The Dickinson press., 1890-05-03

MISUNDERSTANDING, sa1o, changing Cne
subject, II have something to say" and
I 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 saw that he
was disturbed by it.
'Macumazahn," he said at length,
II 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 will watch her, Macumazahn
Look, the Star is waiting for you; go,
or she will hate me as Hendrika hates
you"
So went, nothing loath, for attrac-
tive as was the wisdom of Indaba-zimbi,
I found deeper meaning in Stella's
simplest word. All the rest of that day
Ipassed 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
countries that he had visited. Then he
read aloud from the Bible. and bade us
good night. also kissed Stella and went
to bed. reached my hut by the COW
cred way, and before Iundressed 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 I 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 did not
wish to alarm them. Also I knew that
Stella was attached to this strange per-
son, and I did not wish to shake her con-
fidence in her unless it was absolutely
necessary. For a minute or two stood
hesitating, then, rejecting that, if it was
Hendrika out there, there she should
stop, I 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 came
to bed 1 had stepped over him rolled up
in his blanket, and to all appearance
fast asleep. So, it being evident that
had nothing to fear, promptly dismiss
ed the matter from my mind, which, as
may be imagined, was indeed fully oc-
cupied with other matters.
T crot into 1,a1 opl 60, o,,,l,.1o To-.
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 a
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 1 loved more than could
have thought possible, and who loved
me back again. Also, as though that
were not good fortune enough, I was to
acquirew 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
grew afraid of my good fortune. Old
1ndaba-zimbi's melancholy prophesies
came into my mind. Hitherto he had
always prophesied truly. What if these
should be true also? 1 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 alh 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, pale flame 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, Macumazahn! awake!' cried
the voice of Indaba-zimbi.
awoke and bounded from the bed,
the cold perspiration pouring from me.
In the darkness on the other side of the
hut heard sounds of furious struggling.
Luckily I kept my head. Just by me
was chair on which were matches and
rush taper. struck match and held
it to the taper. Now in the glowing
light could see two forms rolling one
over the other on the floor, and from be-
tween them came the flash of steel. The
fat melted and the light burnt up. 1t
was Indaba-zimbi and the woman Hen
drika who were struggling, and, what
was more, the woman was getting the
better of the man, strong as he was. /
rushed toward them. Now she was up
permost, now she had wrenched herself
from his fierce grip, and now the great
knife she had in her hand flashed up.
But was behind her, and, getting my
hands beneath her arms, jerked with all
my strength. She fell backwards, and,
in her effort to save herself, most for
tunately dropped the knife. Then we
flung ourselves upon her. Heavens! the
strength of that she devil! Nobody who
has not experienced it could believe it.
She fought and scratched and bit, and
ct one time nearly mastered the two of
us. AS it was she did break loose.
She rushed at the bed, sprung on it, and
bounded thence straight up at the roof
OF the hut. never saw such jump,
and could not conceive what she meant
to do. In the roof were the peculiar
holes which have described. They
were designed to admit light, and COW
cred with overhanging caves. She sprung
straight and true like monkey, and,
catchinr tho oIoo of tho bo1o will, l,or