the house of pride and other tales of hawaii- 第9部分

She　was　a　beautiful　woman；　and　she　was　pure　Polynesian。　　From　my　

meagre　knowledge　of　the　race　and　its　types　I　could　not　but　conclude　

that　she　had　descended　from　old　chief　stock。　　She　could　not　have　

been　more　than　twenty…three　or　four。　　Her　lines　and　proportions　were　

magnificent；　and　she　was　just　beginning　to　show　the　amplitude　of　the　

women　of　her　race。



〃It　was　a　blow　to　all　of　us；〃　Dr。　Georges　volunteered。　　〃She　gave　

herself　up　voluntarily；　too。　　No　one　suspected。　　But　somehow　she　had　

contracted　the　disease。　　It　broke　us　all　up；　I　assure　you。　　We've　

kept　it　out　of　the　papers；　though。　　Nobody　but　us　and　her　family　

knows　what　has　become　of　her。　　In　fact；　if　you　were　to　ask　any　man　

in　Honolulu；　he'd　tell　you　it　was　his　impression　that　she　was　

somewhere　in　Europe。　　It　was　at　her　request　that　we've　been　so　quiet　

about　it。　　Poor　girl；　she　has　a　lot　of　pride。〃



〃But　who　is　she？〃　I　asked。　　〃Certainly；　from　the　way　you　talk　about　

her；　she　must　be　somebody。〃



〃Did　you　ever　hear　of　Lucy　Mokunui？〃　he　asked。



〃Lucy　Mokunui？〃　I　repeated；　haunted　by　some　familiar　association。　　I　

shook　my　head。　　〃It　seems　to　me　I've　heard　the　name；　but　I've　

forgotten　it。〃



〃Never　heard　of　Lucy　Mokunui！　　The　Hawaiian　nightingale！　　I　beg　your　

pardon。　　Of　course　you　are　a　malahini；　｛1｝　and　could　not　be　expected　

to　know。　　Well；　Lucy　Mokunui　was　the　best　beloved　of　Honoluluof　

all　Hawaii；　for　that　matter。〃



〃You　say　WAS；〃　I　interrupted。



〃And　I　mean　it。　　She　is　finished。〃　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders　

