Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-03-20

WuO10 WOFlQ-A woman WHOM lOV0Q
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 con-
siderable possessions, quite sufficiently
large to enable US to follow any plan Of
life we found agreeable. As l lay and
reflected on all this grew afraid of my
good fortune. Old Indaba-zimbi's mel
ancholy prophecies came into my mind.
Hitherto he had always prophesied truly.
What If these should be true also? I
turned cold as 1 thought of it, and
prayed to the Power above to preserve
US both to live and love together. Never
was prayer more needed. While its
words were still upon my lips dropped
asleep and dreamed a most dreadful
dream.
ing together to be married. She was
dressed in white, and radiant with
beauty, 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 stir her hair. Nor was this
all, for her white robes were death wrap
pings, 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 ono to wed US,
but no one came. Presently from the
open grave sprang the form of HendrIka
In her hand was a knife, with which
she stabbed at me, but pierced the heart
of Stella, who, without cry, fell back
wards into the grave, still looking at
me as she fell. Then Hendrika leaped
after her in the grave. heard her feet
strike heavily.
"Asoake, MacumazGhas! asoaker' cried
the voice of Indaba-zimbi.
l awoke and bounded from the bed,
the cold perspiration pouring from me.
In the darkness on the other side of the
hutI heard sounds of furious struggling.
Luckily, kept my head. Just by me
was chair on which were matches and
O 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 burned up.
1t was Indaba-zimbi and the woman
Hendrika who were struggling, and,
what was more, the woman was getting
the better Of the man, strong as he was.
1 rushed toward them. Now she was
uppermost. Now she had wrenched her.
self from his fierce grasp, 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 fort
unately dropped the knife. Then we
flung ourselves upon her. Heavensl
the strength of that she-devil! Nobody
who has not experienced it could be-
heve it. She fought and scratched and
bit, and at 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 pecul-
lar holes which have described. They
were designed to admit light, and coV-
cred with overhanging caves. She
sprung straight and true like monkey,
and, catching the edge of the hole with
her hands, stroVe to draw herself through
1t, But here her strength, exhausted
with the long struggle, failed her. For
moment she swung, then dropped to
the ground and fell senseless.
sour gasped 1ndaba-zimbi. 'Let US
tie the devil up before she comes to life
again"
thought this good counsel, so we
took rein that lay in the corner of the
room and dashed her hands and feet in
such fashion that even she could
scarcely escape. Then we carried her
into the passage, and Indaba-zimbi sat
over her, the knife in his hand, for did
not wish to raise an alarm at that hour
of the night.
''Do you know how l caught her,
Macumazahn?" he said. For several
nights I have slept here with one eye
open, for 1 thought she had made
plan. Tonight L kept wide awake,
though pretended to be asleep. An
hour after you got into the blankets the
moon rose, and 1 saw a beam Of light
come into the hut through the hole in
The roof. Presently I saw the beam of
light vanish. At first l thought that
cloud was passing over the moon, but l
listened and heard noise as though
some one was squeezing himself through
a narrow place. Presently he was
through and hanging by his hands.
Then the light came in again, and in
the middle of it / saw the babyan-frau
swinging from the roof, and about to
drop into the hut. She chung by both
hands, and in her mouth was a great
knife. She dropped, and ran forward
to seize her as she dropped, and gripped
her round the middle. But she heard
me come, and, Selling the knife, struck
at me in the dark and missed me. Then
we struggled, and you know the rest.
You were very nearly dead tonight,
Macumazahn."
Every nearly, indeed" L answered,
still painting, and arranging the rags of
my night-dress round me as best might.
Then the memory of my horrid dream
flashed into my mind. Doubtless it had
been conjured up but the sound of
Hendrika dropping to the loor-in my
dream it had been a grave that she
dropped into. All of it had been ex-
perienced in that second of time. Well,
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