Kaiuolani

There the whole populace appeared to have taken up arms against their executive; for a lowering of that flag in the nearby Pacific, had effectively turned pride into hatred.

Their countrymen had planted it, right or wrong, to stay: as evidenced by the native element’s inability to prevent another’s taking its place. Young’s final coup had proven to all Americans at home conclusively the wisdom of Harvenoiq’s supposed initial interference.

Designing politicians and interested spectators everywhere advantaged themselves and weakened the administration by antagonizing credits and curtailing investments. Another election loomed close at hand. Idle men crying for bread on the one hand, and patriotic citizens shouting the freedom of Hawaii on the other, cut short the president’s oldtime influence. The would-be sage at the White House and attempted patron of autocracy roared defiant at the touch and take of inadvertent omission.

Kaiuolani purposely held aloof; a constantly increasing comprehension, in truth convinced her that neither kings nor presidents could nor should stay or deny the inevitableness of public will. Floyd Young might for the time being raise himself above the good of country, and perchance the president of the United States abuse confidence temporarily, but in the end those who laid an ear most closely to the unmistakable soundingboard of universal sentiment should finally triumph over individual belief of whatsoever kind or import.

She lingered and Bender came upon the scene, clandestinely and—enthusiastic.

“You are wasting your time here, Kaiuolani. These people are not in sympathy with your cause, and their executive is bound underhandedly to the interests responsible for his election. It is a give and take proposition, and you have nothing to offer—except, perhaps, it were possible for you to accept and avail yourself of my fortune, which I beg the privilege of placing at your disposal.”

“No; I had sooner take you—there could be no disgrace in that; now my rank is gone: my heart is stone; would you like me?”

“This is not at all a jesting matter, with me, Kaiuolani. I am serious, though you have had occasion to believe me wholly mercenary. There was a time when borrowed or, shall I say, married station would have satisfied me; but, I pray you, let me now prove my sincerity. I can put an end to foreign meddling, so far as we are concerned, and Young is——”

“A traitor! Fie on him, and his kind. I hate him! God shall surely strike them.”

Bender did not finish the sentence, though he really believed Young a dead man, and buried, too, at that very moment. Kaiuolani had, however, broken the spell and prudence saved him the consequence of an incorrigible blunder.

“You didn’t think so, once upon a time,” replied he, with returning confidence. “Had you reasoned differently then—but in that case Bender might not have had an opportunity to prove his worth.”

“A woman never reasons.”

“She is right, nine times in ten, though—just as you were when you first declined, as you do now, my favors.”

“I had rather you won than bought your spurs.”

“Good. Now then: there is one thing you’ll promise: poison Elmsford——”

“Against the republic? That is easy, if you are quite agreed.”

“I can trust you.”

“How confiding!”

“I haven’t told you my plans, though.”

“Nor would I have you do so—however much I believe you ought to begin with the United States, as you would have me influence Elmsford; American recognition might go a long way toward establishing Young’s regime. Prevent that, and I shall believe you worthy of—well, most any old thing.”

Having sooner conceived and determined a scheme larger and better than his, Kaiuolani inwardly shrank from seeming impossibilities, thus outwardly may have assumed an apparently astonishing attitude; for no other living soul whom she knew could or would serve as Bender should the means to a desired end.

They had both set upon Young’s downfall. He, solely because he believed that were enough to win Kaiuolani—but she, in view of an ultimatum to her of larger consequence.

The wailings and the admonitions of eighty millions inspired her: Young heard and voiced only the askings of one little plea. Self had conquered both, but the starting point of each had been as widely distant as the race is swift. Either would sacrifice anything, everything to win, and had Bender been as guilty as he believed himself Kaiuolani would yet lay even love at his feet to crush a foe and reinaugurate the liberties that gave her being.

“No, Bender,” said she after a little, neither one having fully recovered the effect of her last remark; “I would not have you believe me always fickle. I too desire to do a real woman’s part, but before you and I can think of our little selves we must attend to striven duty. Go back to my people and tell them that you do not falter: the influence that I alone may exert at Washington shall make you possible. You know thus far my plans, and I yours. What the future holds, let truth itself unfold.”

