The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1919-11-29

Sle would be. remarked the man
automatically.
Andrea paused i'm her thoughts then
came wide awake and looked at him
narrowly.
white Man, didn't woman make
up that trunk 2"
No, there are few women living
that could. Think it out. That trunk
was all bone. muscle and Sinew--with
an after-dlnner cigarette ut the bot
tom. Why, the last time | saw Maisie
she had two small moving vans and a
wicker house she thought she was
going To bring with her I'd fixed it
with quartermaster to drop the lot
overheard in the night and 1T the last
moment. She never even heard of this
trunk"
During his long speech the color had
been rising In Andreas cheeks. II
don't think | like you as much as
did" she said slowly. Somehow you
were getting too good to be true You
bought and packed all those things
yourself"
lie met her gaze steadily. Don't"
he whispered. don't let's be old"
"All right" said Andrea with quick
shrug of one shoulder But you've
known lots of women haven't your
You exaggerate." he answered, smil-
ing. I've met lots of women"
"Pshaw." said Andrea That's an
other old crock of shibboleth. Some
men know lots about women-a jolly
sight too much
That's different from knowing woIn-
en-" said Msungo quietly ITS no
shibboleth. that old belief Woman.
TO man, is an eternal voyage of dis
covery-a land of valleys and peaks.
of lights and shadows of storm and
aching peace. Continents and oceans
are lost in her untraveled heart, and
when she throws wide her arms. the
way is open to Heaven and He'll"
I'm going TO bed" murmured An
tirea. and stole away
It was just rs well for Andrea that
she had gone early to bed for at five
o'clock of the next morning rock
was hurled at her door that almost
burst il in.
Didn't that get herr yelled Msun-
COS voice from half across the kraal.
NO, Master" answered Bathtub
'Missis sleep plenty hard, same like
pickanin."
She slipped on her bathrobe. opened
the door and put out her head. Were
YOU calling me?" she asked with early
morning dignity.
Not exactly" answered the white
man in the same tone Breakfast in
twenty minutes; bath when you come
home" He turned to give orders to
Il group of his captains.
Andrea was instantly thrilled to the
new adventure She called to Bathtub
to bring her washstand and water and
rubbed one bare foot against the other
in impotence until he was out of the
way: then she dressed feverishly and
ran out.
In ten minutes they had breakfasted
in five more they were off. A long line
of blacks preceded them. behind came
M'sungo's gunbearer, water boys, Bath
tub, carrier or two, and an ancient
donkey half hidden under an enormous
cowboy saddle.
"What funny looking old donkey"
remarked Andrea whats he for?'
"For YOU. when you get tired" an
swered M'sungo.
Really For me?" said Andrea.
whats his name7"
M'sungo threw back his head and
laughed softly. why" he said. 81
never thought I'd have to tell any one
when | named him. We call him Mar !
guerite | named him after "a friend
Of nine
"Was she as ugly as all that?'
"Oh, no. She's about the prettiest
woman | ever knew. hut she was Just
like him inside. Try to head him off
some time"
''The best way to head off woman"
mused Andrea, as to marry her"
That's So" agreed M'sungo prompt
~. "but friendship has limits
They were necessarily walking in
single file Oh the narrow path and
Andrea was behind him. She looked
at his back and wished she
could see his face instead. But her
attention was soon drawn to other
things They had come to the fringe |
IF the forest Spaced from two to |
three hundred yards apart and set well
out from the shadow of the trees were /
piles of something or other /
hat shone straw-gold under the morn |
ing sun.
At the first of the heaps M'sungo
stopped. This he said. kicking at
he silky coils. lis the greatest sub
stitute for hemp and sisal that the |
world has yet produced. The war has
made it wOrth-well, not quite its |
weight in gold, unless you measure it |
Dy sheer profits on the cost of pro-
luction. 1t is nothing but the bark |
Vt the temba trees which make up the |
,nlk of all the forests in this region,
prepared By hand on process of my
)wn.'
Andrea looked at the endless piles T
If fiber. tons and tons of it, stretch 7
ng away like the posts in prairie
ence. And you say this is a secret r. /
he asked incredulously.
He sinilegl u Is - FUR be ~ [