The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1893-03-25


its golden head beside his pathway,
while huge water lilies slept on the
placid water.
Having paused near a unique
abode, he gazed enraptured at the
glorious scenery that thrilled a res
pcnsive chord in his poetic nature.
Tall aspen trees with trembling
leaves mingled their silvery sheen
with the dark green foliage of the
olive, laden with purple fruit.
Groves of o species Of laurel, abloom
with aromatic cloves, aud reed like
stalks Of ginger, with narrow lance
shaped branches, grew in rank lux
uriance. Broad fields of coffee,
teeming with scarlet berries, stretch
ed far away in the distance.
A sylvan picture of tropical beau
ty. TRANSPORTED by the slimmering
moonlight into fairy land. Surely
the Creator Of such a world cannot
delight in suffering and bloodshed,"
mused AGO, while conflicting feel
ings of doubt, anxiety, and love. agi
tased the passionate heart of the
young Indian.
Poor benighted heathenl cropping
in mental darkness for the unknown
God, whose divine fiat ''let there be
light" was already penetrating his
utmost sonl.
A sudden resolution seemed to in
spire him. and hastily passing under
q bower of neglected vines, a shower
of pink rose petals greeted his en-
trance.
On a divan of crimson velvet, re-
clined q fragile woman radiantly
beautiful as a tabled Houri, arrayed
10 a violet tinted silken funeral robe.
deliberately embroidered with gold
thread; her long raven tresses con.
fined by a co-onet of pearls, and a
coral necklace claspiog her slender
throat. A diamond solitaire spark
led on her tiny dimpled hand,
and cleaned from each earring.
Raising her soft brown eyes. like
some wounded gazelle, in frightened
appeal, towards the intruder; she
felt. intuitively. that the fatal hour
had come for offering herself at the
shrine of idolatry. Lifting her
gently, AGO whispered a few words
that brought a vivid blush to her
pale cheek, then hurried from the
threshold, the swarthy, unsympa-
thetic attendants, staring with stoi-
cal indifference. lie disappeared
into the most impenetrable portion
of the gloomy wilderness. bearing
his light burden, love and danger
tgiving speed to his heeting feet.
The weird recesses Of the woods re-
sounded with discordant music, and
a changing trumpet announced that
festivities had commenced in the
village. Dying shrieks of deluded
higots, and demoniacal yells. as il
ieuds were pursuing them, reverbe-
rated through the leafy vault above
their heads accelerating their fight.
The echoing roar of hungry lions,
and the fierce growl of tigress from
its lair in tie dense cane thieket,
threatening the flying lovers with
instant death. were hushed into 81
lenee by the frightful clamor: start
ling birds Of brilliant plumage from
their coyerts, crouchant panthers
about to spring upon the fugitives,
covered in fear to their dens, while
flowers dropped in sadness.
Faster they few, tearing their
clothes in the thorny jnngles. wad.
ing knee deep through morasses,
where Shiny reptiles crawled and
serpents Kissed at snch unwonted in
vaders o: their lurking place.
At last they reached q quiet glade
beneath a grove Of feathery cocoa
trees, where bananas tempted them
to loiter and feast upon the luscious
fruit, and felt much refreshed after
drinking the cooling milk from ripe
cocoa-nuts that lay scattered around.
on the green sward in lavish pro,
fusion. Scarcely. pausing long
enough to resi- their wearied limbs.
they started again. but more leis IRE.
", Gulnare following her guide
with unfaltering trust.
The torrid sun shone hot. but as
their way led through a shaded for