The Irish standard., 1890-03-15
THE I \ !, STRANGE q STORY
II. OF
Allan u. guait t: il. n's s Y if
BY III. RIDER HAGGARD,
AUTHOR OF "S1rE,o ssKIHa SoLoMoN'a
MIrEs," JESS" "CLEo-
PATRA," ETC.
"A NEW AFRICAN ROMANCE.

We we're to be married after the service
which Mr.. Carson held every Sunday
morning in the large marble hut set
apart for that purpose. The service be-
gan at ten o'clock, but long before that
hour all the natives Of the place came up
N troops, singing as they came, to be
present at the wedding of the Star. It
was a pretty sight to see them, the men
dressed in all their fnery, and carrying
shields and sticks in their hands. and
the women and children carrying green
branches of trees ferns and flowers. At
length, about half-past nine, Stella rose,
pressed my hand, and left me TO my re-
Elections. At a few minutes to ten she
reappeared again with her father.
dressed in a white vail, wreath of
orange flowers in her dark, curling hair,
a bouquet Of orange flowers in her hand.
To me she seemed like dream of love-
illness. With her came little Toto in q
high state Of glee and excitement. She
was Stella's only bridesmaid. Then
we all passed out towards the church
hut. The bare space in front of it was
filed with hundreds of natives, who set
up song as we came. But we went on
into the hut, which was crowded with
such of the natives as usually worshiped
there. Here Mr.. Carson, as usual, read
the service, though he was Obliged to sit
down in order to DO so. When it was
done-and to me it seemed interminable
Mr.. Carson whispered to me that he
4r> tciS 40 Init IN
sight of all the people, SO we went out
and took our stand under the shade OF a
large tree that grew near the hut facing
the bare space where the natives were
gathered.
Mr.. Carson held up his nand to enjoin
silence, Then, speaking 10 the native
dialect, he told them that he was about
to make us man and wife, after the
Christian fashion and in the sight of all
men. This done. he proceeded to read
the marriage service over US, and very
solemnly aud beautifully he did it. We
said the words, placed the ring-it was
her fathers signet ring, for we had no
other---upon Stella's finger and it was
done.
Then Mr.. Carson spoke. ''Allan and
Stella,'' he said, Il believe that tho GER
emony which has been performed makes
you man and wife in the sight of God
and man, for all that is necessary to
make q marriage binding is that it
should be celebrated according to che
custom of the country where the parties
to it reside. 1t is according to the GUS
tom that has been in force here for
fifteen years or more that you have been
married in the face OF all the people,
and in token Of it you will both sign the
registry that I have kept Of such mar
riages among those of my people who
have adopted the Christian faith. Still,
in case there should be any legal flaw l
again demand the solemn promise Of
YOU both that on the first opportunity
you will cause this marriage to be re-
celebrated in some civilized land. DO
you pron1ise?'
eve do we answered.
Then the book was brought out and
we signed our names. At first my wife
signed hers ''Stella" only, but her father
babe her write it Stella Carson for the
first and last time in her life. Then
several OF the indunas, or head men, in
Guiding old Indaba-zimbi, put their
marks in witness. linda bi drew
his mark in the shape of d little star, in
humorous allusion to Stella's native
name. That register is before me- now
as write. That, with a lock OF my
dar1ing's hair that lies between its
leaves is my dearest possession. There
are all the names and marks as they
were written many years ago beneath
the shadow of the tree on Babyan
kraals in the wilderness, but alas! and
alas! where are those who wrote them?
:'My people," said Mr., Carson, when
the singing was done, and we had kissed
each other before them all-''My people,
Macuin azahn and the Star, my daugh-
ter, arc now man and wife, to live III one
kraa]. TO eat at one bowl, to share one
fortune till they reach the grave. Hear
now. my people, you know this woman. y
and surning he pointed to Hendrlka,
who, unseen by us, had been led out OF
the p.; hut.
.Yes, yes, we know her. said LITTLE
rire Of head men, who formed the print
tive court Of justice, and after the fash
,ion of natives had seuatted themselves
il 4 circlo on the ground in front Of US
"Sve know her; she is the white babyan-
women; she is Hendrika, the body-sery-
ant. OF the STAR
.a You know her. said Mr.. Carson,
\, STINT sou do not know her altogether.
Stand f.rward, Indaba-zimbi, and tell
the people what came about last night
in the hut of Macumazahn."
Accordingly lndaba-zimbi came for
ward, and squatting down told his NOV
ing tale with much descriptive force and
MANY gestures, finishing up by produc-
ing the great knife from which his
wa tchfulness had saved me.
Then was called upon, and in few
brief worls substantiated his story; in
deed. NV face did that in the sight of all
men
Then Mr.. Carson turned to Hendrika,
who stood in sullen silence, her eyes
fixed upon the ground, and asked her i
she had any thing to say.
!. She Locked up boldly and answered:
Il. sM.cuaaazahn has robbed me Of the
love Of my mistress. I would have
robbed him of his Ne, which is a
: s. - . Il X Il 49,