Wichita eagle., 1890-01-19


| if it sets, wait, Macumaxahn, wait till it
rises again. It will not be long; one day
you viii 60 to sleep, then your eyes will
open on another sky, and there your star
Will be shining, Macumazshn."
made NO answer at the time. I
could not bear to talk of such thing.
But often and often in the after years
have thought of Indaba-4mbi and mis-
beautiful smile and gathered comfort
! from ii. He was strange man, this old
| rain making savage, and there was more
wisdom in him than in many learned
atheists those spiritual destroyers who,
In the name Of progress and humanity,
would divorce hope from life, and leave
US wandering in lonesome, self con-
secrated hell.
'Indaba-zimbi, I said, changing the
subject, ~ have something to say" and
told him of the threats of Hendrika.
He listened with an unmoved face,
nodding his white lock at interval as the
narrative went on. But l saw that he
was disturbed by it.
''Macumazahn," he said at length,
81 have told you this is an evil woman
She was nourished on baboon milk, and
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, Macumazahn.
Look, the Star is waiting for you; go,
or she will hate me as Headril1a hates
you"
So / went. nothing loath, for attEac-
tive as was the wisdom Of Indaba-zim
found a deeper meaning in Stella's
simplest word. All the rest Of that day
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 AIr. Carson talked good
deal, telling US tales of his youth, and of
countries that he had visited. Then he
read aloud from the Bible. and babe us
good night. I also kissed Stella and went
to bed. reached my hut by the Gov
cred way, and before undressed opened
the door to see what the night was like.
1t was very dark, and rain was still fall
ing, but as the light streamed out into
the gloom fancied that caught sight
of dusky form gliding away.
The thought of Hendrika flashed into
my mind; could she be skulking about
outside there? Now had said nothing
of Hendrika and her threats either to
Mr.. Carson or Stella, because l did not
wish to alarm them. Also I knew that
Stella was attached to this strange per-
son, and did not wish to shake her con-
fidence in her unless it was absolutely
necessary. For minute or two stood
hesitating, then, rejecting 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 the last few nights old Indaba-
zimbi had made habit of sleeping in
the covered passage, which was the only
other possible way of access. AS l came
to bed l had stepped over him rolled up
in his blanket, and to all appearance
fast asleep. So, it being evident that
had nothing to fear, I promptly dismiss
ed the matter from my mind, which, as
may he imagined, was indeed fully &C.
cupied with other matters.
I got into bed, and for awhile lay
awake thinking of the great happiness in
stor.- for me, and of the providential
course of events that had brought it
within my reach. A few weeks since
and / was wandering in the desert
dying man, bearing dying child, and
with scarcely a possession left in the
world except store of buried ivory that
never expected to see again. And now
/ was about to wed one of the sweetest
and loveliest women in the whole world
a woman whom loved more than 1 could
have thought possible, and who loved
me back again. Also, as though that
acquire with her considerable possessions,
quite sufficiently large to enable us to
follow any plan of life we found agree
able. AS lay and reflected on all this
l grew afraid of my good fortune. Old
Indaba-zimbi's melancholy prophesies
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 need
ed. 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 beau
ty, but it was wild. spiritual beauty
which frightened me. Her eyes shone
like stars, apale 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 wrappings, 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, but no one
came. Presently from the open grave /
sprang the form of Hendrika. In her
hand was knife. with which she stabbed |
at me, but pierced the heart OF Stella,
who, without cry, fell backwards into
the grave, still looking at me as she fell.
Then Hendrika leaped after her into the
grave. heard her feet STRIKE heavily.
awake, Macumazahnl awake!" cried
the voice of Indaba-zimbi.
l awoke and bounded from the bed.
the cold perspiration pouring from me.
In the darkness on the other Gde of the
hut / heard sounds Of furious struggling.
Luckily l kept my head. Just by me
was chair on which were matches and
3 rush taper. struck match and held
It to the taper. Now in the glowing
light could see two forms rolling one