Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-08-11

distant football Of an imp; that it heard.
We had not far to LOOK, for standing
! gazing on the huts as one who ia afraid
TO call was man, tall and slim, holding
an aSsogai in ono hand and a little shield
IN tho other. We could not see thofa
of tho man, because the light was behind
him and a ragged blanket hung about
his shoulders. Also he was footsOrc, for
he rested on ono Leg. Now, we were
| peering around the hut, and its shadow
| hid us, so that tho man saw nothing.
| For awhile he stood still-then he spoke
| TO himself. and his voice was strangely
soft.
Here are many huts,' sail tho voice.
"Now how may know which Is the
hut of my brother? Perchance if | call
l shall bring soldiers to me and be forced
| to play tho man before them, and Of thai
! am weary Wei, ] viii lie here under
| tho fence till morning. it IS q softer
! bed than some l have found aud / am
| foredone with travel. Sleep | mast, Z"
and the figure sighed and turned 50 that
the light of the moon fcll full upon its
| face.
Ny father, it was tho face Of NADIA,
my daughter, whom l lad not seen for
so nany years, yet across the years
! knew it at oncc-ycs, though tho bud
had become the flower l knew it. The
! face was weary and worn, but, all! it WAS
| beautiful. Mover before nor since have
! | seen such beauty, for there was this
about the loneliness of my daughter the
Lily, it seemed to flow from Within
| yes, as light will flow through the thin
| rind of a gCurl in that She differed
! from the other women Of our reonle,
who when they are fair arc fair with the
| flesh alone.
Now my heart went out TO NADIA as
! She stood il the moonlight, ono for
saken, not having whore to ley her
hcad-Nada, who alone vas left Of al
my children. | moticHcl to Umalopo-
gaas to hide himself il The shadow and
stepped forward.
NO." l said roughly, "wio are YOU,
wandcrcr, and what do You here"
Now NADIA started like frightened
bird, but quickly gathered IN her
thoughts and turned upon INC in Il lordly
way.
WHO are you th&t ask nc:' she said,
fcigning mans voice.
cone that can use a stick upon thieves
and night providers, boy. Come, show
| your business or be moving. You are
not Of this people, surely; that mocha
is of Swat make, and here We do not
love siwazis."
Were You not oh l would beat you
for Your insolence,' said NADIA, striving
TO look brave and all the while searching
a way to escape. Also have no stick
only spear, and that is for warriors,
not for an old umfagczan Ike you"
Aye, my father. lived to hear my
| daughter name me an ulnfagozau, a low
fellow!
Now, making prctense to be angry, l
lcapel at her with my lterlie up. and Tor
getting her courage She dropped Ecr
spear and uttered little scream But
she still held the shield before her face
| seized her by the arm and struck a
blow upon the shield with my lcrrie-it
would scarce have crushed fly, but this
brave warrior trcmnlel sorcly.
where NOW is your valor, You who
name me umtagozan:' | said. ''vou who
cry like Il maid and whose arm is soft as
IA maids"
She made no answer, but hueecl her
tattcrcd blanket around her, ana shifting
my grip from her arm | seized it and
rent it, showing her breast and shoulder
-then | let her g., laughing, and said:
80. here is tho warrior who would
beat an Old umtago2an for his insolencc
"A warrior well shaped for war. Now
my pretty maid, who wandcrs at night
III the garden Of man, what tale have
You to toll: Swift with it lest | drag
You to the chief - his prize. The Old
man socks II new wife, they tell me-
Now when NADIA saw that had dis
covered her she threw down tho shield
after the spear rs a ding that was OF no
more avail and hung her head sullenly.
But when | s,Oke Of dragging her to he
chief then slS flung herself upon the
ground and claspcd NY knees, for since
called him old she thought that this
chief could not be Clnslopogaas.
"Oh, my father" said the Lily, "on
my father, have pity on ne; YES yes,
am Hirl--a girl, 10 Wifc--and You who
are old-you, perchaucc. have daughters
such as !, ana in their name | ask for
pity. My father, have journcycd iar
i nave endured many thin@'--to find
my way to kraal where my brother
rules, and row it seems chat have come
to the wrong lSraal. Forgive me that
spoke to You 50, my father; II was buf 4
wolnan's font, aud was soro pressed to
hide my sex, for, my fathcr You know
it is i'll 10 be q lonely girl among strange
men,"
Now said no word in answer FOR this
reason only, that when | heard NADIA
call ne father, not knowing me, and
saw her clasp my knees and pray to me
il. my daughters name |, who was child
less save for her, went nigh to weeping.
Bat she thought that dii not answer
because | was angry AL about to drag
her to this unknown chief and prayed
the more, even with tears.
My father" size said, do not this
wicked thing by me; let mo 80 and
show mo tho path that / shall ask, you