Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-08-18

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 well content were they in
each others love.
Now on a 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 DO borne, my sisters% she
said.
4NO! GISNcItlI duOlllcI, ~ 10 llob W
be borne. What shall we do? Shall we
fall upon her and kill her now"
lit would be more just to kill Bulalio,
our lord" answered Zinita. "She is
but woman, and after tho fashion of
us women takes all that she can gather.
But he is q man and q chief and should
know wisdom and justice"
"She has bowitched him with her
beauty. Let us kill her." said the other
women.
May" answered Zinita, 81 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, Correcting sister" But Zinta
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 l am charged
with 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;
IL would willingly do this, my sister,
though ! have never labored in the
/ fields, for wherever | have dwclt the
men have kept Inc back from all labor
save such as the weaving Of flowers OF
the stringing of beads. But there is
this against it: Umslopogaas, my hus-
band, charged me that | should not Ia
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 lnkosikaas. 1t was
who taught him how TO win the AK.
/ Yet he has laid no command on me that
| should not labor III his fields after tht
fashion of women, who have borne him
children, nor indeed has he laid sucl
command on any Of our sisters, his other
wives. Can it then be that Bulalio love.
YOU better than us, Nada:"
Now the Lily was in trap and she
knew it. SO she grew bold.
"One must most be loved. Iinita,' she
said, las one must be most fair. IoJ
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
each other to the end. There is no NOR,
to say
NAY, NADIA, there is still something
to say, there is this to say: Choose ON,
Of two tlings-go and leave us to b,
happy with cur lord or stay and bring
death On all"
Now NADIA thought awhile and on
swercd Did | believe that my low
would bring death ON him love it Nigh
well chance that | would go ard leav
him, though TO do so would be to die
But Xinit&, | believe it not, Dealt
chiefly loves the weak and if he falls j
viii be ON the flower, not ON the slaye
Of men" And she slipped past Zinit
and went on singing no more
Zinita watched her until She was ovci
the ridge, and her face grew evil as sh,
watched. Then she returned to tn,
women.
The Lily fouta us all, my sisters,
she said Nov hcarkcn, this is III,
counsel, that we declare feast of WON
en- 10 be held at the new moon in a Sc
cret place far away. All the women an,
the children shall como TO it save Mad;
only, who will not leave her lover, an,
if there be any man whom woman
loves, perchance, my sisters, that Inai
would do well to go IN a journey abou
tnc time Of the new moon, for evil thing
may befal! at tho town Of the People o
the AK while we are away cclcDratin;
our FEAST
"What, then, shall bcfall my sister;
asked one.
NAY, know not she answered. "
know this only, that we are minded +
be rid of NADIA and thus to be avcnge
on u man who has scoruel our love, ay,
, and ON those men who follow after In
, beauty Of NADIA. l. it not so, my sisters:
at is so,' they answered.
h0 Gil Ina, TO-. Il |.