Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 192, 13 May 1891 — A ROMANCE. [ARTICLE]
A ROMANCE.
(CONTINUED.) At last Judge Porter eame in and created a mueh needed diversion. "My dear," he said. "you muet not forget to give onr guests some refreshments," "The welfare of the soul is more important than that of the body. It makes mv heart hea\y to see a young man of so mueh promise reiect the Saviour/ > said the laay. "I beg that you will not look at it in tbat light," protested Nyama, "when I was at college I studied carefully the several systems of philosophy and roligion, and assure you that I esteem your's above all others. If I weve going to choose a cult for my people, it would be christianity." '*A religion is doubtless very beneficial to the lower orders; but I think men with intellegence and a sense of honor ean live well and honestly without any supernatural machinery." So the poor fool wrecked his own fortunes. "Please eome into the dining room andhave sorae tea," said Mrs. Porter after a short silence. Bheletl the way mto a splendid dining room where a table was spread with snowv linen and set with eparkling glass and silver. Tliere were only two plates laid, but their hoetess seated herself at the head of the table with her guests on either hand and poured out their tea. A Ohinaman appeared and set before them aeveral plates contahiing cold meats Rnd otlier edibles. Everv thing was wonderfullv delicate and attractive. Faza could hardlv repress an eiclamation of delicht at the exqui6ite design of the plate before her—a wealth of lovelv rose-buds, glowing with nature's tints. After tliev had }>artaken of the more suhstantial footl. tbey were served with pyramids of pink iee ream, and after that, Mre. Porter insisted on therr sating fruit. raisins and nuts. "Well," said the judge when they had return to the drawing rooui, ' *how do you like our foreign manner ol living ?" Nyama eaid sometlnng as the occasion demanded but the judge . did not paaee for a replv. "My dear," he continaed to his wife, ,4 this little woman is ;ust what you want for a par!or maid. The Japane®e are the neatest, most reliable servaßU you ctui get." u We must give the mau work in ihe garvlen, l>ut be don't know anythin|r about hor«je», l«m a(raid," mikl Mr«. Porl«r'1 don't think we ueed the man but the wonian wouUi l>e nMul, You wew «aying la»t w*ek that we mi»t have another eervmnt,* r **Oh. ahe doeo not iook a« if ehe w«8 u«\l to work, »he doe*»n t undcr--Btand a word ol Knglitdi," replied tiid wile. **She wouhl |»on l«>amthat . 1 *an nee that »ho i* ver>* bright, U be eo mueh nim tō havr a prrUy gir) like her to wait on lin» uh)* Uian th«t wllow h««atheti li'hnHM»/' the " You think tbat ehina faoed thiti£ #o |vrvtty esolaitu«Nl hi» «t(e. They Mh at Kaaa *h« aheUM nol M»nh>n«uu>d t h)ū»hed v*rr mueh at the att«ttU>n.
"O 5»" Baid His Honor eeeing that-.he-wap making & blurider, "phe i?n't hand- - eomelikeyou rny deaj; bafrl thought she was what the ladiee eall 'kinder cute,' i{ you kept Jier yo » could teach her to b© a ckristian and help the good eauee." "I would not have the horrid thing about the house," said the lady sharplr and with a anap. "Excuse me," gaid Nyama, "but I have no intention of allowing niy wile to work or to be separated from me." "And what are your plans," asked the judge. "I hope to secure a poeition as assistant snpervisor of ImmigrantB, or some clerical work," was the reply. The judge aseumed a severe judieial aif, "what are your qualifications for tbat work ?" M I have received what is considereti a good education in America, and my family— " "N«ver mind about ynui ramily, we are republicans here, and every man muBt stani on his own merit. Hkve you had any experience in this countrjv and do you understand plantation work?" ,4 You know I have just landed in this countrysaid the young man. "Ithoughtso, well that is very important. By the way, how did you happen to eome to this country ? You didn't eome as a volnntary immigrant ? That i8 under a govermnent contract ? •'Well I don't know, we eame with the excursion. We paid no fare t but we have not entered inlo any c«ntract." ' 'Very strange," said judge Porter. But if you accepted the passage, you agreed to the contract. I don't see how you ean avoid it, and so rob the goverment. You will be held to the terms of the eontraft you voluntte.ri)y made and whieh you have benefited."' "I had not thought of cheating the governraent, I supposed that it was the object to secare immigrants/' said Nvama. "I am so pfeased to meet any one froiā Japan," resumed Mrs. Porter, "I hope weshall see you again, ahd Ido hope you will decide to serve Christ and help in the good wa^k." Nyan>a preceived that it was an opei> tune time go, and so wiUi several bows and eompliments they left the house. When he had he&nl the fr«nt gmte shut. his honor arose and \vaddled majestically into the adjoining librar\\ He went to the telephone and hooking his* little finger over the leaver spoke: *'Connect 3SII 7213," thsn after a little, "Is that the marshal ? " Well sav, oneof thoee Japs is rnn • ning around »wn. v es, one of the lasl lot, ought to be on Island. He's * kind of a high toned lellow. 1 think a polieeman wonld find him at the Cos* mopolitan.—Alh right—How's that ? Tw«lve Japs dievl in the Herv>w Jail ? How was that ? All in one eell ?—Pied for want of breath, I sup|K»se ha I haw ! —Well he is the be?t sheriff we had on that island.—Gockl bve— The Judge sat down io a great T high« backed leather-covert>d araicluir, and iook up a volume irom the tabte. When our friends leii the judte'B resident they walked eorae distani>» in ailenee. Nyama wae pux<sl and not mueh pleaaed with tho ev*nU» of their eall. Fasa who had not undemood a word wa® aa bright ami y4ayful a« neual. "I wonder we ean e>-er earn a &ne big hooae like that," s*>d. **Now, my dear, I will gi\-e you a leaeon in polilieal economyhe rep)ied, 4l if any man worked e,vrr day (or a hundred years he eoukl not eam the nxmey to bay a plaee like that. he could oot produca tenvb p*rt of Um \alw. Now you mu«t aay» A>m<body (vr#< duce« it; ew> ihia* aht>u! it w piv>duced by me»'alabor. . Ttwn 1 reply. ooe man enje>yr>e the wwrk oi t«en> ty or a hnndred otlH*r*. You eee UiU lon|t ave<tue 6ne h<unar»., erouDd« t co*Uy furnitur«s eh>jtam>e» vaniūe*. W«U all ihii» there are thouiiaiid* a^! mght, m mud and «k»i, i* min** ainl viwpamii<. dyiw«. §*<$4* we *ftjoyt«iC th« eamin*» <af U* (T«WCo«t)Duea).