pityingly。　　〃A　dozen　haolesI　beg　your　pardon；　white　menhave　lost　

their　hearts　to　her　at　one　time　or　another。　　And　I'm　not　counting　in　

the　ruck。　　The　dozen　I　refer　to　were　haoles　of　position　and　

prominence。〃



〃She　could　have　married　the　son　of　the　Chief　Justice　if　she'd　wanted　

to。　　You　think　she's　beautiful；　eh？　　But　you　should　hear　her　sing。　　

Finest　native　woman　singer　in　Hawaii　Nei。　　Her　throat　is　pure　silver　

and　melted　sunshine。　　We　adored　her。　　She　toured　America　first　with　

the　Royal　Hawaiian　Band。　　After　that　she　made　two　more　trips　on　her　

ownconcert　work。〃



〃Oh！〃　I　cried。　　〃I　remember　now。　　I　heard　her　two　years　ago　at　the　

Boston　Symphony。　　So　that　is　she。　　I　recognize　her　now。〃



I　was　oppressed　by　a　heavy　sadness。　　Life　was　a　futile　thing　at　

best。　　A　short　two　years　and　this　magnificent　creature；　at　the　

summit　of　her　magnificent　success；　was　one　of　the　leper　squad　

awaiting　deportation　to　Molokai。　　Henley's　lines　came　into　my　mind：…





〃The　poor　old　tramp　explains　his　poor　old　ulcers；

Life　is；　I　think；　a　blunder　and　a　shame。〃





I　recoiled　from　my　own　future。　　If　this　awful　fate　fell　to　Lucy　

Mokunui；　what　might　my　lot　not　be？or　anybody's　lot？　　I　was　

thoroughly　aware　that　in　life　we　are　in　the　midst　of　deathbut　to　

be　in　the　midst　of　living　death；　to　die　and　not　be　dead；　to　be　one　

of　that　draft　of　creatures　that　once　were　men；　aye；　and　women；　like　

Lucy　Mokunui；　the　epitome　of　all　Polynesian　charms；　an　artist　as　

well；　and　well　beloved　of　men　…。　　I　am　afraid　I　must　have　betrayed　

my　perturbation；　for　Doctor　Georges　hastened　to　assure　me　that　they　

were　very　happy　down　in　the　settlement。



It　was　all　too　inconceivably　monstrous。　　I　could　not　bear　to　look　at　

her。　　A　short　distance　away；　behind　a　stretched　rope　guarded　by　a　

policeman；　were　the　lepers'　relatives　and　friends。　　They　were　not　

allowed　to　come　near。　　There　were　no　last　embraces；　no　kisses　of　

farewell。　　They　called　back　and　forth　to　one　anotherlast　messages；　

last　words　of　love；　last　reiterated　instructions。　　And　those　behind　

the　rope　looked　with　terrible　intensity。　　It　was　the　last　time　they　

would　behold　the　faces　of　their　loved　ones；　for　they　were　the　living　

dead；　being　carted　away　in　the　funeral　ship　to　the　graveyard　of　

Molokai。



Doctor　Georges　gave　the　command；　and　the　unhappy　wretches　dragged　

themselves　to　their　feet　and　under　their　burdens　of　luggage　began　to　

stagger　across　the　lighter　and　aboard　the　steamer。　　It　was　the　

funeral　procession。　　At　once　the　wailing　started　from　those　behind　

the　rope。　　It　was　blood…curdling；　it　was　heart…rending。　　I　never　

heard　such　woe；　and　I　hope　never　to　again。　　Kersdale　and　McVeigh　

were　still　at　the　other　end　of　the　wharf；　talking　earnestly

politics；　of　course；　for　both　were　head…over…heels　in　that　

particular　game。　　When　Lucy　Mokunui　passed　me；　I　stole　a　look　at　

her。　　She　WAS　beautiful。　　She　was　beautiful　by　our　standards；　as　

wellone　of　those　rare　blossoms　that　occur　but　once　in　generations。　　

And　she；　of　all　women；　was　doomed　to　Molokai。　　She　straight　on　

board；　and　aft　on　the　open　deck　where　the　lepers　huddled　by　the　

rail；　wailing　now；　to　their　dear　ones　on　shore。



The　lines　were　cast　off；　and　the　Noeau　began　to　move　away　from　the　

wharf。　　The　wailing　increased。　　Such　grief　and　despair！　　I　was　just　

resolving　that　never　again　would　I　be　a　witness　to　the　sailing　of　

the　Noeau；　when　McVeigh　and　Kersdale　returned。　　The　latter's　eyes　

were　sparkling；　and　his　lips　could　not　quite　hide　the　smile　of　

delight　that　was　his。　　Evidently　the　politics　they　had　talked　had　

been　satisfactory。　　The　rope　had　been　flung　aside；　and　the　lamenting　

relatives　now　crowded　the　stringer　piece　on　either　side　of　us。



〃That's　her　mother；〃　Doctor　Georges　whispered；　indicating　an　old　

woman　next　to　me；　who　was　rocking　back　and　forth　and　gazing　at　the　

steamer　rail　out　of　tear…blinded　eyes。　　I　noticed　that　Lucy　Mokunui　

was　also　wailing。　　She　stopped　abruptly　and　gazed　at　Kersdale。　　Then　

she　stretched　forth　her　arms　in　that　adorable；　sensuous　way　that　

Olga　Nethersole　has　of　embracing　an　audience。　　And　with　arms　

outspread；　she　cried：



