road, and in a moment Kamaka entered. Ho was pulling from his exertions. The white hair on his forehead was damp with .sweat; biit* there was a triumphant gleam in his .eye. ' Slii his fingers he had a soiled bit q\ white cloth. Without a word, he went to the chair where ho had flung the holoku, and fitted the shred of cotton in its place. It was the missing piece. "A needle and thread," he commanded curtly. Trembling with superstitious awe, so that he could scarcely stand, Keoki rose . from his corner and produced them, after milch fumbling among drawers and shelves. Neatly Kamaka stitched the recovered bit into the torn gown —he had been a sailor once —while Keoki looked on, too frightened to offer a word or ask o. question. , "Anaana, devil's work," vouchsafed ;the old man, as, his task completed, he held the restored garment up for inspection. ' "He Was praying her to death. He had got the little piece of her holoku, and was praying her to death. But I fixed him, 1 fixed him.." From'his mouth he drew a pearl button and showed it to Keoki. "I got this from his coat: and then I told him lie Jiad to give me that piece of cloth he had stolen, or I would pray him to death. He laughed at first, hut wliqn began on him-—" , . > _. '■ f'The old man suddenly seiaod Keoki; s hand and began in a low voice a weird minor chant. His eyes gazed into ■Kebki's and through and through them, and far far a.way beyond. Keoki tried, to draw away, to fend off that awful look with his hand; ; but the chant grew louder and still-louder, and 'words fell from the old man's lips unintelligible and obscure; and still his eyes held the terrified youth spellbound. ; Keoki's head began to whirl, the room spun ; .round, strange, "yisions came be-

fore hi.s eyes, and in ann 11,,., he would have fallen son-H, as-suddouly .as he.had licmn, ceased his nidation, am)' Keoki's hand. "See. how oasv if was?" | h , a harsh laugh. ••That fe11,,, a little moment that I was |]j and the rest was easy. I ,j (| he will ever try anaana a-,j, don't you so muclwns wlum,,, of this to any one," he aili(,.j and his little eyes seemed |„ "If vim ever dare to tell :| —I'll—" , He left the threat nni,,,,. slipped from the room. K ( .|,j. a dazed, half-iincon.sciou> h,.' floor,-heard the click of i| u . llie sharp patter of hi.s drp,,,., Through it all Keinilin stirred. She seemed !<> L, peacefully. When Dr. Hood call, ,1 , day on his niorniiig round, | goiie hack on duty, and \{, up and' about. She was ; , and she, showed the olle<-e-, nfiss in the languor of ln-i- ~ and her hollow cheek-, physician, horror-stricken :;1 , attending to her usual ,!,,. manded her to go to '~| laughed. "1 am well again, doci,,-,-." "Why should I go hack i„ : there is so. much to dor" pointed to the disorder ol i' : , the : heaj) of unironed hum,]. chair, "Hut you will have ■• i, be sick again," the piivsi. uu "Oil. no. I sliall noi," f'heei'Ullly. "I am perl'e, ;K only I am not so stronv | work very hard for a <la\ ~, then I'll' be all right." The doctor elimlied iut>> li„ again and puffed awa.. puzzled.. l)own-town he iu,[ physician, and gave him ilir, "It is niarvellous. m'im|,| lons,' 1 he said, "laist rn-i have sworn that (hat, ;.ji| live two days. She «a s sinking, and 1 feared m lien ; there this morning thai I find her alive.' And she «. the dishes! What, do m„ : .that?" Later in the day In- ~ Keoki, slowing |iacing In-, 1 King street. By this tiim, had somewhat recovered shook of Kemili.'i's sudden |, her. death-hod, and he gn-ii, hand with ' congratulation-. ;; , alongside. Tliey ehalted '_ while Knipo danced and lint \ at, the 'chugging motor. "She is a wonderful „, \ wife.," I lie doctor said, a, iifiiv. ■ "She, was very t,m , and .1 did mil, expect to ~, -, soon. Hut I never <i> ~[>a '. pulled her through all :,n. v we?" , But Keoki thought, oih, ni