The Lamar register., 1919-11-12

one, perhaps two. bearded white faces
II 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 passing native girl-any
& rl--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 It's
God alone that will judge his agony
ard measure the price"
He stopped speaking and for 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.
"There is no twilight in the tropics"
said Msungo. "by the deliberate judg-
ment of God who knows the capacity
nf the chart of man and would not
have il burst"
~ cnn feel what you mean." an
swered Andrea, "even though you
haven't really said 1t In words. The
henrt can hold just so much beauty
and no more and even now, mine is
achlngl"
Andrea Pellor," said M'sungo, you
have the faculty of your sex. You
have pinned the butterfly"
She felt a sudden revulsion. a rage
at this man, this stranger. who talked
as she imagined he would fight, with
ont gloves. Her eyes narrowed. by
the way. when Marguerite bolted, Just
what was 1t you shouted at me?"
He paused in his stride so suddenly
that the doing donkey butted into him
and almost knocked him over. "Ehf
Whatf" he asked TO gain time.
Come on" persisted Andrea. Just
say II again-what you shouted
We'll" lied Msungo. IL may not
remember the exact words. but 1t was
10 the effect that you'd better head
him on or jump OF"
"Somcthine like that" said Andrea
'ncisiV.ly. only shorter. You yelled,
Marry him or jump off ="
Il believe you're right" said Msun-
go. ard added, alphabetically, you
see. didn't have much time to think"
"Exactly,' said Andrea. Justine
lively all you saw was joke. like
every Niger In the line. You didn't
care what happened to me. I might
have been Drained under that tree
md you knew II and all you could
think of was that you just had time to
get in one more nasty bit Of cleverness
.fore-before I died -
h. no." protested Msungo. go
easy. now. WHY, Marguerite has done
that dozens of. Dimes. He knows ex-
actly how 10 slice on his rider. And
besides, D.. always stops"
but what IL he hndn't-what II he
had?" continued Andren holly. "oh,
you know what I mean. What II he
Ind killed me?"
"But he wouldn't" insisted the man
weakly. "Hc wouldn't think of It,"
Andrea pounded the horn OF her sad
die. "But-what-ii-hc-had?"
Msungo suddenly whirled. thereby
winding tie quic-ccnt neck of Mar
guerite around his waist. He caught
Andrea by both arms and fixed her
startled eyes with the blaze Of his
own. you Will have iti'' he said.
shaking her liglitly. your d per
sonal element Well. I'll give IL to you.
II he'd huri go much as n hair Of your
head I'd have shot him and then my
self and Ie.t word with you to bury US
both in the same grave"
She flushed and looked away. when
her eyes came back to- his set face
there were three kinds OF sparkling
wIckedness in then-tenderness, the
forked tongue of a serpent. and a two
edged knife She chose the knife.
White Man" she said. that would
have been adorable at the price-slm-
ply adorable!'
The weeks that followed were the
remaking OF Andrea physically. Each
day she walked more and felt il less.
From head io toes her body was with
put blemish and in her eyes. her
cheeks and In the spring of her light
step. sheer health flew its rejoicing
banner. Day by day she followed
Msungo farther afield. took more Of
an interest in what he was doing be-
cause she understood 1t better and
learned to wait before she sat In judg-
ment on his actions, often surprising.
always swift and assured. She even
hardened herself to accompanying him
on his hunts for meat for the camp