Kaiuolani

Young quickly overcoming surprise gathered together his frightened remnant and in the absence of anything more definite or satisfying hurled them against the oncoming, but now sturdy marines.

Uhlrix met the young colonel in the open. The lines were drawn up, facing each other, between the two buildings—the palace directly in rear of Young’s division, the capitol well behind the invader’s strengthened force. The two men carefully measured chances. The stilled agony of defeat urged their respective commands on in the quest of thirsty revenge.

Bender stood champion at the side of Uhlrix; Harvenoiq’s exploitations ended with the flag’s first fall: his antagonist’s word thenceforth augured the reliance a better judgment signified; the American commander sent the one to the rear in stricter confinement, called the other forward to direct better the movement that he had contemplated should forthwith deliver the drafted constitution where it of right belonged—directly in the queen’s own hand.

Norton edged close to Young; her work still remained but partly done: Gutenborj’s stiff-necked absentation afforded fresh occasion; Young yet believed himself capable of sweeping the land of a last unpatriotic showing, listened to the voice that stirred his fancy—conjured an only ideal.

Little did either think himself standing in the midst of a tragedy that should go, unheeded, perhaps, but none the less decisive, down through time unforgotten as an epoch-building event—the one opening the long closed and self adjusting doors of a pent up and overwrought people, the other but attending death’s last faint quiver; as a tempting morsel lingers, soothing the palate of some gaunt, writhing monster. Life to that pursued sacrifice, to those vain Islanders, had been as sweet, their hopes as grand, the struggle as earnest, as are the progressions of every giant grown thing that thrives to prey and devours that it may survive: fulfilling in the end an unchallenged decree, that to live all things must perish.

“Strike hard, my love,” said Norton, whimsically, drawing close and assuming much.

The words fell cold and parched upon the over-led colonel’s fast waning conscience and surcharged patience. He knew that she had tricked him, for the stars and stripes floated high above them: no mean man placed it there, nor would the mecanations of, even, a titled dreamer serve to keep it aloft a worthy commander’s head. Uhlrix, a compatriot, and fellow, must be rigidly in honor possessed—Kaiuolani had been driven to all but lost by the ready wit of a sister in kind, if rival of choice.

His own best endeavors had counted for nothing in worthiness, yet he believed her the embodiment of a truth that knows no higher, elects not to trifle with compromise.

Norton inspired him with the same kind of courage she herself had always displayed, convinced him again of the superior desirableness of doing things, and above others remained despite all that transpired the sole exponent of an innate conviction. Had bare faithfulness shunned better opportunity? misjudgment frowned upon favor? the wanting sacrificed the willing? Momentarily the thought ran riot with the words, and then that higher self, which had never failed him in the end, perchance determined the deed, hearkened distinctly that hinder call, the siren-voiced ambition flayer, duty.

Young argued severely the right, but Uhlrix remained inexorable. Bender had gained his sympathies and knew better the wiles of policy: he had seen from a distance Young’s failing stand for principle and witnessed Kaiuolani’s ruthlessly wrought predicament—only were the Rifles under his command Norton could be made way with, the queen apprehended and Kaiuolani coerced. But how——

“The desertion!” flashed upon him like a thunderbolt from heaven. “I’ll rid myself and incumber him. Here, General, why waste words with an imposter? a deserter from the United States army?”

“Who is a deserter? Show me the villain, or I’ll make you smart for the trouble,” growled Uhlrix, unexpectedly shaking with anger at so serious an affront.

“F. W. Young, the fellow whom you would confront,” replied Bender, unflinchingly anticipatory.

“I? face a criminal? Out with the proof!”

“Harvenoiq will sustain me.”

“D——d poor evidence; but, I’ll hear it. Officer, produce the witness.”

Harvenoiq, by this time securely impaled and doubly guarded, unwillingly shuffled forward. Bender attracting his attention and catching his eye spoke first; no risk should be taken now, that the perspiration oozed in dripping beads from the commodore’s mighty forehead and Norton eyed with cool deliberation and hard-tried patience the apparently senile proceedings.

