The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-09-27


fresh from the bath, very fair to see and
having flowers twined among her hair.
and as she walked she sang a song of
love. Now Zinita cast slSSSn her hoe.
''Is this to be borne. any sisters?'' she
said.
moi" answered another, lit is not to-
be borne. What shall we do7 Shall wa
fall upon her and Kill her now"
at would be more just to kill Bulalio.
our lord" answered Zinita. She is
but woman, and after the fashion of
us women takes ell that she can gather.
But he is a man and chief and should
know wisdom and justice"
"She has bewitched him with her
beauty. Let us kill her" said the other
women.
May" answered Zinita, Il will speak
with her" and she went and stood in
the path along which the Lily walked
singing, her arms folded across her
breast.
Now NADIA saw her and ceased singing,
stretched out her hand to welcome her,
saying, Greeting sister," But Zinita
did not take it. 1T is not fitting, sister,"
she said, that my hand, stained with
toll. should defile yours, fresh with the
scent of flowers. But | am charged
with message on my own behalf and
the behalf of the other wives of our lord,
Bulalio. The weeds grow thick i'll yonder
corn and we women are few; now that
your love days are over will you not
come and help us? If you brought no
hoe from your Swat home surely we
will buy you one"
Now NADIA saw what was meant, and
the blood poured to her head. Yet she
answered calmly:
II would willingly do this, my sister,
though have never labOred in the
fields, for wherever 1 have dwelt the
men have kept me back from all labor
save such as the weaving of flowers or
the stringing of beads. But there Is
this against it: Umslopogaas, my hus-
band. charged me that l should not la
Dor with my hands, and l may not dis
obey my husband"
Our husband charged you SO. NADIA?
Nay. then it is strange. See, now, am
his head wife, his Inkosikaas. 1t was
who taught him how to win the Ak.
Yet he has laid no command on me that
should not labor in his fields after the
fashion of women, who have borne him
children, nor indeed has he laid such
command ON any of our sisters, his other
wives. Can it then be that Bulalio loves
you better than us, NadaY
Now the Lily was in a trap and she
knew it So she grew bold.
''One must most be loved, Zinita, " she
said, las one must be most fair. You
have had your hour, leave me mine, per
chance it shall be short. Moreover this,
Umslopogaas and l loved each other
much long years before you or any of
his wives looked upon him, and we love
each other to the end. There is no more
to say"
Nay, NADIA, there as still something
to say, there is this 10 say: Choose one
of two things-go and leave us to be
happy with our lord or stay and bring
death ON all"
Now NADIA thought awhile and an
swered: did l believe that my love
| would bring death on him love it might
well chance that would go and leave
him, though to do. 50 would be to die,
| But, Zinita, l believe it not. Death
chiefly loves the weak and if he falls 1t
will be on the flower, not on the slayer
of men," And she slipped past Zinita
and went on, singing no more.
Zinita watched her until she was over
| the ridge, and her face grew evil as she
/ watched. Then she returned TO the
! women.
The Lily flouts us all, my sisters"
! she said Now hearken, this Is my
! counsel. that we declare feast of woIn-
en- to be held at tie new moon in Sc
cret place far away. All the women and
| the children shall come TO 1t save NADIA
ONLY. who will not leave her lover, and
if there be any man whom woman
/ loves. perchance. my sisters, that man
would do well to 90 on a journey about
| the time of the new moon, for evil things
may befall at the town of the People OF
| the AK while we are away celebrating
our feast"
'.What, then, shall befall, my sister,"
asked one.
NAY, | know not" she answered. Il
! know this only, that we are minded 10
be rid of NADIA and thus to be avenged
on a man who has scorned our love, aye,
and ON those men who follow after the
beauty of NADIA. Is it not so, my sisters!'
at is so" they answered.
Then be silent on the matter and let
us give out our feast"
Now NADIA told UmslOpogaas of those
words with Zinita. Yet because of the
| medicine of Nada'S eyes ne wOuld iloJ
turn from his way. Thus when Zlnlta
came to him and asked leave to declare
a feast of women that should be held
far away he said yea, and gladly.
Now |, Umbova, saw the glamor that
had fallen upon Umslopogaas. my fos-
terling, and spoke of it with Galazl,
! saying that a means must DE found 70
wake him. Then | took Galazi fully
into my mind and told him all that he
did not know of Umslopogaas, and that
was little. Also told him of my plans
- bring the SlauGhterer to the throne,
and of what had done TO that end, and
of what | proposed TO do, and that was
to go in person on a journey to certain
of the great chiefs and win them over.
determined to go, and that was on
the day before Zinita won leave 10 ceIk-
brate the feast of women atar. 80
sought Umslopogaas and told him ann
babe him farewell; to NADIA also bads
farewell.