〃Good…bye；　Jack！　　Good…bye！〃



He　heard　the　cry；　and　looked。　　Never　was　a　man　overtaken　by　more　

crushing　fear。　　He　reeled　on　the　stringer　piece；　his　face　went　white　

to　the　roots　of　his　hair；　and　he　seemed　to　shrink　and　wither　away　

inside　his　clothes。　　He　threw　up　his　hands　and　groaned；　〃My　God！　　My　

God！〃　　Then　he　controlled　himself　by　a　great　effort。



〃Good…bye；　Lucy！　　Good…bye！〃　he　called。



And　he　stood　there　on　the　wharf；　waving　his　hands　to　her　till　the　

Noeau　was　clear　away　and　the　faces　lining　her　after…rail　were　vague　

and　indistinct。



〃I　thought　you　knew；〃　said　McVeigh；　who　had　been　regarding　him　

curiously。　　〃You；　of　all　men；　should　have　known。　　I　thought　that　was　

why　you　were　here。〃



〃I　know　now；〃　Kersdale　answered　with　immense　gravity。　　〃Where's　the　

carriage？〃



He　walked　rapidlyhalf…ranto　it。　　I　had　to　half…run　myself　to　

keep　up　with　him。



〃Drive　to　Doctor　Hervey's；〃　he　told　the　driver。　　〃Drive　as　fast　as　

you　can。〃



He　sank　down　in　a　seat；　panting　and　gasping。　　The　pallor　of　his　face　

had　increased。　　His　lips　were　compressed　and　the　sweat　was　standing　

out　on　his　forehead　and　upper　lip。　　He　seemed　in　some　horrible　

agony。



〃For　God's　sake；　Martin；　make　those　horses　go！〃　he　broke　out　

suddenly。　　〃Lay　the　whip　into　them！do　you　hear？lay　the　whip　into　

them！〃



〃They'll　break；　sir；〃　the　driver　remonstrated。



〃Let　them　break；〃　Kersdale　answered。　　〃I'll　pay　your　fine　and　square　

you　with　the　police。　　Put　it　to　them。　　That's　right。　　Faster！　　

Faster！〃



〃And　I　never　knew；　I　never　knew；〃　he　muttered；　sinking　back　in　the　

seat　and　with　trembling　hands　wiping　the　sweat　away。



The　carriage　was　bouncing；　swaying　and　lurching　around　corners　at　

such　a　wild　pace　as　to　make　conversation　impossible。　　Besides；　there　

was　nothing　to　say。　　But　I　could　hear　him　muttering　over　and　over；　

〃And　I　never　knew。　　I　never　knew。〃







ALOHA　OE







Never　are　there　such　departures　as　from　the　dock　at　Honolulu。　　The　

great　transport　lay　with　steam　up；　ready　to　pull　out。　　A　thousand　

persons　were　on　her　decks；　five　thousand　stood　on　the　wharf。　　Up　and　

down　the　long　gangway　passed　native　princes　and　princesses；　sugar　

kings　and　the　high　officials　of　the　Territory。　　Beyond；　in　long　

lines；　kept　in　order　by　the　native　police；　were　the　carriages　and　

motor…cars　of　the　Honolulu　aristocracy。　　On　the　wharf　the　Royal　

Hawaiian　Band　played　〃Aloha　Oe；〃　and　when　it　finished；　a　stringed　

orchestra　of　native　musicians　on　board　the　transport　took　up　the　

same　sobbing　strains；　the　native　woman　singer's　voice　rising　

birdlike　above　the　instruments　and　the　hubbub　of　departure。　　It　was　

a　silver　reed；　sounding　its　clear；　unmistakable　note　in　the　great　

diapason　of　farewell。



Forward；　on　the　lower　deck；　the　rail　was　lined　six　deep　with　khaki…

clad　young　boys；　whose　bronzed　faces　told　of　three　years'　

campaigning　under　the　sun。　　But　the　farewell　was　not　for　them。　　Nor　

was　it　for　the　white…clad　captain　on　the　lofty　bridge；　remote　as　the　

stars；　gazing　down　upon　the　tumult　beneath　him。　　Nor　was　the　

farewell　for　the　young　officers　farther　aft；　returning　from　the　

Philippines；　nor　for　the　white…faced；　climate…ravaged　women　by　their　

sides。　　Just　aft　the　gangway；　on　the　promenade　deck；　stood　a　score　

of　United　States　Senators　with　their　wives　and　daughtersthe　

Senatorial　junketing　party　that　for　a　month　had　been　dined　and　

wined；　surfeited　with　statistics　and　dragged　up　volcanic　hill　and　

down　lava　dale　to　behold　the　glories　and　resources　of　Hawaii。　　It　

was　for　the　junketing　party　that　the　transport　had　called　in　at　

Honolulu；　and　it　was　to　the　junketing　party　that　Honolulu　was　saying　

good…bye。



The　Senators　were　garlanded　and　bedecked　with　flowers。　　Senator　

Jeremy　Sambrooke's　stout　neck　and　portly　bosom　were　burdened　with　a　

dozen　wreaths。　　Out　of　this　mass　of　bloom　and　blossom　projected　his　

head　and　the　greater　portion　of　his　freshly　sunburned　and　perspiring　

face。　　He　thought　the　flowers　an　abomination；　and　as　he　looked　out　

over　the　multitude　on　the　wharf　it　was　with　a　statistical　eye　that　

saw　none　of　the　beauty；　but　that　peered　into　the　labour　power；　the　

facto