The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-06-04
THE STRANGE STORY
OF -
Allan Quatdmain'SWi
ny II. n1pER HAoeARD.
AUTHOR OF "SHB," "KINa SoLoMoS's
MNRs," "JBss," "CLEo-
PATRA," ETc.
AN AFRICAN ROMANCE.
ny II. nIDEn HA0GARD.
. CHAPTER XIV.
FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER

Both Stella and Tota were too weary
to be moved, so we oamped that night
IN the balloons home, butw troubled.
bF no baboons. Stella would not sleep
tt the cave; she said the place terrified
her, so made her up kind Of bed un-
der thorn tree. As this roclk-hound
valley was one Of the hottest places I
ever was In, 1 thought that this would
not matter; but when at sunrise on tho
following morning saw vail Of mias-
mntic mist hanging over the surface Of
the ground, changed my opinion.
However, neither Stella nor Tota
seemed the worse, so as soon as was
practicable we started homewards. I
had already on the previous day sent
some OF the men back TO the kraals TO
fatch ladder, and whom we reached the
cliff we found them waiting for US be-
meath. With the help OF ladder the
descent was easy. Stella simply got out
OF her rough litter at the top Of the cliff,
for we found it necessary TO carry her,
climbed down the ladder, aud got into it
again at the bottom.
Well, We reached the kraals safely
enough, seeing nothing more OF Hen
drilSa, and, were thisa story, doubtless
ssozid end 1t here with-"and lived
happy ever after" But alasl 1t is not
So How am to write it2
My dearest wifes vital energy seemed
completely to fail her now that the dan
ger was past, and within twelve hours
OF our return / saw that her state was
such as TO necessitate the abandonment
of any idea of leaving Babyran kraals At
present. The bodily exertion, the an
lguish OF mind and the terror that she
had endured during that dreadful night
combined with her delicate state OF
health, had completely broken her
down. To make matters worse also, she
was takcn with an attack OF fever, con-
traoted, no doubt, in the unhealthy at
mpsphere Of that acoursed valley. In
time she shook the fever of, but 1t left
her dresdfully weak and quite unfit to
face the tria, before her.
1 think she knew she was going 10 die;
she always spoke Of my future, never OF
oar future. 1t is impossible for me TO
tell how sweet sho was; how gentle,
how patient and resigned. Nor, indeed,
do wish to tell it, 1t is too sad. But
this I will say, believe that II ever
woman drew near to perfection while
yet living on the earth, Stella Quater-
main did 80.
The fatal hour drew on. MY boy
Harry was born, and his mother lived
to kiss and bless him. Then she sank.
We did what we could, but we had little
skill, and might not hold her back from
death. All through one weary night
watched her with breaking heart. --
The dawn came, the sun rose in the
cast. His rays falling on the peak be-
hind were reflected in glory upon the
bosom Of the western sky. Stella awoke
from her swoon and saw the light. She
whispered TO me to open the door OF the
hut. did so, and she fixed her dying
eyes on the splendor OF the morning
sky. She looked on me and smiled as
an angel might smile. Then with last
effort she lifted her hand, and pointing
TO the radiant heavens, whispered:
"7here, Alan, Merei'
1t was done and was broken hearted,
and broken-hearted / must wander till
,he end. Those who have endured my
loss will know NIX sorrow; 1t can not be
written. In such peace and at such an
hour may also diel
Yes, it is a sad story, but wander
where we will about tho world we can
never go beyond the sound Of the pass
ing bell. For me, as for my father be-
fore me, and for the millions who have
been, and who shall be, there is but one
word Of comfort. "The Lord hath