Wichita eagle., 1890-01-18
4 MUMMY'S REQUEST.

hEong the alluvlaI graveiS OF the 2al r1ver
with perhaps greater satisfaction than the
actual results would warrant, for / met with
but meager success. Men there were who
did now and again find a diamond that re-
couped them for their outlay and hard work,
but instances were rare. regret to say
was not one OF them, although for years l
wrought as digger, barely paying my way,
full of hope and sanguine that sooner or
later should yank ont stone that would
repay me all and send me on my honeward
way rejoicing.
After about four years of diamond digging
I began TO feel somewhat lonely In my do
mestic life. Quite Unexpectedly opportunity
served me for lettering my condition in that
respect
fell in love. Stupid people have asked:
'Who on earth could you find out there to
fall in love within
NY reply has invariably been: "If you
could have seen Nora Kildare your con-
tempt would have been as keen as mine for
such questions"
People at home here in England never
seem to understand that circumstances pro-
vide compensation for all drawbacks con-
nected with them, if we only wait their time.
Circumstance had brought Col. Kildare to
the banks of the Vaal river in search Of that
with which he could recoup himself for losses
incurred by injudicious speculation at home.
His was not a lone case; there were other
families, some of them very good families,
too, in all respects; others in some, but not in
al.
At the time / met Nora first of all she
was but Is or 10 years Of age-a splendid
specimen of girlhood-tall, of proud bear
ing, though not by any means haughty-a
royal type Of blonde; such wealth OF hair,
and eyes too softly blue" vying with the
heavens cerulean tint A capital horse
woman fearless and therefore graceful. Rid
ing the widest of horses, she would some
times start OF on a mad burst across the
eeldt and ride for miles, returning some
hours later with the horse blown but tanned,
guided and controlled with nothing but
thin switch IN her hand.
The reader NAV smile incredulously. Docs
he think | exaggerated Not bit!
[ can assure him, il Norah hadn't been a
bit different 70 the rest OF her sex she
couldn't have stood the life we led after we
were married, forced as we were to enter
upon what some folks call more legitimate
means of accommodating money.
Col Kiidere-or as he was locally known,
''The Coloneln--and myself entered into
Trading partnership. He was to remain be-
hind and look after the digging interests,
while L advenSured on q trading trip TO the
Kambesi- Norah, against whose wishes there
was no one to demur, decided that our mar
rage should teke place before my departure,
in order that SHOULD l see fit, L may ac-
company my husband" The colonel Lroke
up his establishment and went TO live at the
hotel the very morning started with the
wagons had two, laden with all kinds of
kaf1ir truck, which included beads, wires,
fancy colored blankets and mirrors, with
which to trade, in return for skins, ivory and
feathess-
Moran had been general favorite all along
the river, the siggess being divided into
communities. varying In number according
with the prospects held out by the returns
from the different claims Not one of the
camps but Norah had visited her sturdy
little gray mare, gererally for the purpose Of
enacting the ''ntnistering angels role.
Norah on this, to us, eventful morning
held quite levee at the wagons, and many
were the souvenirs handed her by men who
had rallied, under Der nrinistrations, from
the trying fever OF the bed where accident
lad laid them prone and helpless, and who,
in all human probability, would be separated
by unknown distances from the chance Of
seeing her again long ere the time for our
return from the interior.
After q variety of adventure by food and
field, we arrived at X -, lni, a native kraal
soRle forty or fifty miles south Of the River
yambesi. At this pisSce we remained some
two months, making n 7.inarkably successful
run of trade with the hanters of the Noseli-
tatzse tribe, who had been very lucky, and
brought in large quantities of skins ard ivory,
together with an unusually good supply of
ostrich feathers.
Being SO near TO the VictoriS Falls,
thought it would be thousand pitieS to re-
turn southwark without first taking a hook
ut SO famous and picturesque spot; SO l in
epanned the oxen one fine morning, and
started for the Falls
No words OF mine can help to e1tol the
beauty of a spectacle which has been 50
frequently described by others whose pens
have done such graphic justice in the por
trayal of this wondrous water picture.
We remained for over a week at this pleas
INT place making quite picnic of our visit,
thoroughly exploring the vicinity. We were
lucky in arriving at L time when game WAS
fairly abundant. AS rule, travellers to this
far of region complain of the scarcity OF
animal life.
In the neighborhood Of the Falls there
are TO be found many interesting objects;
but what pleased Norah and myself most
were the grandly precipitous rocks and deep
rayines through which the Zambesi courses
lis Way eastward These rocks anu ravineS
ARE not easily traverSed. but with discretion
md pluck combined we found our way
famously. Numberless caves penetrate the
rocky sides of these deep ravines, in some of
which We found curioS sufficient 10 stock half
the curiosity shops IN London.
One day, having fatiEued ourselves by
Laundering over roc.s and exploring a cave, |
In which we had discovered nothing deserv- |
Ing mention, we sat curselves down at its |
entrance, while the Gri4ua who had accom-
panied us made preparations for making tea |
Rs an accompaniment TO piece Of boiled /
buffalo meat and bread
While the C..9ua was thus busy. we |
amused Ourselves oy al kinds Of sirm,ses as
TO the past and future of tie river From /
these slrmisingS we were, after awhile |
aroused by Jan placing our frugal repsst be-
fore US Having done this, he withdrew. and /
started. as he advised Us, for the purpose OF
investigating the interior of the cave and /
seeing for himself wnat there was TO see.
taking with him, as a precautionary meas
ure, .a..ag ,sand. So. 81 fire. Nogah