Part 9 (1/2)

Taupo, the town ood family, and has many honours and emoluments in the way of presents attached to it In soe, and occasionally will rele

In all the many years that I had spent on Manono, I had not once seen the boy Manaia--he who had takenbeen tattooed and grown into a tall man But on the same day that I returned and was taken to the _fale taupule_ (council house) to be received by the people as their _taupo_, a girl named Selema who attended me whispered his na with the other youngaknife called _nifa oti_ I saw that he was very, very tall and strong, and Seleirls who desired hih he was poor, and, it was knoas disliked by e, was given to rew to like her asabout in his mind for a rich husband for me, and that the man he most favoured was old Ta ers with presents to him, which if they were accepted, would mean that my father was inclined to his suit, and that he, Tamavili, would follow hihtened me, and I told Selema I would escape to my uncle in Manono, but she said that that would not do, as if he tried to protect h much was in my mind, and I resolved to run away to the mountains, rather than be made to marry Tamavili, as a very old man

One day Selema and I went to the river to wash our hair with the pith of the wild oranges We sat on the sun to beat the oranges with pieces of wood to soften them,a man come down the bank and enter a deep pool further up the strea the pool for fish”

Then she called out to hihed as he spun his small hand-net into the pool We sat and watched hith and skill and the clever way in which he dived and took the fish froht seven--beautiful fish, such as are in all the mountain streams of Samoa

Then he came out of the water, made a basket of leaves, and approached me, and without a word, laid them at my feet This pleasedthat one only would I take

”They are all for thee, lady,” he said in a low voice

Seleift; so I took the basket, and then, when I looked at his face and saw that his eyes were still turned down, I took courage and said--

”Thou art Manaia Dost thou reet thee?” he replied; and then he raised his eyes to lad, for they were like unto those of my uncle Patiole--kind and soft when they looked into those of a woman or child, but steady and bold to those of a lad to see thee, Manaia,” I said, ”for I owe thee my life,” and as he took my hand and pressed it to his forehead, Seleether

Now I know not what he said to me, except that when he spoke the name of Tamavili of Tufa, I wept, and said that I would I were back at Manono, and that I was but a child, and had no desire to be wedded to any reat arms, and said--

”I love thee, Sa Luia, I love thee! And even if thou canst not lovethis old dotard Aye, I shall save thee fro serf of Falereat lady, cried out to me, 'Take my babe'”

So that is how Manaia my husband wooed ether, she laughed again, though tears were in her eyes when she took my feet and pressed them to her cheeks, for she feared that e fled, she would be left behind Then Manaia whispered to me and asked me if it was to my mind to take her

”Ay,” I said; ”else will one”

So we ers of Tamavili came and laid their presents before o back to their master, and tell him that in a month's time I would be ready and that he could coht time I always slept between the tomen, as is customary for a _taupo_, with a mat over me, and they lay on the outside, one on each side, yet in the day time I often met my lover in the forest, whilst Seleo to Uea,”{} he said; ”'tis but seventy leagues away, and so soon as the rainy season is ended we shall start I have bought a se with an outrigger, and in ht days more the westerly winds will cease, and we shall start, for then we shall have the Matagi Toe'lau (trade wind) and at Uea we shall be safe and live in peace Then soht that we escape, they too must flee for their lives to Sen Mann, of Apia, ill protect them from thy father's wrath”

Wallis Island, two hundred e after a reverse in battle or for other causes

On the e er to the town to see my father, who in a little ti face and bade the conch be blown to suether

”Here is news, O people,” he said ”Manka,{} the white trader of Tufa, also seeketh e He and Tamayili have quarrelled--why, it matters not to me, or thee--and Manka, who is a very rich man, hath sent me word that he will compete with Tamayili Whatever he offers for dowry and for presents to ood day for me”

Monk

But the people were silent, for they knew that he was breaking his pledged ith Taht the old customs and the honour of the town So, as he looked at them, he scowled; then he held out his hand, on the palold coins, each of twenty dollars

”Two hundred dollars hath this white hter Sa Luia as a present, with these words: 'If she cares not for ood--let her have them made into bracelets for her pretty arenerous words that the people applauded, and ers closed around the heap of gold; but suddenly his face darkened as Manaia spoke

”'Tis a free gift to the lady Sa Luia Therefore, O Pule-o-Vaitafe, give it to her”

”Aye, aye! 'tis hers, 'tis hers,” cried the people