Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-04

of the bustle of preparation and by dawn
of the following day an impi OF some liOt,
spears had started to ambush Hafela and
his force in a certain wooded detiie through
which he must travel on his way to the
mountain pass where were gathered his
women and children. The army was not
large, at least in the eyes OF the People
of Fire, who. before the death of umsuka
and the breakup of the nation, counted
their warriors by tens Of thousands. But
after those events the most Of the regl-
ments had deserted to Hafela, leaving to
Nodwengo not more than two and twenty
thousand spears upon which he could rel y.
OF these he kept less than third to de-
fend the Great Place from possible attacks,
and all the rest he sent to fall upon Hafela
far away hoping there to make an end of
him once and for all. This counsel the
King took against the better Judgment of
many of his Captains, and as the issue
proved, 1t was mistaken
When owen told Hokosa of 1t, that old
General shrugged his shoulders.
The King would have done better TO
keep his regiments at home he said, land
fight it out with Hafela here, whore he
is well prepared. Yonder the country is
very wide and broken and it may well
chance that the impi will miss that OF
Hafela, and then how can the King defend
this place with handful should the Prince
burst upon him at the head of 4O,0 600 men!
But who am | that | should give counsel
for which none seek?'
'As God wills, so shall it befall," answered
Owen, wearily, 'but, oh, the thought of all
this bloodshGd breaks my heart, and | trust
that its beatings may be stllel before my
eyes behold it."
On the evening Of that day Hokosa was
baptized. The ceremony took place, rot in
the church, for owen was too weak - go
there, but in the largest room of his louise,
and before some few witnesses chosen from
the congregation. Even as he was Icing
signed with the sign Of the Cross, a strange
and familiar attraction caused the convert
to look up, and behold. before hin watch
ing all with mockng eyes, stood Noma, his
wife. At length the rite was finished and
the little audience melted away, Ill save
Mona, who stood silent and beautiful as
statue, the light of mockery sli!l cleaning
in her eyes. Then she spoke, saying:
81 greet you, husband. | have returned
from doing your business afar, and II this
foolishness is finished, and the white man
can spare you, | would talk with you alone"
81 greet you wife" answered Hokosa.
Say out your say, for none is present save
us three, and from the Messenger here |
have no secrets
what! husband, none? Do you ever talk
to him Of certain fruit that you rpened in
garden yonder?
From the Messenger have no secrets"
repeated Hokosa, in heavy voice.
Then his heart must be full of them
indeed, and 1t is little wonder that he seems
sick" replied Mona, gibing. "Tell me,
Hokosa is it true that you have become
Christian, or would you but fool the white
man and his following?"
1T Is true"
At the words her graceful shape was
shaken with little gust of silent laughter.
The wizard has turned saint" she said.
"Well, then, what of the wizards wife,"
you were my wife before became Chris
tian; II the Messenger permits 1t, you can
still abide with me-"
IF the Messenger permits it? So you
have come to this, Hokosa, that you must
ask the leave of another man as to whether
or no you should keep your own wife! There
is no other thing that | could not have
thought OF you, but this / would never have
believed had | not heard 1t from your lips.
Say, now do you still love me, Hokosa?"
You know well that | love you now and
always" he answered, in voice that
sounded like a groan: 'as you know that for
love of you have done many sins from
which otherwise l should have turned
aside"
"Grieve not over them, HoSosa. After all,
in such count as yours, they will make
but little show. Well, II you love me, |
hate you. though through your witchcraft
your will still has the mastery over mine.
demand OF you now that you should loose
that bond, for do not desire to become a
Christian, and, surely o, most good and
holy man, having one wife already II will
not please you henceforth to live in sin with
heather woman"
Now Hokosa turned to Owen.
an the old days" he said. 'I could have
answered her, but now am fallen, OF raised
up-at least. am changed and cannot. o,
prophet Of heaven tell me what shall do"
Sever the bond that you have upon her
and let her CO." answered Owen. This
love Of yours is unholy and born OF witch
craft. Have done with IT, or, II you can
not, at least deny it, for such a woman, a
woman who hates you. can work you no
good. Moreover, since she Is a second wife
you, being a Christian are bound to free
her should she desire it,"
"she can work me no good. Messenger.
that know, but know also that while abe