The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-05-30


terry presented itself: Sattoo was no.
where to be found. He had suddenly
and unaccountably disappeared, and
no one was able to give any informa-
ton as to his whereabouts. When two
or three days elapsed and he continued
to be non est, it struck me very forcibly
that the fall-out | had witnessed be-
tween himself and Kaki might prove to
be key to the situation. Kaki, there
fore, was closely questioned in the
matter; but as nothing could be clio
tied from him to confirm this view, the
only conclusion that could be arrived
at was that Sattoo, in accordance with
the eccentric methods sometimes prac-
ticed by the Kroo boy, had, for reasons
best known to himself, and sublimely
indifferent to wages undrawn, taken it
into his head to migrate to fresh fields
and pastures new. He was not imme-
diately replaced, and Kaki continued
to perform single-handed the daily
round of duties assigned TO himself
and his late companion.
About three weeks after Sattoo's
mysterious disappearance, l had sat
myself down in my veranda one morn
| ing, soon after sunrise, to negotiate
just one Egyptian" and cogitate pos
sibly of England, home, and beauty.
kaki came to work as usual. and ]
watched him as he set about his task.
Something peculiar in his manner
caused me to take more than ordinary
notice of his proceedings. There was
no doubt that he seemed to be uncom-
monty perturbed in spirit. His heart
was clearly not in his work. Moving
about irresolutely, he appeared to be
incapable of fixing his attention for
long on anything. Then, for change,
he would fall into a brown-study, only
to wake up and glance about him with
half-nervous, eXpectant air. And SO
on.
If | was puzzled with Kalli's erratic
behavior | was considera bly, more SC
| by the unexpected apparition, at one
of the entrances to the garden, of Zee
lab, the duslly belle of Accri. l had
not seen that graceful little creature
for many months, and her presence
was pleasing sight. Report had it
that she had sent to Krobo, the fetch
stronghold in the Mills where all maid
ems of marriageable age are sent for
the purpose of being subjected to GER
tain heathenish rites However that
may have been, there she was now as
comely as ever, attired in a simple ar.
rangement of blue bait, and looking
charmingly picturesque. Zeelah lin
| gered awhile where she stood and then
passed in, walking with timid steps to
where Kaki, with his back turned to her,
was leaning over his rake, apparently
engrossed in one of his brown studies.
He was not aware of her presence until
she was quite close to him. AS soon
as he looked up and was recognized it
seemed from the disappointed express
sion but too plainly depicted on Zee
labs face, that he was not the person
she expected to meet. Making the
best of the situation, however, she
smiled, wished him good day and in
CURED as to where she could find Sat
too. She had only just come in from
the hills, she said, in a low, soft voice,
and Leetlas, her guard, had allowed
her to stop at the castle to see her be-
trothed. Where was he? Did not Sat
too still work each day with Kalli?
There was not little anxiety in Zee
labs tones as she put these questions.
Tell me- she continued, "Sattoo is
well?-nothing has happened to him?''
She saw that something was amiss,
and the suspense evidently wrung her
heart.
Kaki, as if unwilling to cause the
pain which he knew his announcement
would give, seemed to hesitate at first,
but then told her how Sattoo had sud-
denly vanished, and no one knew what
had become of him. But he Kal1i)
knew-a statement that he conveyed
with wink and shake of the head
indicative of much wisdom-and since
Zeelah wished it, he would tell her. 1t
might be hard thing for her to bear,
but it was best that she should be told
it at once. Saftoo had forgotten her,
and was married to Dede, his cousin,
whom Zeelah knew. They lived in
Akin. But Manniko will tell thee all
about it" he added, ''for is it not the
Holy Father that l see coming towards
us?''
Entering at the northern gate while
Kalli was speaking, there then APP
peared upon the scene the individual
in question, an arch priest in fetichism,
and parsonage not frequently seen in
public. He was most remarkable
looking figure. At a frs: glance one
might be deceived into the belief that
he was not man but a woman-fat
and forty--though certainly not fair
His waist was lost in another portion
of his body, and if he was not addicted
to the ways of the sybarite, his face
certainly libelcd him. He wore no
covering on his head, and his wool.
which had been allowed to grow to I'M
usual length, was twisted into plaits,
which, by a deXterous arrangement on
the skull, resembled cluster of inter-
twined snakes. There was a cunning,
wicked look in his small, twinlzling
eyes. His nose was broad and ha:, his
mouth large, his lips thick and color
less. He waddled rather than walked.
Such was Manniko, who had the repu-
tation-not without good ground, /
fear-of being singularly accom-.
plished rascal. felt convinced that
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