Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-17

women. The best native authorities
however. contend that obolo is not q
purchase price but the remuneration
TO the father for the board, training
and general keep of his daughter W
to the time Of her marriage, and they
base their argument on the fact thai
while women are property they arc
not chattel, title being nontransfer-
able"
Can damaged goods be ex
changed?" inquired Andrea icily.
Certainly" he answered, ABSORBED
in his topic. Exchanged wher
there's another daughter available
where there isn't, money IS refunded
by order of the courts. But what /
was driving at is that in spite Of the
contention mentioned above, wherever
q woman is concerned a black can
never get 1t out of his head that she
can be replaced at the regular market
price. Now you've got the kernel Of
his whole attitude toward women
$50 if it had been you they wouldn't
have laughed and yelled"
"In this case, yes" he said. ~They
most certainly would. because they
had no direct responsibility. But
where responsibility attaches the rule
for rlen is q life for life. and it's
rule that has no exceptions. Anyone
can brain q woman If he feels like it
and get away with the identical ob0io
her husband paid for her."
"You seem to be great admirer Of
the native social SYSTEM" said Andrea
quietly.
" am," answered M'sungo. "For
natives, Of course"
"Are you sure you're not bit faint
ed with it Tor yourseif?''
"Sure," he answered promptly.
That's part Of the secret Of my grip
on every country I've shot over. I'm
sloof. I've never turned my back on
the White Mans God. Circular A is
not for me-" ,...
What's Circular AZ"
He hesitated. "Circular A." he said
finally, us the regulation that governs
the relations between British officials
under the colonial Office and the wom-
en- of the tribes they govern"
"I'rn British" said Andrea, after
pause, land blush for the necessity"
you are prompt, like most Of u.s."
said M'sungo, Ito sit in judgment be-
fore any force Of nature that you've
never felt. Poor devils Of clean-bred
youngsters! Take one that I knew.
Three weeks training under his prede.
cessor, crazy to leave; hundred
thousand natives under his sole rule;
one, perhaps two. bearded white faces
year. The long. long days after the
sportsman has been swallowed by the
pot-hunter, when game becomes just
meat! And then, the fatal hour at
dusk when a passing native girl--any
elrl-looks to him like some woman at
home! He marries, not by canonicals
perhaps, but by the common law Of
the land. and the people at home
shout cruelty him. but in the end its
God alone that will Judge his agony
and measure the price,"
He stopped Speaking and for a long
time they Travelled in silence. The sun
was sinking fast-so fast that 1t
seemed to be dropping by jerks, like
the loose hand Of grandfather's
clock.
;'T,h.rs IL II, twilight a:: e the tropics"
said M'sungo, 'by the deliberate judg-
ment Of God who knows the capacity
of the chart Of man and would not
have it burst"
u can feel what you mean" an
swered Andrea, "even though you
haven't realty said it in words. The
heart can hold Just so much beauty
and no more: and even now, mine is
| ach,ngi"
Andrea Pellor," said M'sungo. "you
have the faculty of your sex. You
have pinned the butterfly"
She felt sudden revulsion, rage
at this man, this stranger, who talked
as she imagined he would fight, with
out gloves. Her eyes narrowed. "By
the way, when Marguerite bolted, just
what was 1t you shouted al me1i''
He paused in his stride so suddenly
that the DOING donkey butted Into him
and almost knocked him over. "Eh3
| What?' he asked to gain time.
ACome on" persisted Andrea. HJust
| ay 1t again what you shouted.
nj " ia T. W =