Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-02-08

she pays me back, me and my daughter
whom she swears she loves. She SAYS
that she could have murdered a man
who has done her no evil, the man who
is the husband of her mistress. We
saved her from the babyans, we tanned
her, we fed her, we taught her, and this
Is how she pays us back. Say, my
people, what reward shall be given to
herr"
death" said the circle of indunas,
pointing their thumbs downwards, and
all the multitude beyond echoed the
word Death"
death" repeated the head induna,
adding; eff you save her, my father, we
will slay her with our own hands. She
is babyan woman, devil woman; ah,
yes, we have heard of such before; let
her be slain before she works more evil. !"
Then it was that Stella stepped for
ward and begged for Hendricks life in
moving terms. She pleaded the savagery
of the woman's nature, her long service.
and the affection that she had always
shown toward herself. She said that I,
whose life had been attempted, forgave
her, and she, my wife, who had nearly
been left widow before she was made
bride, forgave her; let them forgive her
also, let her be sent away, not slain, let
not her marriage day be stained with
blood.
Now her father listened readily enough,
for he had no intention of killing Hem
drika--indeed, he had already promised
not to do SO. But the people were in
different humor, they looked upon Hen
drika as devil, and would have torn her
to pieces there and then, could they have
had their way. Nor were matters mended
by Indaba-zimbi, who had already gained
great reputation for wisdom and magic
in the place. Suddenly the old man rose
and made quite an imprisoned speech,
urging them TO kill Hendrika at once OF
mischief would come of it.
At last matters got very bad, for two
of the indunas came forward to drag hen
off to execution, and it was not unit
Stella fairly burst into tears that the
sight of her grief, backed by Mr.. Car
sons orders cad my own remonstrances
carried the day.
All this while Hendrika had beer
standing quite unmoved. AT last the
tuDnlt stopped, and the leading induna
called to her to go, Promising that il
ever she showed her face near the kraals
again she should be stabbed like iackal
Then Hendrika spoke to Stella in a low
voice in English;
Better lot them kill me, mistress, bet
ter for all. Without you to love l shall
go mad and become II babyan again."
Stella did not answer, and they loosed
her. She stepped forward and looked
at the natives with n stare of hate. Then
she turned and walked past me, and as
she passed whispered a native phrase in
my ear. that, being literally translated,
means, "Till another moon," but which
has the same significance as the French
eau revoir."
1t frightened me, for knew she meant
that she had not done with me, and saw
that our mercy was misplaced. Seeing
my face change she ran swiftly from me,
and as she passed Indaba-zimbi, with
sudden movement snatched her great
knife from his hand. When she had
gone about twenty PAGES she halted,
looked long and earnestly on Stella,
gave one loud cry as of anguish, and
fed. A few minutes later we saw her
far away, bounding up the face of an al
most.perpendicular cliff-a cliff that no
body except herself and the balloons
could possibly climb.
"Look," said Indaba-zimbi in my ear.
"look, Maoumazahn, there goes the
babyan frau. But, Macumazahn, she
will come back again. All, why will
you not listen to my words? Have they
not always been true words, Macuma
zahnY' and he shrugged his shoulders
and turned away.
For while / was much disturbed, but
at any rate Hendrika was gone for the
present, and Stella, my dear and lovely
wife, was there at my side, and in hei
smiles forgot my fears.
For the rest of that day, why should
write of it?--there are things too happy
and too sacred to be written of.
AT last had, if only for q little while,
found that rest, that perfect Joy which
We seek 80 continually and SO rarely
clasp.