CHAPTER VIII.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1997, 25 April 1885, Page 5 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VIII.

The dwelling house was, as we have said, situated on the crown of the island, which sloped gently from the water to a certain distance, and spread out into a perfectly level space. The building was o£ the bungalow order, of wood, :ind surrounded with verandahs, trailing up which were many tropical climbing plants, whose lovely flowers added a beauty all their own. Above the house ioso tall and graceful palms, and in other portions were tree^ of feathery foliage, some of which had wax like berries of various colors gleaming through the leaves. Fantastic beds of plants of variegated foliage were disposed in various situations, and addod to the extraordinary eJkct. It was a Bcenooflavish beauty and enchanting quiet, hemmed in by the groat hills that rose on each side, a setting to the lovely picture, the blue lake and its myriad green isles. " This," &aid Herbert, gazing with rapture i upon the scene as they paused a moment before the portico, the steps of which were conil of many hues, "is a realisation of I'rospero's iulo and Armida's garden," " Young sir," said Aranoah, " remember the old proverb that appearances deceive. Believe there ia nothing in this world, not even in thii island, where earth and air and clime are kindly, that ia had without labor. In the world from whence you came the wealthy arise in the morning and wander in their beautiful gardens, from which the unsightly laborer has had to retire for fear oi offending their eight. Yet were it not for this unsightly animal and the many other unsightly animate of his kind, there would bo neither beauty nor comfort. And this fairy eeene you look upon, though it owes much to nature, ia indebted for iU order and harmony, first to brain and then to muscle. It waß not -o when I came bert. The priaoipal pleasure

anil cccupation of ivy life now is to superintend and help nature to work in harness. After all, of all occupations Adam's is that which givc3 man the greatest enjoyment." Herbert lingered, so greatly did he enjoy this marvellouß diorama. To Harry it did not aeem to afford much pleasure. He was one who thought that the proper study of man was mankind, or lather womankind. To him the living warm flesh was a thousand fold more attractive than nature witb her myriad su^geettonH. They entered into a large room with a lofty ceilmg. It waa another suipiibe to them to find it furnished in the beat European style. Velvet pile curpetF, soft to the foot, covered the floor, and shelves loaded with books filled one side of the room. In an ingeniouslyconstructed bay window, by the side of which wero drawn rich purple draperies, stood a grand pianoforte. One exotic feature there was : the tasteful and beautiful featherwoik. " Presently," said Aranoah, " you will know how all these thing-j come her. In the meantime, Nature, the inexorable, demands refreshments." lie struck a small bell, and in answer to his summons there came through a folding door the beautiful Orinor*. She had changed hor dress and now appeared in an attire of a rich dark material relieved with greys and whites. She looked more ravishing than ever, and displayed a subtle instinct in suiting her drapery to her peculiar class of ber.uty. " All is ready, father, for recuperation," she said simply. The visitors started. It was an odd phrase. Aranoah Bmiled. " That," said he, aa ho rose to lead the way, "is what we call meals here. I think it the most expressive word. We call our meals the morning, the noon, and the evening recuperation." Orinora opened the folding doors and the gueßts were ushered into a cosy room, in the centre of which was a table, laid with a snowy cloth and shining with plate and glass. Aranoah seated himself at the top and Orinora at the other end. Behind her stood like statues two finely developed girls, who were of Polynesian race. Their features were not unhandsome, and the color of their skin a rich ohocolate. One wore a robe of pure white, fitting like a Greek dress to her supple and voluptuous figure ; the other was attired in crimson, relieved with green. Altogether, there was a decided Orientalism in these attendants. The girl in white had a silver necklace with pendant and biacelcts; the other wore gold. Before the meal began the young men were surprised to find Aranoali wave his hand for grace. " Great Po-wer, to all unknown save by Thy manifestations," he said, " accept our thanks, not for the food before us, but that Thou hast, through Thy immutable and all wise laws, so ordered it that nature shall produce that which recuperates our strength, and that we have the intelligence to avail ourselves of her gifts, and to train her to our service." The meal was surprising in its abundance and tastefulness. Gold fowl, wild and tame, salad?, Dsb of many kinds, delicate confections, and innumerable fruits, from the pineapple to the mango, crowded the board. There were of course some notable differences between the food and that to which they had been accustomed. The bread was made of the finer parts of maize ; there were no meats of any kind, and tea and alcoholio drinka were absent. The place of these, liquids was supplied by the delicious and cool milk of the cocoanut, served by the dark attendants, who showed a wonderful dexterity in obtaining it from the nuts. What a dream this was to be sure to the adventurers. But ft few houis before they had beon speeding to destruction. Now they were seated in a comfortable room, enjoying themselves amid a scene such as seldom mortal eyes beheld, and a new experience had come upon them, a bright and beautiful being that seemed to realise their ideal of the angels, yet with all a mortal's weakness, and with an odd, almost ridiculous mode of expressing herself and behaving : the outcome of a cheering and utterly fresh simplicity. They longed to know the extraordinary events that had led this old man and his daughter to this island, the education ho had given her, and his religious opinions and manner of dealing with the people. All this they had yet to know. And there waa added to this interest a growing feeling on the purt of the young men that this girl was becoming something to them heretofore wholly unknown. Perhaps not altogether to Harry ; but there was a piquancy in this infatuation of an hour old that he had not heretofore experienced. Herbert felt strangely drawn to this peerless child of nature ; why he could hardly understand. There was something in her that reminded him of other days, but he could not define it. The charm of perfect innocence is powerful to all men, but to Herbert it was irresistible. He could not also but be somewhat disturbed by the strange interest Aranoah manifested in him. He hardly lifted his eyes but to find tho keen grey orbs of the old man fixed upon him, tho expression of his faoe being diflicult to deteimine, whether benevolent or malignant. But what, perturbed Herbert more ! than all was the manner in which Orinora showed, without the slightest concealment, her admiration. She hardly took her eyes off him during the repast, and the artillery of those beautiful eyes no man could stand un- J moved. Herbert trembled that for a moment, even in thought, he should bo untrue to the love who was far away. " Orinora," said her father, when the meal was over, " let Aherno and Dorala arrange the Rest and place everything that is necessary there. In that plaoo I will relate to my visitors tho story of my Hfa and other matters, which they are longing to hear. Do you, child, go to your piano and play softly ; it will reaoh without disturbing us. Thi3 way, gentlemen." The male members of the party were following Aranoah to a door which opened upon another vorandah , the two girls were preparing to dear away the table, and Orinora, casting a lingering glance at Herbert was about to pass through the folding doors, when they were opened suddenly and there stalked into the apartment a youth whoso appearance arrested the feet of all. Orinora Btarted back ; her father turned round and frowned. The visitors ga/ed upon the newcomer with astonishment, and bo did he at them ; he seemed thunderstruck. Ho was a youth of about eighteen or nineteen years, of such gigantio proportions that he might almost be called a giant. But though so tall, his proportions were so large that except when standing by persons of lesser stature ho did not appear out of the common. The first verdict of anyone must be that he was a magnificent animal. His chest rose up a massive but shapely mound, showing enormous strength and magnificent constitution. His limbs wero cast in a Herculean mould, but supple and splendidly roun'lcd. In every other respect tho sculptor QOUUI bardlj lind fault with this glorious specimen of manhood. The face was perlmpa the feature at which tho more cntioal would cavil. It was massive and large in every detail ; the jaw heavy, but tho general contour good. Tho complexion was olive, showing mixed blood, but the features wero European, except tho nose, which was not so defined as in mo"t Englishmen. The eyes were black ft'id large and large and full of fire, though at times tliey could Bleep like the tiger's. The general expiession of tho features, however, would lead to the inevitable conclusion that

