The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-09-22
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE COMING OF NADIA.

"Oh, my father, have pity on me-"
One night-it was night of full moon
i sat alone with Unslopogaas in my
hut and we spoke of the matter of our
plots; then when we had finished it we
spoke of NADIA the Lily.
"Alasi my uncle" said UmslOpogaas
sadly, 1--WE shall never look more on
NADIA; she is surely dead or in bonds.
otherwise she had been here long ago."
"All that is hidden is not lost, an
swered.
Then we were silent awhile, and pres
emily in the silence q dog barked. We
rose and crept out of the hut TO see what
it might be that stirred, for the night
drew on and it was needful to be wary,
since q dog might bark at the stirring of
a leaf or, perchance, it might be the
distant football of an impi that it heard.
We had not far to look. for standing
gazing ON the hutS as one who is afraid
to call was a man, tall and slim, holding
an assegai in one hand and little shield
in the other. We could not see the face
of the man, because the light was behind
him and ragged blanket hung about
his shoulders. Also he was fOotsOre, for
he rested on one leg. Now, we were
peering around the hat, and its shadow
hid us, SO that the man saw nothing
For awhile he stood still-then he spoke
to himself, and his voice was strangely
soft.
Here are many huts," said the voice.
Snow how may l know which is the
hut of my brother? Perchance if l call
| shall bring soldiers to me and be forced
to play the man before them, and of that
am weary. Well. will lie here under
the fence till morning. 1t is a softer
bed than some have found, and am
foredone with traEe4. Sleep l must,
and the figure sighed and turned so that
the light of the moon fell full upon its
face.
Ny father, it was the face of NADIA,
nv daughter, whom l had not seen for
so many years, yet across the years
| knew it at once-yes, though the bud
| had become the flower | knew it. The
! face was weary and worn, but, ali! it was
| beautiful. Never before nor since have
seen such beauty, for there was this
about the loveliness of my daughter the
| Lily, it seemed to flow from within
YES. as light will flow through the thin
rind of n gourd-and in that she differed
from the other women of our people
who when they are fair are fair with the
flesh alone.
Now my heart went out to NADIA as
she stood in the moonlight, one for
saken, not having where to lay her
head-Nada, who alone was left of all
my children. l motioned to Umslopo-
gaas to hide himself in the shadow and
stepped forw~rd.
''Ho? said roughly, "who are you.
wanderer, and what do you heref"
Now NADIA started like frightened
bird, but quickly gathered up her
thoughts and turned upon me in lOrdly
way.
"Who are you that ask meY' she said,
feigning a mans voice.
lone 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 a Swat make, and here we do moi
love Swazis."
"Were you not old 1 would beat you
for your insolence," said NADIA, striving
to look brave and all the while searching
q way to escapA- "Also have no stick
only spear, and that is for warriors
not for an old umfagozan like you"
Aye, my father, lived to hear my
daughter name me an umfagozan, low
fellowi
Now, making pretense to be angry,
leaped at her with my kerrie up, and for
getting her courage she dropped hel
spear and uttered little scream. Blu
she still held the shield before her face
| seized her by the arm and struck {
blow upon the shield with my kerrie-i
would scarce have crushed fly, but thi
brave warrior trembled sorely.
Where now is your valor, you VIII
name me umfagozan?" l said, you wh'
cry like maid and whose arm is soft a
a maids"
She made no answer, but Rugged he
tattered blanket around her, and shiftln;
nv grip from her arm l seized it anC
rent it, showing her breast and shoulde
then let her go, laughing, and said:
"Lo! here is the warrior who would
beat an old umfagOzan for his insolenc'
"a warrior well shaped for war. Nov
my pretty maid, who wanders at nigh
in the garden of a man, what tale hav'
you to tell2 Swift with it lest l dral
you to the chief as his prize. The ole
man seeks a new wife, they tell me-"
Now when NADIA saw that l had dis
covered her she threw down the shielt
after the spear as thing that was of n
more avail and hung her head sullenly
But when spoke of dragging her to tn
chief then she flung herself upon tn
ground and clasped my knees, for sine
called him old she thought that thi
i l.,
"Oh, my futher," said the Lily, "oh
; my father, have pity on me; yes, yes!
am a girl-a girl, no wife-and you VIII
are old-you. perchance, have daughter
2 such as l, and in their name l ask fO
, pity. Ny father, / have jOurneyed ia
i have endured many things-to fin
nv way to a kraal where my brothe
rules, and now it seems that have com
I to the wrong krnal. Forgive me that
, spoke to you so, my father; it was but
woman's feinS. and l was sore pressed
hide my sex, for, my father. you kno'
it is i'll to be a lonely girl among strang
. men"
) Now said no word in answer for TIN
, reason only, that when l heard Mad
, call me father, not knowing me, an
: saw her clasp my knees and pray to III
in my daughters name l, who was child
less save for her, went nigh to weeping
But she thought that did not answe
, because was angry and about to dra
her to this unknown chief and praye
t the more, even with tears.
: my father" she said, do not tn
I wicked thing by me; let me go an
show me the path that shall ask, yo
who are old; you know that | am to
! fair to be dragged before this chief {
4 yours. Hearkeni all l knew are slain
! am alone save for this brother whom
2 seek, Oh, if you betray me may such
fate fall upon your own daughter ais
! may she also know the day OF SLAYER
and the love that she wills not, and sh
! ceased, sobbing.
Now I turned my head and spoke Il
ward the hut "Chief," ] said, ''yot
B Ehloae b kind Is 7ou tonight. for he hs