Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-05-09
The Strange Story
OF
ALLAN QUA ERMAIN'S WIFE
BY Il. RIDER HAGGARD.
The Strange Story
A NEW AFRICAN ROMANCE.
CHAPTER VIII.


want OF a better name.
Our approach had been observed by
crowd of natives, whose race have never
been able to determine accurately: they
belonged to the Basuta and peaceful sec
ton 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 dismounted
speaking for myself, not without diff
culty-indeed, had it not been for SteIa's
support / should have fallen.
Now you must come and see my faith
err" she said; Il 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; l will
come presently"
Hendrika went off with a somewhat ugly
grin to do her mistress bidding, and
Stella led the way through the narrow
gateway in the marble wall, which may
have enclosed nearly half an "erf." or
three-quarters Of an acre of ground in all.
1t was beautifully planted as garden.
many European vegetables and flowers
were growing in It, besides others with
which was not acquainted.
Presently we came to the centre hut,
and it was then that l noticed the extra
ordinary beauty and finish of the marble
masonry. In the hut, and facing the
gateway, was modern door, rather
rudely fashioned Of Bucken pont, a beau
tiful reddish wood that has the appear
ance of having been sedulously pricked
with pin. Stella opened it, aud we en-
tered.
The interior Of the hut was the size Of
large and lofty room, the walls being
formed Of plain polished marble. L was
lighted somewhat dimIv, but quite etfec-
lively, by peculiar openings in the roof,
from which the rain was excluded by
overhangfng caves. The marble floor WAS
strewn with native mats and skins Of
animals Bookcases filled with books
were placed against the walls, there was
a table in the centre, chairs seated with
rimpi or strips Of hide stood about, and
beyond the table stood a couch on which
man was lying reading.
as that yOu, SteIla2' said q voice that
even after so many years seemed familiar
to me. Where have you been, my dear2
/ began to think that you had lost your
self again"
No, father, dear have not lost myself
but have found somebody else"
At that moment | stepped forward so
that the light fell on me. The old gentle
man on the couch rose with some difficult
ty and bowed with much courtesy. He was
finc-lOokiug old man, with deep-set dark
eyes, pale face that bore many traces Of
physical aud mental suffering, and Il long
white beard
BE welc nm. sir" he said. at is long
since we have seen Il white face in these
wilds, and yours. If am not mi slallen, IS
that of an Englishman. There has been
no Englishmau here for ten ycat3, AMI he,
! gricvc to say, was an ou'rast fiylng from
justice" and he bowed again and stretch
ed out his hand
Hooked ut him, and then of sudden
his name flashed back into my mind. /
took his ha- al.
How do do You do. Mr.. Carson?7
said
He started back as though he had been
stunG.
"Who told You that name?" he cried.
at is dead name Stella, is it YOU
forbade you TO let it pass your lips"
Il did not speak it father. / have never
spoken il" she answered.
Sir broke iu iii you will allow me
,,,,, r.,,,,,,,,,I,,,. ,,,,,,,. 80. .,,r,
ost,,.I,.,r, ,I,,,r,.,,,'.., -,
I,ir md t.lIir,r him, tI,,t yo,,,,,ro
,,,,,,,,, T., lo,,.n a., .r,pd f,rnyar2,,
lie bowed his head.
-. 1;..,, 49, ~.
s,t nnnn ne Ir9I.t ,;ti'r II"
,,.,.l.t.,, "''7 "''" d
.ut,,t.,-.,i,
I. ,'',' ,'''' '''' ,'.l ""ile Is
60 '"a' ''''''Ee" WHO
10y ,'lN S''T '',' ''''' ''Si' ,.'"'",I : ""'a
an" my I"'ner' your ota Iflcud, Is dead
"'7' nm y" "' e'''N'",'"' ahH laSJ
ST'' ''' ,''''' III we '.'P'' hu' TINS Is not
an o,ie S'",y' A''e' my advent "'rN l, one
h'uir' ana niue ~"I, lay NenNeIeSS and
lying III ,"' ""'' itii"S' "'''I' we had
M'n"el'" i"' ""SN "'lh"u' "l'er' ana
1nsr" we S,'D"'' nave Peflsh'd' out your
: '''~'' -'i'''
Gail her Stella" he broke in, hastily: ~
cannot bear to hear that name. | have
fOrsworn it,"
Miss Stella found rs nv chance M
saved our lives.
BY chance, dId Won s9y Allan, Or,tnr.
manf" he answered .,Thera T.. IittI.
chance in this. such ch,ncns sprine, from,
another will than our4 Welcome Allan
son of NV old friend JTcre we live nc II
were in hermitage with notnra for onr
only friend ,,,t s,,,1, -,
and for rs Ionrr. as. Won win +ol,o q Mt
YOU must he st,rvinr +o1lr M ,,,or,
Stella. il is time for food To ,,,r,.r,,,- w.,
will talk"
To tell the truth 7 can recall very IittIo
more of tbr events Of tbot o,.o,ir,,
kind of dizzy WEAKNESS ovnr-rnostaraG mo
| remember sitting Mt n table next Ia SteIl,
and eating heartily and then ren,ar,her
nothing more.
Iawoke To find nvseIf lvip,r ON q cor,-
Portable bed in q hut huilt md f,sbi,r,1
on the s,ma model nc +1,, ,,.,,,t,.,, .,,,,
When was WONDERING ,vI,at Nm, = ,,.,s
a native came brinrip,r some cIe,,,, t,,os
on his arm. and Iuvurr of 1uvr,.ios rr,-
duccd n bath boIIova1 from, ,y,,a
rose. fcelinr a very dffrarart ma, INV
strength had como bacI- o,r,ip IN ,,a. +
dressed and fnlInviprr., ,o,,,r,,1 ,,,..,,r,
found myself ia the centre hur. Here The
table was set for breakfast with all man
ucr of good things. such rs | had not seen
for many a month. which | contemplated
with healthy satisfaction. Pr ,senrly I
looked mn. and thnra bafnr, w, W., ,
more delightful task for st,ndinrr i, ma
Of the doorwavs which led IN tbe stan,,fn,,
hur~ was Stella I,odipr littIa Tot, IA, 10
hand.
She WAS very simoIv dr,sse5 J., . r,,,,
bup dress with q, VII, LII. ~ 1T,
in at the waist bv a little leather he1t I'm