The Dickinson press., 1890-05-03

of the night.
"Do you know how caught her, Macu-
mazahn?" he said. "For several nights
l have slept here with one eye open, for
I thought she had made plan. To-
night I kept wide awake, though pre-
tended to be asleep. An hour after you
got into the blankets the moon rose, and
l saw 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 listened and heard
noise as though some one was squeezing
himself through narrow place. Pres
emily 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 clung by both
hands, and in her mouth was.a great
knife. She dropped, and I 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" 1 answered,
still painting and arranging the rags of
my night dress around me as best
might. Then the memory of my horrid
dream flashed into my mind. Doubtless
it had been conjured up by the sound of
Hendrika dropping to the door-in my
dream it had been grave that she
dropped into. All of it had been expert
enced in that second of time. Well,
dreams are swift; perhaps time itself is
nothing but dream, and events that
seem far apart really occur simultane.
ously.
We passed the rest of the night watch
ing Hendrika. Presently she came to
herself and struggled furiously to break
the rein. But it was too strong even for
her, and, moreover, Indaba-zimbi uncer-
enormously sat upon her to keep her
quiet. AT last she gave it up.
Undue course the day broke-my mar.
riage day. Leaving Indaba-zimbi to
watch my would-be murderess, went
and fetched some natives from the
stables, and with their aid bore Hen
drika to the prison hut-that same hut
i'll which she had been confined when
she had been brought a baboon child
from the rocks. Here we shut her up,
and, leaving Indaba-zimbi to watch out.
side, I returned to my sleeping place
and dressed in the best garments that
babyan kraals could furnish. But when
looked at the reflection of my face, ]
was Mortified. 1t was covered with
scratches inflicted by the nails of Hen
drika. doctored them up as best
could, and went out for walk to calm
my nerves, which, what between the
events of the past night and of those
pending that day, were not little dis
turbed.
When Ireturned it was breakfast time.
went into the dining hut, and there
Stella was waiting to greet me, dressed
in simple white and with orange flowers
on her breast. She came forward to me
shyly enough; then, seeing the condition
"Why, Allanl what have you been
doing to yourself?" she asked.
AS I was about to answer, her father
came in leaning on his stick, and catch
ing sight of me instantly asked the same
question.
Then told them everything, both of
Hendricks threats and of her fierce at.
tempt to carry them into execution. But
did not tell my horrid dream.
Stella's face grew white as the flowers
on her breast, but that of her father be-
came very stern.
"You should have spoken of this be.
fore, Allan" he said. 81 now see that
did wrong to attempt to civilize this
wicked and revengeful creature, who, if
she is human, has all the evil passions OF
the brutes that reared her. Well, will
make an end of it this very day."
"Oh, father" said Stella, "don't have
her killed. 1t is all dreadful enough, but
that would be more dreadful still. /
have been very fond of her, and, bad as
she is, she has loved me. Don't have her
killed on my marriage day."
"No," her father answered, "she shall
not be killed, for, though she deserves to
die, will not have her blood upon our
hands. She is brute and has followed
the nature of brutes. She shall go back
whence she came"
No more was said on the matter at the
time, but when breakfast-which was
rather a farce-was done, Mr.. Carson
fo,. III Il I,
tain orders.
We were to be married after the ser.
vice which Mr.. Carson held every Sun
day morning in the large marble hut set
apart for that purpose. The service be-
gan at 10 o'clock, but long before that
hour all the natives on the place came up
in troops, singing as they came, to be
present at the wedding of the "Star." 1t
was a pretty sight to see them, the men
dressed in all their finery, and carrying
shields and sticks in their hands, and
the women and children bearing 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 few minutes to ten
she reappeared again with her father,
dressed in white veil, wreath of
orange flowers on her dark curling hair,
a bouquet of orange flowers in her hand.
To me she seemed like dream of lowell
ness. With her came little Tota in a
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 filled
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 lie was obliged to sit
down in order to do so. When it was
done-and to me it seemed interminable
Mr.. Carson whispered to mo that lie
meant to marry us outside the hut i'll
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 wheJe the natives were
frnfhered