“It is my wish, and you have made me so happy by your consent. Now my heart shall not be so sad at leaving Kaahlanai, where I have been so content and happy, where I have learned so much that is pure and true.”
“But,” queried Ahleka, “will you still love me when you have once more seen the difference between myself and the men of your own nation? Will your heart still beat alone for him whose life is worthless without your love?”
As he spoke he suddenly caught her in his arms and held her closely to him, looking into her eyes with an expression almost fierce, so intense were his feelings.
“Ah, Ahleka, I can never love any one but you. You are the one man, in all the world to me. I love you far better each day. I would do anything to prove my love to you.”
“Would you? Suppose I were to try your love in the shape of physical suffering?”
“Ask whatever proof you wish, I will give it willingly,” was the answer to his strange question.
“In the olden times,” he began, “when the different villages of Kaahlanai were unfriendly to one another, they were continually at war, and when the warriors left to fight for their village, it was their custom to ask of their wives a proof of their love and devotion. This proof consisted in cutting from the arm of the wife a small piece of flesh and a corresponding piece from the husband’s arm, and transferring the flesh of one arm to the other. Can your love stand so severe a test?”
Mabel looked at him a moment and then quietly said, “I love you, Ahleka, there is my arm; do as you please with it,” at the same time extending her fair, round arm, which was bare, except that a number of shell bracelets adorned it. Ahleka took her hand and covered the delicate arm with his impassioned kisses.
“We will go,” he said, “to Kalui. He will perform for us, the test of faith.” Kalui was an old man of Howcu, who attended the sick, if there were any on the island. Howcu was much nearer the little cove where they were seated than was Nahua. On reaching the house of Kalui, Ahleka quickly made known to him the object of their visit. The old man was surprised at the request, for it had been many a year since he had been called upon to assist a loving couple in making this painful avowal of their devotion. Turning to Mabel, he asked, “And can the maiden endure the pain? can she stand the sight of the blood? If she is willing to do this, she does indeed, love Ahleka.”
“Yes,” answered Mabel, “I am determined.”