The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-09-22

again. and 10! there before her stood a
mighty man leaning on an ex, but the
old man who had threatened her, he
was gone-not very far, in truth, but
around the corner of the hut
Now NADIA the Lily looked, then
rubbed her eyes and looked again.
"Surely l DREAM she said at last
But now l spoke to an old man, and In
his place there stands before me the
shape of one desire TO see."
"Methought, maiden, that the voice Of
a certain NADIA called upon one Um-
slopogaas," said he who leaned upon the
ak.
'Aye, called, but where is the old
man who treated me so i'll? Nay. what
does it matter where he is-there let him
stop. AT least you are Umslopogaas,
my brother, or should be by your great
ness and the ak. To the man l cannot
altogether swear in this light, but to the
ak can swear, for once it passed so
very near my eyes"
Thus she spoke on. gaining time, and
all the while she watched Umslopogaas
till she was sure that it was he and no
other. Then she made an end of talk,
and finging herself ON him she kissed
him.
'.Now l trust that Zinita sleeps
sound" murmured Umslopogaas, for
suddenly he remembered that NADIA was
no sister to him as she deemed.
Nevertheless he took her by the hand
and said, Enter, sister; of all maidens
in the world you are the most welcome
here, for know, thought you dead"
But l, Um5ova, ran into the hut be-
fore her, and when she entered she found
me sitting by the fire.
"Now here, my brother" said NADIA,
pointing at me with her finger, "here is
that old un fagozan-that low fellow
who, unless dreamed but a very little
while ago, wrought shame upon me;
aye, my brother, he smote me. maid.
with his kerrie, and that only because
said that would stab him for his inso-
lence, and he did worse-he swOre that
he would drag Inc to some old chief OF
his to be gift to him, and that he was
about to do had you not come. Will you
suffer these things to go UNPUBLISHED, my
brotherr
Now Umslopogaas smiled grimly and
made answer:
'"What was it that you called me just
now, NADIA, when you prayed me to pro-
tect you? Father, was it notT" and l
turned my face toward the blaze of the
fire so that the full light fell upon it.
Eyes, called you father, old man; it
is not strange, for a homeless wandcrer
must find fathers where she can, and
yet!-no, it cannot be-so changed, and
that scarf And yet-Oh, who are you:
Once there was a man named Umbova,
and he had littl4 daughter and she was
named NADIA. Oh, my father, my father,
know you nowH
AYE, NADIA, and knew you from the
first; through all your mans wrappings
knew you after these many years.
So she fell upon my neck and sobbed
there, and remember that l also wept.
Now when she had sObbed her fill of
jov, Umslopogaas brought NADIA the Lily
MAS to eat and mealie porridge; she ate
of the curdled milk, but of the porridge
| she would not eat, saying that she was
! too weary.
Then she told us all the tale of her
wanderings since she had fled away from
the side of Umslopogaas at the strong
hold of the Halakazi, and it was long
| so long that | will not repeat it, for it Is
a story by itself.
Now when NADIA had made an end OF
her tale. UmslOpOgaas told his of how
| things had gone with Dingaan. When
he told her of how he had given the body
of the girl to the king, saying that it
was the Lily's stalk, she said that it was
well done, and when he told of the slay-
, ing of the traitor she clapped her hands,
| though she, whose heart was gentle, did
not love to hear of deeds of death. AT
! last he finished, and she was somewhat
sad and said that it seemed that her fate
| followed her, and that now the People
of the AK were i'll danger at the hands
| of Dingaan because of her.
"Ah. my brotherr' she cried, catching
Umslopogaas by the hand; sit were bet.
! ter that | should die than that / should
bring evil upon you also"
That would not mend matters, NADIA,
he answered, "for whether you be dead
or alive the hate of Dingaan is already
earned. Also, NADIA, know this, l am
not your brother"
When the Lily heard these words she
uttered "a little cry, and letting fall the
hand of Umslopogaas clasped mine
shrinking up against me.
what is this tale, father" she asked
HE who was my twin, he with whom
was bred up, says that he has deceived
me these many years, that he is not my
brother; who, then, is he, father"
He is your cousin, NADIA"
"Ahr she answered, II am glad; II
would have grieved me ha1 nc whom
have loved been shown. to be but 8
stranger in whom have no part, anC
she smiled little in the eyes and at the
corners of her mouth. But tell me thl:
tale also"
So l told her tho story of the birth OF
Umslopogaas, for trusted her.
"Ahr' she said when l had finished
ssahl you come of a bad stock, UmslOpO
gaas, though it be kingly one. shall
love you little henceforth, child of the
hyena man."
Then that is i'll news, " said Umslopo
gaas, ''for know, NADIA, l am now minded
that you should love me more than evel
me as your husband"
Now the Lily's face grew sad anC
sweet and all the hidden mockery wen
out of her talk for ever NADIA loved t.
mock.
Ibid you not speak to me on tina
night in the Halakazi caves, UmslOpo
gaas-did you not speak to me of on
Zinita, who is your wife and inkosikaa
of the People of the Ax2'
Now the brow of Umslopogaas dark
ened. what of ZinitaY he said. 81
is true she is my chieftainess. Is it no
allowed to a man to take more than on
wife,
$50 trust" answered NADIA, smiling
"else men would go unwed for long, 70
few maids would take them who thel
must labor all their days. But, Um
slopogaas, if there be twenty wives We
one must be first. Now this has com
about hitherto. that wherever l hav
been it las been thrust upon me to b
first, and perchance it might come abOu
once more-what then, Umslopogaas!'
LET the fruit ripen before you plucl
it, NADIA" he answered. IF you low
me and viii wed me it is enough
Il pray thGF it may not be more thai
enough she said, stretching out he
: hand to him. Listen. Umslopogaas
ask of my father here what were tn
words spoke to him many years age
hefora I WAS Vet 81 woman when wit