Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-06-06

OF the hottest places l ever was in, [
thought that this would not matter: but
when at sunrise on the following morning
/ saw veil of miasmatic mist hanging
over the surface of the ground, changed
nv opinion. However, neither Stella nor
Tota seemed the worse, so as soon as was
practicable we started homewards.
| had already on the previous day sent
some of the men back to the kraals to
fetch ladder, and when we reached the
cliff we found them waiting for US be-
meath. With the help of a ladder the de-
scent was easy. Stella simply got out of
her rough litter at the top of the cliff, for
we found it necessary to carry her, climb
ed down the ladder, and got into it again
at the bottom.
Wen, we reached the kraais safely
enough, seeing no hing more of Hen
drilla, and. were this story, doubtless l
should end it here with land lived happy
ever after" But alas! it is not sol How
am to write it?
Ny dearest wife's vital energy seemed
completely to fail her now that the dam
ger was past, and within twelve hours of
our return saw that her state was such
to necessitate the abandonment of any
idea of leaving Babyan Kraals at present.
The bodily exertiou, the anguish of mind,
and the terror that she had endured dur
ing that dreadful night, combined with
her delicate state of health, had complete
" broken her down. To make matters
worse also, she was taken with an attack
of fever, contracted no doubt in the I'M
healthy atmosphere of that accursed val
lev In time she shook the fever off, but
it left her dreadfully weak and quite IN
fit to face the trial before her.
think she knew she was going to die:
she always spoke of my future, never OF
our future. 1t is impossible for me to tell
how sweet she was: how patient and re-
signed Nor, indeed, do | wish to tell it,
it is too sad. But this | will say | believe
that if ever woman drew near to perfec-
ton while yet living on the earth, Stella
Quatermain did 50.
The fatal hour drew on. My boy Harry
was born, and his mother lived to kiss
and bless him. Then she sank. We did
what we could, but we had little skill, and
might not hold her back from death. All
through one weary night l watched her
with breaking heart.
The dawn came, the sun rose in the east
His rays falling on the peak behind were
reflected in glory upon the bosom of the
western sky. Stella awOke from her vUDn
and saw the light. She whispered to Iie
to open the door of the hut. did so, and
she fixed her dying eyes on the splendor
of the morning sky. She looked on me
and smiled as an angel might smile.
Then with a last effort she lifted her hand,
and pointing to the radiant heavens, whis-
pered:
There, Allan, therer
1t was done and | was broken-hearted.
and broken-hearted | must wander till the
end. Those who have endured my loss
will know my sorrow; it cannot be writ
ten. In such peace and at such an hour
may | also diel
Yes, it is a sad story, but wander where
we will about the world we can never 90
beyond the sound of the passing bell. For
me, as for my father before me, and for
the millions who have been and who shall
be, there is but one word of comfort.
"The Lord hath given, and the Lord
hath taken away" Let us, then, bow
our heads in hope, and add, with an hum
bic heart, blessed be the name of the
Lord"
buried her by her fathers side. and
the weeping of the people who had loved
her went up to heaven. Even Indaba-
zimbi went