The Globe-republican., 1890-11-05


the baboon nature is in her veins Such
creatures should be killed, not kept.
She will make you mischief if she
can. But l will watch her, Macuma-
zahn. Look, the Star is waiting for you;
GO, or she will hate me as Herdrika
hates YOU"
So went, nothing loath. for attractive
as was the wisdom of Indaba-zimbi, |
found a deeper meaning in Stella's SIM
pleSt word. All the rest Of that day l
passed in her company, and the greater
part of the two following days. At last
came Saturday night, the eve of our
marriage. 1t rained that night, SO we
did not go out, but spent the evening in
the hut. We sat hand in hand, saying
little, but Mr.. Carson talked good deal,
telling us tales of his youth and of coun-
tries that he had visited. Then he read
aloud from the Bible and babe us good
night. 1 also kissed Stella and went to
bed. Preached my hut by the covered
way, and before 1 undressed opened the
door to see what the night was like. 1t
was very dark, and rain was still falling,
but as the light streamed out into the
gloom fancied that l caught sight of
dusky form gliding away. The
thought of Hendrika flashed into
my mind; could she be skulki1g
about outside there? Now, 1 had said
nothing of Hendrika and her threats
either to Mr.. Carson or Stella. be-
cause 1 did not wish to alarm them.
Also knew that Stella was attached to
this strange person, and l did not wish
to shake her confidence in her unless it
was absolutely necessary. For min
ute or two l stood hesitating, then, re-
flecting that if it was Hendrika out
there, there she should stop, l went in
and put up the stout wooden bar that
was used to secure the door. For tae
last few nights old Indaba-zimbi had
made habit of sleeping in the covered
passage, which was the only other pos
sible way of access. As / came to bed l
stepped over him rolled up in his
blanket, and to all appearances fast
asleep. So it being evident that l had
nothing to fear, 1 promptly dismissed
the matter from my mind, which, as may
be imagined, was indeed fully occupied
with other matters.
l got into bed, and for awhile Law
awake thinking of the great happiness
in store for me, and Of the provIdential
course OF events that had brought it
within my reach. A few weeks since
and was wandering il the desert dy
ing man, bearing a dying child, and
with scarcely possession left in the
world except store of buried ivory
that never expected to see again. And
now l was about to wed one of the
sweetest and loveliest women in the
whole world-a woman whom I loved
more than ] could have thought possible,
and who loved ne back again Also, as
though that were not good fortune
enough. l was to acquire with her con-
siderable possessions, quite sufficiently
large to enable US to follow any plan of
life We found agreeable. As I lay and
reflected on all this grew afraid Of my
good fortune. Old Indaba-zimbi's mel
ancholy prophecies came into my mind
Hitherto he had always prophesied truly.
What If these should be true also?
turned cold as l thought OF it, and |
prayed to the Power above to preserve |
Us both to live and love together. Never |
was prayer more needed. While its |
words were still upon my lips dropped |
asleep and dreamed most dreadful
dream.
dreamed that Stella and were stand
ing together TO be married. She was
dressed in white. and radiant with |
beauty, but it was wild, spiritual
beauty which frightened me. Her eyes
shone like stars, a pale fame played
about her features, and the wind that
blew did not stir her hair. Nor was this
all, for her white robes were death wrap
pings, and the altar at which we stood
was formed of the piled-up earth from
an open grave that yawned between Us,
So we stood waiting for one to wed Us.