“I believe I understand you,” replied he, truthfully. “I came here to reveal an undertaking that you have sooner anticipated. We are agreed in everything except its inauguration. I had desired bringing the administration,—you know money talks in America,—but as you have conceived wiser I shall return, as you suggest, and trust me, Kaiuolani, there shall be no failure thence—true chivalry lies deep in respect.”

Upon Bender’s going, as he had come, Kaiuolani brightened with fresh encouragement. She believed him capable of playing his part, and well; and now that so much depended upon her she directly turned all attention to the big gnarly president, her only hope.

On the other hand the newly found champion sped returning toward Hawaii, the place whence, but a few days ago, he had departed, yearning and un-certain. Kaiuolani’s assurances now displaced doubt and possessed him with a better courage; nor was his withered conscience wholly devoid of character; he should have in turn relieved her of further duties or burdens distasteful had he not foreshadowed a danger—and Bender courted success at any cost.

Landing at Honolulu in confidence bolstered with connivance, the police grabbed their intended victim. Young was on the lookout, and before Bender could realize it or comprehend his escape, another had been thrust into jail, heavily ironed and doubly guarded.

“I have got you now,” said Young, confidently, upon entering the darkened cell, late that evening, alone and unobserved. “You thought me dead, but you see me risen. Yes; alive, as a result of your bad marksmanship; and, I am going to kill you!”

“No you’re not; Floyd Young wouldn’t kill anybody, much less one in irons. Come, what do you want of me?” replied the prisoner without a quaver.

“Those papers; you undertook to guard, so graciously. Where are they?”

“Norton can tell you that; she must have them by this time.”

“Liar!”

“A pretty speech—for a gentleman.”

“It is in vogue—and, virtue abides recognition, I assume.”

“When questioned?”

“The underdog is disbelieved—I can give or take.”

“Strike, then!”

“A woman? Not I; yet I have a mind to unmask you.”

“Floyd! I couldn’t help it.”

“And you have served me, though jealousy prove the means of our undoing. I’ll not ask the reason. Let bygones be such, and—well it is that Kaiuolani had not played me the trick; I could never have forgiven her, as I shall you.”

“Nor love her as you do me?”

“No; not as you; that would be impossible. But, have you the papers? We must quit this place; Bender is at large, and Kaiuolani—what of her?”

Norton boldly walked from her cell, disguised and in company with Young, her ready protector, notwithstanding the incident soon reached and roused Cole, their astonished president, if not some others less in authority.

Love knows no alternate.

As Kaiuolani, too, had good reason to exemplify; for out of anticipation there arose silently but forcefully a success gentler, more fanciful than lone realization had ever brought: base gratitude worked its pitiful compensation; and in her mind Bender soon glorified by deed a just if bitter appreciation.

Surrendering wholly to the demands of conscience and believing herself obligated inviolably, body and soul, to the man who dared brave death that she might attain the half she really conceived, Kaiuolani faced round and turned progress with a confidence which comes we know not whence or how, but evolves solely within the driven reach of stern responsibility alone.

Her associations at Washington had been most confidential and agreeable, secretly placing her in a position to reach and influence the president without its being at all necessary for her personally to intrude or suggest a wish—very happily so, as all thought and every expedient supposedly must originate within the halo of his own masterly comprehension.

There should, however, be some apparent ground upon which he might base a reasonable presumption: Kaiuolani pondered.

“I shall draft a letter, submitting to congress an impossible appeal. My personal grievances and their innate helplessness should rouse the president’s sympathies. Some friend may suggest a remedy. He must refuse Young recognition, and Bender shall do the rest,” said she, to herself, bursting out with exuberance.

Losing not a moment, the conjuring elements that should resolve a last triumph had scarcely rippled the surface before American interference ended and the U. S. S. Bonton weighed anchor for home. Their president did as Kaiuolani willed, and the republic failed to gain recognition.