The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-12-12
fro BE CONTINUED

abundantly of the store of the Halakazi,
and guards had been set to ward tie
cattle and watch against surprise, UNI
slopogaas spoke long with NADIA the
Lily. taking her apart, and told her all
his story She told him also all that t;tie
you know. my father, of how she had
lived with the little people that We're
subject to the Halakazi, she and her
mother Macropha. and how the fame of
her beauty had spread about the land
Then she told him of how the Halalzaai
had claimed her, and of how in the end
they had taken her by force of arms,
Staying all the people of the kraal, and
among them her own mother. There
after she had dwelt among the Hala-
kazi, who named her anew. calling hei
the Lily, and they had done well By her.
giving her reverence because of hea
sweetness and beauty. and forcing hel
into marriage with no man.
And Wherefore would you not we'd
man, NADIA. my sister, asked Umslopo-
gaas, 'syou who are far past the age Of
marriage?"
MAY, know not" she answered.
hanging her head, ''but have no heart
that way. Iseek this only-to be left
alone"
Now Umslopogaas thought awhile and
spoke: DO you not know, then, NADIA.
why it is that have made this war, and.
why the people Of the Halakazi are dead
and scattered, and their cattle the prize
of my arm? will tell you am come
,hither to win you, whom know only
by report as the Lily maid, tile fairest
Of women, to- be a wife to Dingaan.
Therefore did ! undertake this enter
prise, to win you and make my peace
with Dingaan.
Now, when she heard these words,
NADIA the Lily trembled and wept, and
sinking to the earth she clasped the
knees of Umslopogaas in supplication.
"Oh. do not this cruel thing by me, your
sister," she prayed; '.take rather that
great AK and make an end of me and of
the beauty which has wrought so much
woe, and most of all to me, who wear it,
Would that had not moved my head
behind the shield. but had suffered the
ak to fall upon it. For this end was
dressed as a man-that / might meet
the fate of a man. Ahl curse be on
my woman's weakness that snatched me
from death to give me up to shame!'
Thus she prayed him in her low, sweet
voice, and his heart was shaken in him.
though he had it not in mind to give
NADIA to Dingaan as Baleka was given
to Chaka, perchance in the end to meet
the fate of Baleka.
"There are many, Nada," he said,
.'who would think it no i'll thing that
they should be given as wife to the
first of chiefs
ssThen am not of their number she
answered. May, will die firstly my
own hand if need be-"
Now Umslopogaas wondered how it
came about that NADIA looked on mar
riage thus, but he did not speak of the
matter. He said only: "Tell me, then.
NADIA, how can deliver myself of this,
charge. must go to Dingaan,, as
promised our father, Umbova, and what
shall say to Dingaan when he asks TO,
the Lily: what shall say to save myself
. S11lVO llOll JIG WldUll VI bluSddus
Then NADIA thought, and answered:
.sYou shall say this. my brother You
shall say that the Lily, being clothed in
the war dress of a warrior, was slain by
chance in the fray. See, now, none Of
your people know that you have found
me-they are thinking of other things
than maids in the hour of their victory
This then is my plan: We will search
now by the starlight till we find the
body of a fair maid, for doubtless some
were slain oy hazard in the fight, and
on her we will set a warriors dress and lay
by her the corpse of one Of your own men
Tomorrow. at the light, you shall take
the captains of your soldiers, and hav
ing laid the body of the girl in the darl
of the cave you shall show it to then
hurriedly and tell them that this wal
the Lily, slain by one of your own PEG
pie, whom in your wrath you slew also
They will look little on so common
sight, and if by hazard they see the mait
and think her not SO very fair, they will
| deem that it is death which has robbed
her of her comeliness. So shall the tall
which you must tell to Dingaan be bull
up firmly, and Dingaan shall hold it for,
true tale.'
"And how shall this be, NADIA aske,
Umslopogaas, chow shall this be whel
men see you among the captives an
know you by your beauty? Are there
then, two such Lilies in the landT
81 shall not be known. for / shall no
be seen, Umslopogaas. Now this nigh
you must set me free. l will wande
hence disguised as youth and covere
| with blanket, and if any meet me VIII
shall say that am the Lily?'
''And where will you wander, MAZDA
To your death2 Must we then NEE
after SO many years to part again 70,
ever?'
"Where was it that you said 20
lived. my brother? Beneath the shad
of a Ghost mountain that men ma
know by shape of stone that is fasl
Toned like an old woman frozen int
stone, was it not2 Tell me of the roa
thither."
So Umslopogaas told her the road, an
she listened silently.
"Good," she said. II am strong an
| % -