hall issue from my worshipped bassoon tones of such
ineffable tenderness that even you shall be convinced that my passion
is reciprocated."

With these words Aurora glued her beauteous lips to the slender
blowpipe of the bassoon, and, having inflated her lungs to their
capacity, breathed into it a respiration that seemed to come from her
very soul. But no sound issued from the cold, hollow, unresponsive
bassoon. Aurora repeated the effort with increased vigor. There came
no answer at all.

"Aha!" laughed her father. "I told you so; he loves you not."

But then, with a last superhuman effort, Aurora made her third attempt;
her eyeballs started from their sockets, big, blue veins and cords
stood out on her lovely neck, and all the force and vigor of her young
life seemed to go out through her pursed lips into the bassoon's
system. And then, oh then! as if to mock her idolatry and sound the
death knell of her unhappy love, the bassoon recoiled and emitted a
tone so harsh, so discordant, so supernatural, that even Aurora's
father drew back in horror.

And lo! hearing that supernatural sound that told her of the
hopelessness of love, Aurora dropped the hollow, mocking scoffer,
clutched spasmodically at her heart, and, with an agonizing shriek,
fell lifeless to the floor.

HAWAIIAN FOLK TALES

I

THE EEL-KING

There was a maiden named Liliokani whose father was a fisherman. But
the maiden liked not her father's employment, for she believed it to be
an offence against Atua, the all-god, to deprive any animal of that
life which Atua had breathed into it. And this was pleasing unto Atua,
and he blessed Liliokani with exceeding beauty; no other eyes were so
large, dark, and tender as hers; the braids of her long, soft hair fell
like silken seagrass upon her shoulders; she was tall and graceful as
the palm, and her voice was the voice of the sea when the sea cradles
the moonlight and sings it to sleep.

Full many kings' sons came wooing Liliokani, and chiefs renowned in
war; and with others came Tatatao, that was a mighty hunter of hares
and had compassed famous hardships. For those men that delight in
adventure and battle are most pleasantly minded to gentle women, for
thus capriciously hath Atua, the all-god, ordained. But Liliokani had
no ear to the wooing of these men, and the fisherman's daughter was a
virgin when Mimi came.

Mimi was king of the eels, and Atua had given him eternal life and the