“I have accused Mr. Young, here, of desertion. Do the records in your office verify the charge?”

The crestfallen minister looked his oldtime accomplice straight in the face, crowding a thousand serious memories into one short instant: the best and most satisfying of which undoubtingly urged further allegiance if not absolute acquiescence: especially that freedom proffered at the instance of an easily verified subterfuge.

Harvenoiq, though, did not observe Norton forward of the opposing ranks or he might have thought twice before venturng upon so hazardous an undertaking. Dazed and overpowered by Bender’s stress he labored and stared, seemingly tongue-tied and wholly unconscious, till Uhlrix snarled snappishly:

“Well?”

“Yes,” whined the bewildered fellow, apparently relieved for the chance.

“And I can fix the identity,” interposed Norton, advancing with set, determined foot.

“Stop, woman,” demanded Young, sternly but kindly.

Norton wheeled, and looked her arrestor inquisitively in the face.

Young colored with anger; whereat she replied, threateningly:

“You may have good need for my interference.”

“Wayntro,” said Young, addressing his under-command hotly, “relieve me of this woman’s presence; when in need of a champion I’ll call a man.”

The uncalled-for imputation caused Norton little uneasiness, but just what should become of her champion’s career under such circumstances presented a trying problem. To oppose were to estrange, to acquiesce to suffer him the pain of an avoidable accusation—and, still yet, would the princess listen to the explications of an accused? No. Therefore let him reap the chagrin his cold resistance to her own proffered friendliness merited. Time itself must work, in its own proper way, a just and reasonable solution of all his difficulties, and an humble acquiescence have raised her in the estimation of the very one she deigned to sacrifice.

“As you like, my good sir,” said she, bowing and walking away, under the itching stare of Bender, who feigned to grin at a for once prospective revenge.

“Take it, and prove the charge,” said Young, deliberately casting his sword upon the ground.

“An easy riddance of a useless appendange? Officer, place the good culprit under careful surveillance; there seems to be some trick behind this rather awkward if ready affair,” replied Uhlrix, confused and puzzled beyond immediate comprehension.

In the lull that ensued Bender snatched up the discarded weapon and springing astride Young’s dismounted horse dashed behind the bewildered but happy Rifles. A sharp, threatening volley burst high over their depleted ranks, but the flying bullets bore no significance to Bender other than to make good at all hazards his own escape. Nor did he get off entirely alone, for a willing soldiery heralded his return: the marines offered no resistance, were glad of the withdrawal, and the last conjured support to a tottering monarchy promptly departed the otherwise deserted grounds; though Bender took occasion before quite out of reach to dismount and attempt a stolen satisfaction within what seemed to be an utterly abandoned palace.

“I’ll surprise myself; the queen is gone and Norton—well, catch her if you can,” said he, to himself, clutching tightly the now cumbersome constitution. “Kaiuolani is mine! and I’ll leave the precious document anent the throne; where Uhlrix shall find it, and claim it, and defend it, till all America is content.”

Striding through the quiet halls and in at the open door, no thought of encountering her majesty disturbed his rising spirits. The Guards had marched away,—there was no doubt about that,—and to try the great, high chair in anticipation of its future occupancy had been an easy matter had not the redoubtable Liliuokolani rose to greet his startled presence.

“You here? I thought your majesty a deposed hostess, not a mystic monarch,” gasped he, trembling under the force of sudden impulse.

The queen made no answer, yet stooped to take from his hand the proffered constitution.

A grating and a slash—but Norton struck the fiendish steel from his treacherous hand.

“Foiled!” snarled she, drawing from her waist a loaded pistol which she held covering his face.

“Listen, cowardly villain,” continued the roused woman, prefacing the queen’s unequivocal declaration:

“Hear ye, all men and women: I proclaim this written constitution the sovereign law of Hawaii.”