Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-02-08

zahn? No! mol when we find, we lose;
and when we seem to lose, then we shall
really find. l am not Christian, Ma
cumazahn, but / am old, and have
watched and seen things that perhaps
Christians do not see. There, / have
spoken. Be happy with your star, and
If it sets, wait, Macumazahn, wait till il
rises again. 1t win not be long; one day
you will go to sleep, then your eyes win
open on another sky, and there your star
will be shining, Macumazahn."
] made no answer at the time. ]
could not bear to talk of such thing,
But often and often in the after years
have thought of Indaba-zimbi and his
beautiful simile and gathered comfort
from it. 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 a lonesome, self con-
secrated hell,
'Indaba-zimbi," I said, changing the
subject, 81 have something to say" and
l 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,
81 have told you this is an evil woman.
Che x,-o5 ,,o,,r;obaJ nv, boboo,, ,,,;ll~ orJ
the baboon nature is in her veins. Such
creatures should be killed, net 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 Hendrika hates
you"
So went, nothing loath, for attrac-
tive as was the wisdom of Indaba-zimbi,
l found deeper meaning in Stella's
simplest 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 a 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. l 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 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 1 did not
wish to alarm them. Also knew that
Stella was attached to this strange per-
son, and | did not wish to shake her con-
tidence in her unless it was absolutely
necessary. For minute or two I stood
hesitating, then, rejecting that, if it was
Hendrika out there, there she should
stop, 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 a habit of sleeping in
the covered passage, which was the only
other possible way of access. AS came
to bed had stepped over him rolled up
in his blanket, and to all appearance
fast asleep. So, it being evident that I
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.
got into bed, and for awhile lay
awake thinking of the great happiness In
storp for me, and of the providential
course of events that had brought 1t
within my reach. A few weeks since
and I was wandering In the desert a
dying man, bearing dying child, and
with scarcely possession left in the
world except a 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 could
have thought possible, and who loved
me back again. Also, as though that
were not good fortune enough, was to
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
grew afraid of my good fortune. Old
Indaba-zimbi's melancholy prophesies
came into my mind. Hitherto he had
always prophesied truly. What il these
should be true also? / turned cold as /
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 wepe stand
ing together to be married. She was
dressed in white and radiant with beau
ty, but it was a wild, spiritual beauty
which frightened me. Her eyes shone
like stars, pale flame played about her
features and the wind that blew did not
,@;u 10. Iasx L. Ill H..