The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-02-02

was so unwell that Stella stopped in
with him. At supper we met again,
and after supper, when che had put
little Tota, to whom she had grown
much attached, to bed, we went out.
leaving Mr.. Carson doing on the couch.
The night was warm and lovely. and
without speaking we walked up the gar
den to the orange grove and sat down
there upon q rock. There was a little
breeze which shook the petals of the
orange bloom over us in showers, and
bore their delicate fragrance far and
wide. Silence reigned around, broken
only by the sound of the falling water
falls that now died to faint murmur.
and now, as the wavering breeze turned,
doomed loudly in our ears The moon
was not yet visible, but already the dark
clouds that foated through the sky
above us-for there had been rain
showed glow of silver, telling us that
she shone brightly behind the peak.
Stella began to talk in her low, gentle
voice, telling me of her life in the will
derness, how she had grown to love it..
idea, and how she pictured the great
rushing world that she had never seen
as 1t was reflected to her from the books
which she had read. 1t was a curious
vision of life that she had; things were
out of proportion in it; it was more like
dream than a reality-a mirage than
the actual face OF things. The idea of
great cities, and especially of London,
had kind of fascination for her: she
could scarcely realize the rush, the roar
and hurry, the hard croNls of men and
women, strangers each to each, fever
ishly seeking for wealth and pleasure
beneath murky sky, and treading one
another down in the fury of competition.
"What is it all for?' she asked. earn
estly. ''What do they seek? Having SO
few years to live, why do they waste
them thus?'
told her that in the majority of in
stances it was actual hard necessity that
drove them on, but she could scarcely
realize it. Living as she had done, in
the midst of the teeming plenty of the
fruitful earth, she did not seem to under
stand that there are millions who from
day to day know not how to STAY their
hunger.
Il never want to go there" she went
on. Il should be bewildered and fright
ened to death. 1t is not natural to live
like that. God put Adam and Eve in a
garden, and that is how he meant their
children to hve-in peace, and looking
always on beautiful things. This is nv
idea of perfect life. want no other
Il thought that you once told me that
you found it lonely" 1 said.
80 did," she answered innocentlv.
but that was before you came. Now
am not lonely any more, and it is per-
fect-perfect as the night"
just then the full moon rose above the
elbow Of the peak, and her rays stole far
and wide down the misty valley, gleam-
ing on the water, brooding on the plain,
searching out the hidden places of the
rocks, wrapping the fair form of nature
as IN silver bridal veil through which
her beauty shone mysteriously.
Stella looked down the terraced valley:
she turned and looked up at the SCARED
face Of the golden moon, and then she
looked at me. The beauty of the night
was about her face, the scent of the night
was on her hair. the mystery of the night
shone in her Swallowed eyes. She looked
at me, | looked at her, and all our hearts
love blossomed within us. We spoke no
word-we had no words to speak, but
slowly we drew near, till lips were
pressed to lips as we kissed our eternal
troth.
1t was she who broke that holy silence,
speaking in changed voice, in soft deep
notes that thrilled me like the lowest
chords of a smitten harp.
'Ah, now l understand" she said.
snow l know why we are lonely. and
how we can lose our loneliness. Now l
know what it is that stirs us in the beauty
of the sky, in the sound OF water and in
the scent of flowers 1t IS love that
speaks in everything, bit till we hear his
voice we understand nothing. But when
we hear then the riddle is answered and
the gates of orr heart are opened. and,
Allan, we see the way that wends through
le2th to heaven, and is lest IN the glory
Of which o'f, love is but a shadow.
Let us so in, Allan. Let us go before
tie spell breaks, SO that Whatever comes
o lis, sorrow, death or separation, we
may always have this perfect memory to
save U.s."
l rose like man in a dream, still hold
ing her by the hand. But as I rose my
eyes fell upon something that cleaned
white among the foliage of the orange
bush at my side. said nothing, but
looked. The breeze stirred the orange
leaves, the moonlight struck for mo-
ment full upon the white object
1t was the face of Hendrika, the babyan
woman, as Indaba-zimbi had called her,
and on it was a glare of hate that made
me shudder.
said nothing; the face vanished, and
just then | heard baboon bark in the
rocks behind.
Then we went down the garden, and
Stella passed into the center hut. saw
Hendril1a standing in the shadow near
the door and went up to her.
''Hendrika," said, "why were you
watching Miss Stella and myself in the
garden?'
She drew her lips up till her teeth
CLEANED in the moonlight.
Have not watched her these many
years, Macumazahn? Shall I cease to
watch her because a wandering white
man comes to steal her? Why were you
kissing her in the garden, Macumazahn?
How dare you kiss her who is starr"