On Wednesday morning, the 16th of April, 1890, there was a wedding at Mrs. Maynard’s home, which was unique, to say the least of it. The few friends who had assembled to witness the ceremony, were astonished beyond expression, to see the bride and groom enter the room clad, not in the conventional bridal array, but simply wearing the grass skirts, shell bracelets and necklaces belonging to the native land of the groom. Mrs. Maynard felt that she could never get over the disgrace of such an unheard-of performance.
After the wedding, the happy pair, accompanied by Lucy and little Mae, left for the Eliza Judd. An hour later the Judd was towed clear of her wharf, and Mabel looked for the last time on the land of her birth. The departure was watched by a curious crowd of acquaintances, who all wondered if Mabel were not a little affected, mentally. Little did the departing voyagers care what was thought of them; they were content to know that they had chosen the better part.
The trip to Kaahlanai was uneventful. Day after day being passed in the same lazy manner, until one morning Captain Harris at the breakfast table, said: “We shall see Kaahlanai to-day and, if the wind keeps fair as it is now, we shall land there to-night.”
His words proved true. It was not long before they sighted the island. From that moment, until they landed in the evening, the excitement of the little party was intense. The ship had been seen by the inhabitants of the island, so that by the time they landed, there was an expectant crowd on the beach. Imagine the delight of the assembled throng, on beholding in the approaching boat, Ahleka, their beloved king, and Mabel, whom they loved almost as dearly. The meeting was touching in the extreme; there was feasting and merry making for days after their arrival. Mabel and Ahleka tried in vain to induce Captain Harris to remain for a few days with them, but he answered, “No. As you know I came considerably out of my way to bring you here, and now I must be on my way to Australia. I hope I shall never have to come into such a dangerous neighborhood again.” So, bidding them good-bye, he departed, leaving them happy and content, to be again united with their loved ones on this isle of the sea, and there we will leave them also.
THE END.
PRESS NOTICES.
The sketches of Hawaii and the Hawaiians, with illustrations, which appeared last week and are completed in this issue, were written by Mrs. M. A. Pittock, who spent a year on the islands, and has recently become a resident of Chicago—Graphic, Chicago, Sept. 27.
Mrs. M. A. Pittock, who has contributed a number of bright, readable stories for the Inter-Ocean and leading papers and magazines, has just written a clever little book descriptive of tropical life, entitled “The God of Civilization.”—Inter-Ocean, Chicago, Sept. 28.