Wichita eagle., 1890-01-19

4
| gathered.
Mr.. Carson held up his hand TO enjoin
silence. Then, speaking IN the native
dialect, he told them that he was about
to make US man and wife after the Chris
tian fashion and IN the sight o. all men.
| This done, he proceeded to read the mar
riage service over US. and very solemnly
and beautifully ne did il. We said the
words, placed the ring-it was her
| fathers signet ring. for VIZ had no other
upon Stella'S finger, and it was done.
Then Mr.. Carson spoke. Allan and
| Stella" he said, Il believe that the cere-
mony which has been performed makes
you man and wife IN the sight Of God
and nan, for all that is necessary TO
make a marriage binding is, that 1t
should be celebrated according 60 the
custom of the country where the parties
to it reside. II is according TO the custom
that has been in force here for fifteen
years or more that YOU have been mar
riei in the face OF all the people, and in
token of it YOU win both sign the registry
that I have KEEP. of such marriages,
among those OF my own people that have
adopted the Christian faith. Still. in case
there should be any legal flaw. l again
demand the solemn promise Of you both
that on the first opportunity YOU viii
cause this marriage 10 be re-ceiebrated
in some civilized land. Do you PROMISE
I'VE do" we answered.
Then the book was brought out and We
signed our names. At first my wife
signed hers ''Stella" only, but her father
babe her write it Stella Carson for the
first and last time IN her life. Then sew
eral of the indunas, or head men. in
Guiding old Indaha-zunbi, put their marks
in witness. Indabs-zirnba drew his mark
in the shape of little Sur, IN humorous
allusion to Stella's native name. That
register is before me now as | write.
That with lock of my darling's hair
that lies between its leaves, is my dear
est possession. There are all the names
and marks as they were written many
years ago beneath the shadow of the
tree on Babyan Kraals IN the wilder
ness, but alas. and alas. where are those
who wrote them?
MY people, said Mr. Carson, when
the singing was done and we had kissed
each other before them all-''my people,
Macumazahn and the Star, my daughter.
are now man and wife, 20 live in one
kraal, to eat Of one bowl, to share one
fortune till they reach the grave. Hear
now, my people, you know this woman"
and, turning, he pointed to Hendrika,
who, unseen by US. had been led out of
the prison hut.
eyes. yes, we know her" said little
ring of head men. who formed the prim-
tive court of justice, and after the fash
ion of natives had sqnatted themselves in
a circle ON the ground In front of us.
eve know her; she is the white babyan
woman; she is Hendrika, the body serv-
ant of the Star"
"You know her" said Mr. Carson.
"but you do not know her altogether.
Stand forward, Indaba-zimbi, and tell
the people what came about last night in
the hut of Macumazhan."
Accordingly old Indaba-zimbi came
forward, and, s9uatting down, told his
moving tale with much descriptive force
and many gestures, finishing up by pro-
ducing the gralt knife from which his
watchfulness had saved me.
Then was called upon, and In few
brief words substaptiated his story; in
deed my face did that in the sight of all
men.
Then Mr.. Carson turned to Hendrika.
who stood in sullen silence, her eyes
fixed upon the ground, and asked her if
she had anything to say.
She looked up boldly and answered:
"Mscumazahn has robbed me Of the
love Of my mistress. / would have
robbed him OF his life, which is little
thing compared to that which l have
lost at his hands. l have failed, and /
am sorry for it, for had killed him and
left no trace the Stax would have forgot
ten him and shone on me again"
Never" murmured Stella in my ear:
but Mr.. Carson turned white with
wrath.
MY people," he said, "you hear the
words of this woman. You hear how
she pays me back, me and my daughter
whom she swears she loves She SAYS
that she could have murdered a man
who has done her no evil, the man who
Is the husband Of her mistress. We !
saved her from the babyans, we tanned
her. we fed her. we taught her, and this
is how she pays us back. Say, nv
people, what reward shall be given TO /
herr
Death" said the circle of indunas.
pointing their thumbs downwards. and !
all the multitude beyond echoed the /
word Death"
Death, repeated the head ipduna, |
adding: IF you save her, nv father. we /
will slay her with our own hands. She 1
is babyan woman, a devil woman: ali.
yes, we have heard OF such before: iet
her be slain before she works more evil.
Then it was that Stella stepped for.
ward and begged for Hendricks life in
moving terms. She pleaded the sava9ery
Of the wornan's nature. her long service.
ADD the affection that she had always
shswn toward herself. She ssid tina, /,
whose life had been attempted, forgsve
aer, and she, my wife, who had nearly !
oeeu left widow before she was made
bride, forgave her; let them forgive her
sJso. let her be sent away, not slain. - !
bot her marriage day be stained with
blood
Now her father listened readily enough,
FOR he had no intention Of killing Hen
drika-indeed, be had already promised
Dot TO do 50. But the people we're in
different hur1or, they looked upon Hen
iriks as devil, and would have torn her
20 r,fecea there and then coEuld ther haze