The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-03-23
THE g TRAGEDY ON THE
BY PHIL ROBINSON.

=, Annoy! tnele, anoy! came voice
from a thorn bush on the other aide,
and Kafir Joe .sprang to his feet. cd
"Inkos' Umnyatalata." said he to
raising his arms in the SAL
ute of q respectful attention. and
went boun ling. after the manner of
the Kafir, whether wild or tame.
down 20 the river side. he was soon
in the boat, and pulling the rope.
quickly gained the other side.
Now hikes Umnyatalata, being
translated, means Voice-of- Honey
Esquire, for "Voice-of-Honey" was
the name which the Kafrs, who
nickname every European they meet.
had given to MIR. Hugh Bentinck, OF
the Farm on the Moot. With him,
on the farm, was staying just now
and had been for three months-an
old schoolfellow and college chum,
the Inkos' Kaloongo. or '1Dare Devil
Esquire" This was the Kafir equiv
alent for Mr.. Alan Cumnor, late of
Grey Town. young gentleman who
had made complete failure OF his
colonial Carer, and having sold his
land and stock for what they would
fetch, was reported to be returning to
England. where prospects, it vas
said, had suddenly opened to him.
Now Hugh Bentinck was married
to one of the prettiest. most heartless
women chat ever wore q wedding
ring. But he thought her absolute
| perfection. Once only in his life bad
Hugh seen fault in her and thai
was when che insisted On riding q
| sick horse rather than forego visit
to a Boer pedlsr's cart that was
halted some five miles eff in thorn
bush. The horse died the same
night. But all Florry sail wss thai
| she was not altogether sorry. SIS che
| thought the horse had taken 10 shy
ing at water OF lats. Cannon, who
vas at the farm at tbs time, rode
over the next morning to Grey Towr
and brought back Pearl, the bes
horse in Natal, as a present for nj
charming hostess-a parting present
"For I must really be of to Eng.
land" he said. II cams for day
and have been hare three month:
and more"
"But not a day too long, old
man." said Bentick; 81 wish you
could stay here altogether"
For the husband was the only man
in the colony who did not know that
Alan Cumnor was in love With his
wife. Even tie Ksfirs about the
farms knew it. She used to be called
''the fower-blrd," but now was the
"Inkosikasa Ulami"-"the lady
with two husbands" But at las.
even Bentinck knew it-and this is
how the truth came ont.
II was the day before Alan Cum.
nor's going. He had been absent
for four days-having ridden to the
land.ost's Office on the Transvaal
border to make arrangements, as he
wished TO travel by land, for con-
veyance by way OF the Free State
down into the Cape Colony. Hugh
also had bean away, on his friends
business, to purchase some herse-
gear that was needed. But SO be
was riding down through the thorn
his horse strained itself and he left il
at the Kafir postlodge and walked
home the last three miles on foot.
It was already darkening when be
reached home, but seeing the light in
his dining room he walked across
the garden, making short cut, and
was In the act OF stepping on to the
veranda when. he saw his wife,
Florry, with her arms round Alan
Cumnor's neck. The shock was more
than be could bear and he staggered
step II two and sank to the
ground.
The noise startled the lovers, for
Fiorry came to the door. Cumnor
followed her.
1t was only your fancy darling
Tuere was nothing there"
"Oh." said she. with q sob of re.
lief; II could have sworn | heard
Hugh's voice. It sounded to me as
il be Was dying and cried: GOOD
Gd!"
Nonsense" was the reply.
And they remained where raey
were, in the full light.
"At the MOOT, then" said he, SCI
will wait at the ferry till you come"
sat the Mooi." she replied, and
then continued: "How much did
you say Uncle Foster had died
worth2" - -
about twelve thousand, and with
that, my darling. We can be happy
together for all our lives, in America
Or Australia or anywhere. /"
81 will 80 any where with you,"
she said; "but | shall bring my
dowry with me-" And then she
laughed low-thas her lovers blood
should not curdle at that laugh For
those diamonds that Hugh always
calls mine ere worth, he Gays, some
thousands!'
And Hugh, lying there on the
ground at their very feet in the
shadow of the veranda steps, felt the
words burning, one by one, into his
brain. like drops of melting lead.
And then they went inside again.
The shutters were closed, and Hugh