Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-04-25

Don't be afraid said the lady again.
laughing gently. Look, she is quite
safe"
l looked. and so she was. She had
caught a bough as she fell. chung to il.
and was now calmly dropping to another.
Old Indaba-Zimbi had also watched this
performance with interest. but it did not
seem TO astonish him overmuch. 'sBg-
boon-woman," he said, as though such
people were common, and then turned his
attention TO soothing Tota, who was moan
ing for more water.
Meanwhile Hendrfka came down the
tree with extraordinary rapfdity, and
swinging By one hand from a boucb.
dropped about ten feet to the ground.
In another two minutes we were all
three sucking the PUPPY fruit. In an or
binary way we should have found it
tasteleSs enough; as it was | thought it
the most delicious thing had ever tasted
After three days spent without food or
water in the desert one is not particular
While we were still eating the fruit, the
lady of my vision set her companion to
work to partially fay the oribe which her
dogs had killed, and busted herself in max
ing fire of fallen boughs.
As soon as it burned brightly, she took
strips of the oribe flesh, toasted them, and
gave them to US on leaves We ate, and
now were allowed a little more water At
ter that she took little Tota to the spring
and washed her, which she sadly needed,
poor child! Next came our turn to wash,
and oh. the iov of it'll
L came back to the tree, walking pain
fully, indeed, but a changed man. There
sat the beautiful girl with Tota on her
knees. She was lulling her to sleep, and
held up her finger to me enjoning silence.
AT last the child went off into a sound
natural slumber example that
should have been glad to follow had it not
been for my burning curiosity. Then /
spoke
May | ask what your name ist' said.
Stella, she answered.
"Stella what?" I said.
Stella nothing" she answered in some
pfque; Stella is my name: it is short and
easy to remember at any rate. My fathers
name is Thomas, and we live up here"
and she pointed round the base of the
great peak. l looked at her astonished.
Have you lived there long?" | asked.
Ever since was seven years old. We
came there in a wagon. Before that we
came from England-from Oxfordshire: |
can show you the place on the big map. 1t
is called Garsingham."
Again l thought | must be dreaming.
do you know, Miss Stella" l said, sit is
very strange-so strange that it almost
seems as though it could not be true-but
| also came from Garsingham in Oxford
shire many years ago"
She started up. "Are you an English
gentleman" she asked. "Ah, have al
ways longed to see an English gentleman.
| have never seen an Englishman since
we lived here-no white people at all, in
deed, except a few wandering Beers. We
lived among black people and balloons
only have read about them-lots of books
poetry and novels. But tell me what is
your name? Macumazahn, the black man
called you, but you must have a white
name too"
my name is Allan Quatermain," L re-
piled.
Her face turned quite white, her rosy
lips parted, and she looked at me wildly
with her beautiful dark eyes.
"DO you know, it is very strange" she
said, but / have often heard that name.
My father has told me how a little boy
called Allan Quatermain once saved my
life by putting out my dress when it was
on fire-see!'- she pointed to faint
red mark upon her neck-"here is the scar
of the burn"
81 remember it," I said You were
dressed up as Father Christmas. 1t was |
who put out the fire; my wrists were burnt
in doing So"
Then for a space we sat silent, look
ing at each other, while Stella slowly
famed herself with her wide felt hat, in
which some white ostrich plumes were
fixed
This is Gods doing" she said, at last.
"You saved my life when L was a little
child; now have saved yours and the lit
tie girls. Is she your little daughter?" she
added, quickly.
NO" l said, Il will tell you the tale
presently"
Yes" she said, you shall tell me as
we go home. 1t is time to be starting
home; it will take us three hours to get
there. Hendrika, Hendrika, bring the
horses here"