The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-06
THE BETTER MAN
 By MAY CHRISTIE (Copyright 1921, Mcclure Newspaper Syndicatel
CXXVI--HOME!
By MAY CHRISTIE.

wife. quarter caste, calls on Ca mile. bringing her two children with her. One evening he waylaid Camille, tried to shoot her and shot himself. He recovered through his wife's nurs ing, and as she had some into some money he decided to stay with her. Right after their wedding Camille and Eliot started off for Elliots ranch in Rhodesie, motoring part way and then going by donkey cart planning for their new pioneer life together in "The Garden of Desire"
 When tea was finished, Camille and her husband sat very close together in the cart not saying much but ut terly content.
 Dusk was falling very rapidly. The opal-tinted sky was darkening to a deep blue, and little evening star was shining, like blessing, on the travellers.
 Then Camille heard the sound of rushing water.
 We camp for the night on the banks of the river" Glyn explained. Were almost at the end of the days trek now. There's queer little hut that's a sort of half~way house for us, with stove in 1t, where we can cook our supper. You can't see it In this darkness but we're nearly there" A few minutes later, with great clicking" and sound of Kaffir i'm precations. the team was drawn to a hault by the driver, and Glyn helped his wife to descend from the cart.
 The boy will light fire inside and outi" He led the way into the hut, carrying a lantern, and the boy" at once got busy. so that soon the stove was going, ready to cook the supper. You'll want to tidy up bit and have a wash. The water will be boil ing shortly. I'm going out to give hand with the stabling of the mules" Camille had her dressing case with her. and soon repaired the ravages of the trip. From the window of the little hut she could see her husband and the Kaffir driver light an enor- nous fire outside. and in its rays the rushing river was illuminated, and the perfumed flowers that grew along its banks.
 Later, when they had had their supper in the hut, the two lovers strolled into the now starry night and seated themselves on a big rug beside the outdoor fire.
 Why did you light it?, Camille asked.
 There are hyenas in the neaghbor- x hood. An occasional wandering lion has been found about the place, as we'll" Then. when the girl shud- dered, But we shall spend the night in the hut. so there's not the slightest danger. I really only lit the fire so that we could sit and talk here for a while before we turn in
 The mules were stabled and the driver was already asleep in the loft that adjoined the hut. So Camille and Glyn were quite alone. under the stars. with the music of the rushing river in their ears and the sweet scents of an African night rising like incense about them.
 Look up. D'you sec Canopus and the Southern Cross shining so lumi- nously? And d'you feel tho scented wind that's playing in your hair. my darling7"
 The ripplinE cascade of her hair had always fascinated him, and now he buried his face against the warmth of 1t.
 Camille stared across the water to the unseen. boundless never never' country. which was calling her to como and live and love and work there. and know . greater peace than she hnd over known before.
 II have como home" she said quite simply. and. turning. slipped into her huaband'u arms. Wherever you take mo I win follow, because homo Ia where the heart h. and your country has become my country. 50 that every day will be a happy one-with you. just you. my husband-in the garden of deslre."
 fTha EndN
 tccpyrfEht. ies4 by tho Mcclure
 Newspaper syndieate.)