he '.v«ii a jotiMi of tin shnn^e^t jw-'hious, in which it would be difficult to Bay which predominated, lust, cruelty, or arioganoe. There 13 a type of faoe whioh most will readily recognise : that type that tells of inordinate animal desires, and whioh to many women is irrisistible — to their sorrow ; of thiß type was the face of this handsome half-caste. " Paranoa— you here?" exclaimed Avanoah, displeasure in his voice. " I thought for ouo day at least you would take ohaige of our people, and see they did their duty." Up to this nothing had grated upon the senses of the strangers, save that atrangp apparition as they were rowing among tho islets; all had been as pleasant aa if they were in Paradise, and now the first blight fell ; tho serpent's fruit in Eden became manifest. After all, they were but men and women — those inhabitants of the Happy ißle, Herbert noticed that Orinora Beemed to start away from the youth with fear and dislike in her face— a face that waa like the mirror of truth, unable to conceal the feelings of the soul. " I got tired of them," replied the youth in a voice whose tones, though toned down, showed how powerful it waa, and, for that matter, musical — " and I thought I would come home for recuperation and rest. I will go again in the afternoon. But, undo, who are these? They look to be of your race. Whence have they come— from the world of sin you speak of, or from the great great star Aohenar which Orinora worships ?" " Yon will know in time," replied the old man. "It is sufficient to say they are of my race, and came here as your father and I did." The youth gazed intently at the strangers, and as he did an ugly frown gathered upon his brow when he looked from them to Orinora, and saw she was regarding Herbert so intently, looking at Paranoa furtively, aa if she feared him for Herbert's aake. Proud of his physical strength and comeliness, which he had never Been equalled on the island, Paranoa could not but, in hia savage mind, compare himself unfavorably, though he could hardly have shaped his thoughts into worda, with this finely-formed and elegant young man, whose sailor'a dress so well displayed his graces. He felt that he was all body, but that this man had not only body, but a quality whioh he could not define— soul. His keen glance did not overlook Harry Forbes, but some instinct told him that he waa of hia own kind, though infinitely higher and more developed— to him a giant in intellect. On Ebby he bestowed little attention ; indeed, Ebby so quietly subordinated himself that he waa hardly noticed. The time bad not yet come for his worth to appear. Into Paranoa's mind, as he looked upon these young men, came a tumult of apprehensions and evil passions, tho feelings that ovorwhelm men of his kind who, having had everything their own way, see rivals against whom it ia impossible to fight rising in tho path. All this was noted by the keen experience of Aranoah, the instinct of his daughter, and the penetration of the quiet but observant Ebby. Herbert saw there was a change, but he noted more through sympathy with the lovely girl, for whom ho now felt tho tenderest feelings. Harry, whose mind was of the clearest, saw easily through the thiu transparencies of these simple islanders' faoett, but look.'d upon it all as a spectator does upon a play, only he was turning over in his mind how lie could take advantage of the events which he felt sure would transpire. Tho curtain had only risen ; therr was time enough for him to act. " Recuperate then," said Aranoah, " and rest afterwards, but do not intrude upon us, and visit the people in the afternoon." As they were going out Herbert saw that Paranoa made a step towaids Orinora. " Won't you wait upon me, £tar ? " he asked, and there was a tenderness in his voice that made it very pleasant to hear — to those in sympathy with him. " I cftunot," was the reply, iv a cold, distant tone that surprised Herbert — he thought Orinora incapable of it — " I have to play while the atrangeis are resting." With a dark ecowl that made hia face more forbidding than could be thought possib'e, Paranoa strode to the table and took his bent, while the brown girl st.irted with alacrity to wait upon him. The gentlemen walked out on to the verandah, and Oriuora went to the piano.