Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-02-06
CHATTER VIII.


At length the last platform, or ter
race, was reached, and we pulled up out
side the wall surrounding the central
group Of marble huts-for so l must call
them for want Of better name. Our
approach had been observed by a crowd
Of natives, whose race have never been
able TO determine accurately; they be-
longed to the Basutu and peaceful sec
tion of the Bantu peoples rather than TO
the Zulu and warlike. Several of these
ran up to take the horses, gazing on us
with establishment, not unmixed with
awe. We acknowledged for
myself, not without difficulty indeed,
had 1t not been for Stella's support |
should have fallen.
Now you must CONE and see nv
father" she said. II wonder what he
will think Of it, it is all so strange
Hendrika, take the child to my hut and
give her milk, then put her into my bed;
] will come presently
Hendrika went off with a somewhat
ugly grin to do her mistress bidding,
and Stella led the way through the mar
row gateway in the marble wall, which
may have inclosed nearly half an "erf,"
or three-quarters Of an acre of ground IN
all. 1t was beautifully planted as a gar
den, many European vegetables and
flowers were growing in it, besides 9TH
ers with which | was not acquainted.
Presently we came to the center hut
and 1t was then that | noticed the extra
ordinary beauty and finish OF the mar
BILE masonry In the hut, and facing the
gateway, was a modern door, rather
irudely fashioned of Bucken pont, a
beautiful reddish wood t&at has the APP
pearance of having been sedulously
pricked with pin Stella opened 1t, and
we entered. The interior Of the hut was
the size Of large and lofty room, the
walls being formed Of plain polished
marble. 1t was lighted somewhat dim
ly, but quite effectively, by peculiar
openings in the roof, from which the
rain was excluded by overhanging caves.
The marble floor was strewn with ma
tive mats and skins of animals. Book
cases filled with books were placed
against the walls, there was a table in
the center, chairs seated with rimpi or
strips of hide stood about, and beyond
the table was a couch on which a man
was lying reading.
''Is that y7u, Stellar said a voice
that even after so many years seemed
familiar to re. where have you been
my dear? began to think that you had
lost yourself again
"No, father, dear, ] have not lost my
self, but have found somebody else
At that moment stepped forward so
that the light fell on me. The old gen.
tleman on the couch rose with some diff
fculty and bowed with much courtesy.
He was iine-looking old man, with
deep-set dark eyes. pale face that bore
many traces of physical and mental suf-
fering, and long white beard.
''Be welcome, SIR he said. at Is
long since we have seen a white face in
these wilds, and yours, if | am not mis-
taken, is that of an Englishman. There
has been no Engli jhman here for ten
years, and he, grieve to say was an
outcast flying from Justice" and he
bowed again and stretched out his hand.
l looked at him, and then OF a sudden
his name flashed back into my mind.
took his hand.
How do you do, Mr.. Carson?" I said.
He started back as though he had
been stung
"Who told you that name?' he cried.
1T is dead name. Stella, is it you?
forbade you to let it pass your lips"
81 did not speak it. father l have
never spoken it, she answered.
'Sir," broke in, 'if you will allow
mo l will show you how came to know