San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-08-20


bovs, he said in low voice, "look on
me and say who am l."
She looked once again, and yet again.
Now her face was thrust forward as one
who gazes over the edge of the world.
1t grew fixed and strange. by my
hearth she said; "by my heart thou art
Umslopogaas my brother who is dead,
and whom dead as living have loved
ever and alone"
Then the torch fared out, but Um-
slopogaas took her in the darkness and
pressed her to him and kissed her, the
sister whom he had found after many
years, and she kissed him.
You kiss me now" she said, "yet not
long ago that great AK shore my locks,
missing me by but fingers breadth,
and still the sound of slaughter rings in
my ears. All! boon of you, my broth
er, a boon! Let there be no more death
since we are met once. more. The peo-
pie of the Halakazi are conquered, and
it is their just doom, for thus, in this
same way, they slew those with whom l
lived aforetime. Yet they have treated
me well, not forcing me into wedlock
and withholding me from Dingaan. So
spare them, my brother, if you may"
Then Umslopogaas lifted up his voice,
commanding that the killing should
cease, and sent. messengers running
swiftly, with these words: This is the
command of Bulalio, that he who lifts
hand against one more of the people of
the Halakazi shall himself know the
assegai."
Now, when the soldiers had eaten
abundantly of the store of the Halakazi,
and guards had been set to ward the
cattle and watch against surprise, UNI
slopogaas spoke long with NADIA the
Lily, taking her apart, and told her all
his story. She told him also all that tale
you know, my father, of how she had
lived with the little people that were
subject to the Halakazi, she and her
mother, Macropha, and how the fame of
her beauty had spread about the land.
Then she told him of how the Halakazi
had claimed her, and of how in the end
they had taken her by force of arms,
Staying all the people of the kraal, and
among them her own mother. There
after she had dwelt among the Hala-
kazi, who named her anew, calling her
the Lily, and they had done well by her,
giving her reverence because of her
sweetness and beauty, and forcing her
into marriage with no man
"And wherefore would you not wed
man, NADIA, my sister," asked Umslopo-
gaas, "you who are far past the age of
lnarriage"
Nay, know not" she answered,
hanging her head, but have no heart
that way. seek this only-to be left
alone"
Now Umslopogaas thought awhile and
spoke: "Do you not know, then, NADIA,
why it is that have made this war, and
why the people of the Halakazi are dead
and scattered, and their cattle the prize
of my arm? will tell you. am come
hither to win you, whom know only
by report as the Lily maid, the fairest
of women, to be a wife to Dingaan.
Therefore did | undertake this enter
prise, to win you and make my peace
with Dingaan.
Now, when she heard these words,
NADIA the Lily trembled and wept, and
sinking to the earth she clasped the
knees of Umslopogaas in supplication.
"Oh, do not this cruel thing by me, your
sister," she prayed; "take rather that
great AK and make an end of me and of
the beauty which has wrought so much
woe, and most of all to me, who wear it.
Would that had not moved my head
behind the shield, but had suffered the
AK to fall upon it. For this end l was
dressed as a man-that might meet
the fate of a man. All! curse be on
my woman's weakness that snatched me
from death to give me up to shame!'
Thus she prayed him in her low, sweet
voice, and his heart was shaken in him,
though he had it not in mind to give
NADIA to Dingaan as Baleka was given
to Chaka, perchance in the end to meet
the fate of Baleka.
There are many, Nada," he said,
"who would think it no i'll thing that
they should be given as a wife to the
first of chiefs"
"Then am not of their number" she
answered. NAY, will die first-by my
own hand if need be-"
Now Umslopogaas wondered how it
came about that NADIA looked on mar
rage thus, but he did not speak of the
matter. He said only: "Tell me, then,
NADIA, how l can deliver myself of this
charge. must go to Dingaan, as l
promised our father, Umbova, and what
shall l say to Dingaan when he asks for
the Lily; what shall say to save myself
alive from the wrath of Dingaan"
Then NADIA thought, and answered:
you shall say this, my brother. You