San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-08-27

Umslupogaas took the flower and
looked somewhat foolish with it, he who
was wont to carry the AK and not a
flower. And so that talk was ended.
Now ON that day Umslopogaas took
NADIA the Lily to wife, and for awhile
there was peace and quiet. But this evil
thing came upon Umslopogaas that from
the day when he welded NADIA he hated
even to look upon Zinita, and not on her
alone, but on all his other wives also.
Galazi said it was because NADIA had be-
witched him, but know well that the
only witchery she used was the medicine
of her eyes, her beauty and her love-
Still it came to pass that thenceforward
and until she had long been dead the
Slaughterer loved her and her alone, and
that is a strange sickness to come upon
a man.
As may be guessed, my father, Zinita
and the other women took this ill. They
waited awhile indeed, thinking it would
wear away, then they began to mwmur
both to their husband and in the ears of
other folk till at length there were two
III Jllt IO"H-bllC paw VI LllllJtt
and the party of NADIA.
The party of Zinita was made up of
women and of certain men who loved
and feared their wives, but that of NADIA
was the greatest and it was all of men,
with Umslopogaas at the head of them,
and from this division came much bitter
ness abroad and quarreling in the huts.
Yet neither the Lily nor Umslopogaas
needed it greatly, nor indeed anything,
so lost and we'll content were they in
each others love.
Now on certain morning when they
had been wed three full moons NADIA
came from her husbands hut when the
sun was already high and went down
through the rock gulley to the river to
battle. On the right of the path to the
river lay the mealie fields of the chief,
and in them labored Zinita and the
other women of Umslopogaas wedding
the mealie plants. They looked up and
saw NADIA pass, then worked on sullenly.
After awhile they saw her come again,
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 down her hoe.
SIS this to be borne, my sisters| she
said.
"Nol" answered another, cit is not to
be borne What shall we do? Shall we
fall upon her and kill her now?'
1T would be more just to kill Bulalio,
our lord" answered Zinita. "She is
but a woman, and after the fashion of
us women takes all that she can gather.
But he is a man and a chief and should
know wisdom and justice"
"She has bewitched him with her
beauty. Let us kill her." said the other
| women.
Nay" 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 detile yours, fresh with the
scent of flowers. But | am charged
with a message on my own behalf and
the behalf of the other wives of our lord,
Bulalio. The weeds grow thick in 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 | 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 | should not la
Dor with my hands, and 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-Ax.
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, NADIA"
Now the Lily was in a trap and she
knew it. So she grew bold.
"One must most be loved, Zinita, she
said, ''as one must be most fair. You
have had your hour, leave me mine, per-
chance it shall be short. Moreover this,
Umslopogaas and loved each other
much long years before you or any Of
his wives looked upon him, and we love
ooob o+bar 70 tho aDd There Is no mora