The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-01-17
CHAPTER VI.-Continued.

there's another daughter available !;
where there isn't, money is refunded
~ order Oc the courts. But what I
vas driving at is that in spite of the
ontenuOn mentioned above, wherever
/ woman is concerned a black can
ever get 1t out of his head that she
IN be replaced at the regular market
rice. Now you've got the kernel Of
is whole attitude toward women"
$50 If 1t had been you they wouldn't
i've laughed and yelled"
In this case, yes" he said. "They
lost certainly would, because they
'ad no direct responsibility. But
here responsibility attaches the rule
or rlen is life for a life, and it's a
ule that has no exceptions. Anyone
an brain woman if he feels like it
nd get away with the identical obolo
er husband paid for her."
You seem to be a great admirer of
he native social SYSTEM" said Andrea
quietly.
II am" answered Msungo. "For
natives, of course"
Are you sure you're not a bit faint
ed with it for yourselfT'
Sure" he answered promptly.
THAT'S part of the secret of my grip
on every country I've shot over Tn
aloof. I've never turned my back on
the White Mans God. Circular A is
not for me-"
whats Circular Az
He hesitated. Circular A." he said
finally, sis the regulation that governs
the relations between British officials
under the colonial office and the wom-
en- of the tribes they govern"
I'm British" said Andrea, after q
pause. "and blush for the necessity"
"You are prompt. like most of u.s."
said Msungo, ito sit in judgment be-
fore any force of nature that you've
never felt. Poor devils of clean-bred
youngsters! Take one that / knew.
Three weeks training under his prede-
cessOr, crazy TO leave; hundred
thousand natives under his sole rule
one. pefhaps two, bearded white faces
a year. The long. long days after the
sportsman has been swallowed by the
pot-hunter, when game becomes just
meati And then, the fatal hour at
dusk when passing native girl-any
girl--lOoks to him like some woman at
home! He marries, not by canonfcals
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
and measure the price"
He stopped speaking and for long
time they travelled in silence. The sun
was sinking fast-so fast that ii
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
of the cart OF man and would not
have it burst"
II can feel what you mean," an
swered Andrea, "even though you
haven't really said it in words. The
heart can hold just so much beauty
and no more; and even now, mine is
aching!"
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
out gloves. Her eyes narrowed. by
the way, when Marguerite bolted. just
what was it you shouted at me?'
He paused in his stride so suddenly
that the doing donkey butted into him
and almost knocked him over. "Eh?
What?7 he asked TO gain time.
"Come on" persisted Andrea. "Just
say II again-what you shouted"
"Well," lied M'sungo. Il may not
remember the exact words, but ii was
to the effect that you'd better head
him off or jump Off"
Something. like that" said Andrea
incisively. "only shorter. You yelled.
Marry him or jump off y"
Il believe you're right" said M'sun-
go. and added, apOlogetieahy, You
see, didn't have much time to think"
Exactly" said Andrea. 'Instinc-
lively AL you saw was joke, like
every niger in the line. You didn't
care what happened to me. 1 might
have been Drained under that tree
and you knew il and all you could
think of was that you just had time TO
get in one more nasty bit Of cleverness
died :"
"Oh, no." protested Msungo. go
easy, now. Why, Marguerite has done
that dozens of times. He knows ex-
actly how TO slice off his rider. And
besides, H. always stops"
But whaf II he hadn't-what if he
had?- continued Andrea hotly. 'oh.
you know what 1 mean. What If he
had killed meZ'
But he wouldn't" insisted the man
weakly lie wouldn't think of it."
Andrea pounded the horn of her sad |
die. Observation-Disclosures
M'suago suddenly whirled, thereby |
winding the oe.escent neck Of liar |