The Irish standard., 1890-03-08

oh 8 .I.'.
narrative went On. But saw that he b
was disturbed by IL. By II. 4.5 sy III 1. I. .
.sMacumazahn," he said at length, -
have told you this is an evil woman q nan.
Size was nourished on baboon milk, and
the babopn nature is in her veins. Such
creatures should be killed, not kept.
She will mako you mischief s. she
can. But I will watch her, Macnma-
zahn. Look, the Star is waiting for you;
go, or she will hate me as Hendrika
hates YOU" .
So went, nothing loath, for attractive
as was the wisdom Of Indaba-zimbi, !
found deeper meaning in Stella's SIM
plest word. All the rest of that day I
passed in her company, and the greater
part OF the two following days. At last
came Saturday night, the eve OF our
marriage. 1t rained that night, 50 we
did not go out, but spent the evening In
the hut. We sat hand in hand, saying
little, but Mr.. Carson talked a good deal,
telling us tales of his youth and Of coun-
tries that he had visited. Then he read
aloud from the Bible and babe us good
night. / also kissed Stella and went to
bed. / reached my hut by the covered
way, and before nndressed opened the
door to see what the night was like. Ii
was very dark, and rain was still falling,
but as the light streamed out into the
gloom fancied that caught sight OF
a dusky form gliding away. The
thought of Hendrika flashed into
my mind; could she be skulking
about outside there? Now, had said
nothing of Hendrika and her threats
either to MIR. Carson or Stella, be-
cause did not wish to alarm them.
Also knew that Stella was attached to
this strange person, and did not wish
to shake her confidence in her unless it
was absolutely necessary. For min
ute or two I stood hesitating, then, re-
decting that if it was Hendrika out
there, there she should stop, went in
and put up the stout wooden bar that
was used to secure the door. For the
last few nights old Indaha-zimbi had
made a habit of sleeping in the covered
passage, which was the only other pos
sible way of access. AS came to bed I
stepped over him rolled up in his
blanket, and to all appearances fast
asleep. So it being evident that I had
nothing to fear, promptly dismissed
the matter from my mind, which, as may
be imagined, was indeed fully occupied
with other matters.
I got into bed, and for awhile lay
awake thinking of the great happiness
in store for me, and of the providential
course of events that had brought it
within my reach. A few weeks since
and was wandering in the desert dy-
ing man, bearing a dying child, and
with scarcely a possession left in the
world except a store of buried ivory
that never expected to see again. And
now was aboat to wed one of the
sweetest and loveliest women in the
whole world-a woman whom loved
more than could have thought possible,
and who loved me back again. Also, as
though that were not good fortune
enough, was to acquire with her con-
siderable possessions, quite sufficiently
large to enable us to follow any plan of
life we found agreeable. AS lay and
reflected on all this grew afraid of my
good fortune. Old Indaba-zimbis mel
ancholy prophecies came into my mind.
Hitherto he had always prophesied truly.
What if these should be true also? I
turned cold as I thought of it, and
prayed to the Power above to preserve
us both to live and love together. Never
was prayer more needed. While it's
words were still upon my lips dropped
asleep and dreamed a most dreadful
dream.
dreamed that Stella and were stand
ing together to be married. She was
dressed in white, and radiant with
beauty, but it was wild, spiritual
beauty which frightened me. Her eyes
shone like stars, pale fame played
about her features, and the wind that
blew did not stir her hair. Nor was this
all, for her white robes were death wrap
pings, and the altar at which we stood
was formed of the piled-up earth from
an open grave that yawned between us,
So we stood waiting for one to wed US,
UuJ LO Ou0 CeSIU0. IIcS0uL1y 1rOLu IQ0
open grave sprang the form of Hendrka.
In her hand was knife, with which
she stabbed at rne, but pierced the heart
of Stella, who, without cry, fell back
wards into the grave, still looking at
me as she fell. Then Hendrika leaped
after her in the grave. heard her feet
strike heavily.
ssAacake, Macunsazohn! ooakef' cried
the voice of Indaba-zimbi.
awoke and bounded from the bed,
the cold Precipitation pouring from me.
IL The darkness on the other side OF the
hut heard sounds of furious struggling.
Luckily, kept my head. just by me
was chair on which were matches and
q rush taper. struck match and held
1t to the taper. Now in the glowing
light could see two forms rolling one
over tie ether ON the floor, and from be-
tween then came the flash of steel.
Srhe fat melted and the light burned up.
1t was Indaba-zimbi and the woman
Aendrika who were struggling, and,
what was more, tbs woman was getting