The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-25
(CuntiQued.l

|
 1 Lady" said the girl, you who were
 porn white in body and in spirit, hear
 me. l am but half 8 Zulu. My father 1 who alea yesterday in the flesh de- parting back to the world of ghosts was Of another people who live far tc ! the north. small people but a strong. 1 They live among the trees, they wor- ship trees; they die when their tree dies: they are dealers in dreams; they are the companions of ghosts, little 1 men before whom the tribes tremble deep of the forest. Myself I do not know them: I have never seen them, but my father told me these things, and others that I may not repeat. When he was young man my father fled from his people,
 "Why?" asked Rachel, for the girl paused.
 Lady. I do not know: think it was
 because he would have been their
 priest, and he feared. I think that he
 had seen a woman. a slave to them,
 whom therefore he might not marry. think that woman was my mother
 So he fled from them-with her, and
 came to live among the Zulus. He was great doctor there in Chaka's time,
 not one of the Ahangotnas, not one of
 the 'Snellers-out-of-witc not a inger-down- to-death.' for like all his
 race he hated bloodshed. No. none of
 these things, but a doctor of medicines,
 master of magic. an interpreter of
 dreams. a lord of wisdom: yes. it was
 his wisdom that made Chaka great,
 and when he withdrew 1t from him be-
 cause of his cruelties. then Chaka died.
 Lady, Dingaan rules in Chaka: s
 place. Dingaan who slew him, but all
 though he had been Chaka's doctor my
 father was spared because they feared
 him. I was the only child of my moth
 CT. but he took other wives after the
 Zulu fashion, not because he loved
 them. think. but that he might not
 seem different to other men. So he
 grew great and rich. and lived in peace
 because they feared him. Lady my
 rather loved me, and to me alone he
 taught his language and his wisdom. l helped him with his medicines; in-
 terpreted the dreams which he could
 not interpret his blanket fell upon
 me. Often I was sought in marriage,
 but I did not wish to marry. Wisdom
 is my husband.
 There came an evil day: we knew that it must come. my father and I, and I wished to fly the land. but he wives and children. The maidens of my district were marsha1led for the king to see. His eye fell upon me, and ne thought me fair because I am diff ferent from Zulu women. and-you can guess. Yet I was saved. for the other doctors and the head wives of the king said that it was not wise that I should be taken into his house. I who knew too many secrets and could bewitch him if willed. or poison him with drugs that leave no trace. So escaped a while and was thankful. Now it came about that because he might not take me Dingaan began to think much of me, and to dream of me at nights At least he asked me of my father. as a gift. not as a right. for so he thought that no ill will would come with me- But I prayed my father to keep me from Dingaan. for I hated Dingaan, and told him that if were sent to the king. l would poison him. My father listened to me because he loved me and could not bear to part with me. and said Dingaan nay. Now Dingaan grew very angry and asked counsel of his other doctors. but they would give him none because they feared my father. Then he asked counsel of that white man. Hishmel who is called the Lion. and who is much at the kraal of Umgungundhlovu.''
 stand why he wished you to be killed"
 1.-The white man. Hishmel. the jackal in lions skin. as you named him. laughed at Dingaan's fears. He said to him. Tt is of the father. Seyapi, you should be afraid. He has the magic: not the girl. Kill the father, and his house. and take the daughter whom your heart desires. and be hap
 'So spoke Hishmel, and Dingaan thought his counsel good, and paid him for it with the teeth of elephants, and certain women for whom he asked. Now nay father foreboded i'll, and also, for both of us had dreamed a dream. Still we did not fly until the slayers were almost at the gates, be- cause of his other wives and his chill dren. Nor, save for them would he have fled then. or I either, but would have died after the fashion of his peo- pie, as he did at last.'
 'The White Death?" queried Rachel.
 "Yes, Lady, the White Death. Still in the end we fled, thinking to gain the protection of the white men down yon- der. I went first to escape the kings men who had orders to take me alive and bring me to him. that is why we were not together at the end. Lady, | you know the rest. Hishmel doubtless had seen you, and thinking that the Impi would kill you, came to warn you. Then we met just as was about | to die, though perhaps not by that sol- iier's spear, as you thought. I have 1 spoken"
 "What message came to you when