"HIS ISLAND PRINCESS."

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18237, 10 July 1931, Page 4

"HIS ISLAND PRINCESS."

OUR SERIAL STORY

BY W. CLARK RUSSELL.

CHAPTER Vl—Continued. LOOBOO. For the second time the blood filled my cheeks. But I was not to be disconcerted by the harmless craze of a man whom I believed I could easily come to love, and bending my eyes upon the floor deferentially, I said to him—"l beg your pardon, sir. I believe you would be the first to overlook ignorance of customs in a sailor Will you suffer me to do myself the honour to mark the feelings your daughter's humanity and courage have excited by presenting her with this gift of diamonds?" He bowed, and, with a dignified motion of his arm, exclaimed: "Our hospitality is our pleasure, sir, and your gift is too handsome." Nevertheless, I gave the bag to Eulalie, who took it and shook a few of the diamonds into her hands. As I have told you, they were cut and proper for setting, and some of them sparkled gloriously. .No doubt they had been removed from ear-rings, rings and bracelets. She looked at them, but I saw no fire of delight in her eyes such as is commonly kindled in the gaze of women to whom diamonds are given. 'Twas clear she did not know their value, and had they been shells picked from the sea-beach she could not have viewed the gems with a more artless indifference. Her father examined them. "They are very fine," said he. "I have dealt in such things but mostly in pearls. This is a very noble giftThere is the dowry for a princess here, Lily," says he. He did not then, nor did he ever afterwards, ask me how I came by them, which I considered a fine sign of his noble character and gentlemanly spirit. There was no vulgar curiosity in this man, no suspicion. I was prepared to give him the story of the sno_w, but was well pleased to reserve it, as I did not want the gift to lose in merit through the easy manner in which I had become possessed of it. "At all events," said he, looking at me very kindly, "we will put these diamonds away with the rest of Eulalie's estate." When he pronounced her full name he spoke it very gently, and with a sweet smile. He drew me to a chest that stood not far from where he had been seated, and, taking a box out of it, showed me a quantity of Span-

ish pieces of gold and a number of silver dollars, about twenty or thirty England guineas, a small gold crucifix, three fine s.parkling rings, and a wedding ring, a pair of ear-rings and a watch and chain. When we moved to the chest, Eulalie went with us and stood close by my side, often looking up into my face as though to witnes N s the effect produced by the splendours her father was showing me and also as though she could never be weary of watching me, who was something extraordinarily new and surprising in that island, and apparently in her life. Indeed, she stood by me a: though we had been companions for years. Her artlessness was exquisitely affecting to me, who could never have conceived the like of a quality of such incomparable purity in so beautiful a girl, though indeed she was the most perfect child of nature that ever lived. Captain Scott's face was very grave and solemn as he looked upon the pieces of money and jewels in the box. "That crucifix," says he with a sigh, "belonged to her,mother," motioning with his head at Eulalie. "That was her mother's wedding ring. Her grave is in the garden. Did you see it?" "I did, sir," I answered. "Oh, my heart is buried with her —my heart is there!" he cried, with a great and sudden vehement note of grief in his voice. He put the diamonds in the box and returned the box to the chest, once or twice sighing deeply. "Is Mr de la Touche going to stop here?" asked Eulalie. "I believe I should be happy to dwell here for ever," says I. " 'Tis an ocean paradise." Her face lighted up, her eyes swam, but she said nothing. "You would not care to exile yourself from your native land," said Captain Scott, stepping towards one of the windows as an invitation to me to follow him into the open, and Eulalie came with us at my side, as my shadow. "The life of a merchant sailor offers few chances," says I, "and many people in England are starving for want of work." "But you would not care to expatriate yourself," said Captain Scott. "Ay, sir; but where should I now but for your daughter?" said I turning upon her the warm look of my full heart. "You must be a matchless swimmer." "Yes, I can live in the water almost the same as on the land," she answered, speaking with a foreign accent that made richer yet the rich quality, of her voice. "Her mother," said Captain Scott, with a note of reverence as though he named a saint, "was the daughter of a Kanaka queen. All the women of the islands of these seas swim and frolic in the water as though nature intended that that element should be as much their habitation as the land. The gift has descended," says he, looking fondly and proudly at the girl. (To be continued).