The Van Buren press., 1895-06-15

i
Indifferent 70 wages nndsawn. taken Il
into his head to migrate to fresh Aelds
and pastures new He WAS not imme-
diately replaced. and Kaki continued
TO perform singie-hsnded the daily
round of duties assigned 70 himeelS
and his late companion
About three wesks after Sattoo's
mysterious disappsarance. had at
myself down In my reranda one morn
ing. soon after snnrise, to negotiate
just one Egyptian and cogitate pos
sibly Of England. home. and beauty.
Kaki came TO work as usual. and
watched him IS 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 be seemed to be uncom-
monty perturbed in spirit His heart
was clearly not in his work Moving
about irresoluteiy. he appeared to be
incapable OF fixing his attention for
long on anything. Then, for change.
he would fall into brown-study. only
TO wake up and glance about him with
q half-nervous, expectant air. And SO
on.
III was puzzled with Kaki's erratic
behavior | was considerably more 50
by the unexpected apparition. at one
of the entrances to the garden. Of 2ee-
lah. the dusky belle Of Accri | 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 hills where all maid
ems Of inarriageablc age are sent for
the purpose Of being subjected to GER
tain heathenish rites However that
may hare been, there she was now as
cofnely as ever. attired in q simple ar
of blue baft, 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
eDgrossed 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
lah's 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
quired as to where she could find Sat-
too. She had only just come in from
the hills, she said, in q 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 Kaki7
There was not little anxiety in Zee
lah's tones as she put these questions.
Tell me" she continued, '.Sattoo is
well?-nothinR has happened to him?'
She saw that something was amiss,
and the suspense evidently wrung her
heart.
Kalsi. as II 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 ono knew what
had become Of him. But he (Kaki)
knew--a statement that he conveyed
with q wink and shake OF the head
Indicative of much wisdom-and since
Zeelah wished it. he would tell her. It
might be hard thing for her to bear,
but 1t was best that she should be told
1t ut once. Saftoo had forgotten her,
and was married TO Dede, his cousin,
whom zeelah knew. They lived In
Akin. "But Mannilko will tell thee all
about 1t, he added, "for is II not the
Holy Father that see coming towards
as?''
Entering at the northern gate while
Kali was speaking, there then ap-
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 first glance one
might be deceived into the belief that
he was not man but woman-fat
and forty--though certainly not fair.
His waist was lost in another portion
Of his body. and II he was not addicted
to the ways Of the sybarite, his face
libeled him. He wore no
covering on his head, and his wool,
which had been allowed TO grow to un-
usual length, was twisted into plaits,
which, by dexterous arrangement on
the skull, resembled cluster OF inter
twined snakes. There was q cunning,
wicked look In his small, twinkling
eyes, His nose was broad and fat, his
mouth large, his lips thick and color.
less. He waddlcd 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
his presence in the garden boded no
good.
During the recital Of Kakrs account
Of Sattoo's faithlessness, Zeelah re-
mained speechless. II was six months
or more since she had seen or heard OF
Sattoo. the scclusion OF Krobo being
rigorous In the extreme; and, 10th as
she was TO believe it, the thought
would assert itself that after all he
had forgotten her. 1t was a cruel
blow, and the heart of the little fragile
thing was split fairly in two.
Manniko expressed no surprise at
seeing Zcelah. II was to be assumed
that he was fully informed Of the
Of every member Of his
flock, and she belonged to it. On be-
ing appealed TO by Kaki, he took up
the tale Of Sattoo's desertion and de-
livered himself OF many pious reflec-
tions on the subject OF her happy es-
cape from such villain.
But Zeelah hardly heard. She felt
and all the light and Joy
In her little world were extinguished.
vouchsafing word, she
turned from the two men and moved
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