The broad ax., 1926-10-23


sweet pain of lover
What is this his men are bringing
from out the jungle? They have
boxed it with many boards and carry
il with great care. They now stand
before your door and present il to you
II the name Of Dualu. A gilt from
your lord! He loves you still and
sends gift-a beautiful golden cat. or
-Horrors what kissing. evil thing l.
his that lashcs itself against its cage
with such fury? All, Dualu wishes
GU TO know he has captured for you
he terror Of the jungle and claims il
or you. Keep il. little broken twig
u orchis. it may be Dualu's last gil, !!
What makes you so still. little for
>aken one? Were you not dreaming
when you saw the elephants disappear
IL the jungle with Dualu and his men !,
Did he not have on a crimson robe !,
Why do all Of the servants come in
and out Of the hut before your door:
What things do they carry in those
huge vessels? Your heart tells you
sad one, that they are preparing for
a wedding feast for your lord. Dualu
will bring back another bride! To
night the new moon is shining. 1t is
wonderful night. But the laughter
has gone from your lips and tears are
in your eyes. Alas, Allah's will is
your fate. Put on your silken robe,
dust your hair with pearls. prepare for
The wedding feast! When the dancers
begin he will send for you to greet
his bride
All! she is as lovely as a fresh blown
water lily on the forest stream. See
how she clings to him, your lord! He
tells her that her eyes are as lovely as
the night. She is laughing now. He
is e>nding for youths men approach
They ass your door and do not even
look in. Stife the loudness Of your
heart beats, little daughter Of a Man
dingo chief, your father, his tribe and
his daughter shall be avene d! You
could forgive him his new bride-that
is fate, but you can not forgive his
neglect. This humiliation is more than
you can stand. You hate this yellow
faced beauty Of the forest who has
changed him sol
Mana crouched down in the dark
ness Of the hut, and with dark, mourn
ful eyes watched the merry dancers
and the well gorged feasters until
morning. At last they fell asleep ex-
hausted by their wild revelry. Dualu
and his bride must be sleeping, too. A
swift resolve came that made Nana's
heart beats quicken. She smiled sad
ly. Mandingo would not wage war
against the Basas for the wrong deeds
Of their king, but Allah has sent you,
little brown princess, to avenge the
wrongs Of your people. Allah. give
re the strength to do it," she MUIR
INJURED. Softly and carefully she crept
to the rear of the hut and seized the
cage in which slept that hated, poison
GUS monster-her gift from Dualu on
his wedding day! All. it was not too
heavy-she must carry it back-it was
to be her gift to the bride.
The pale, tropical moon is still
shining as she sands in the rear Of
Dualu's new hut. Through the open
window she sees them peacefully
sleeping in each others arms. She
does not weep nor lament now. Soft
ly she presses the spring that brings
release to this venomous thing. Swift
ly with a bound and a hiss IL drops
into the rooms and coils its huge body
around the sleeping forms Of the Basa
prince and his bride. Their agonized
faces tell Mana they have felt its poi
sonous kiss, and she knows that Man
dingo has been avenged!
Swiftly she turns her steps to the
jungle, trembling leaf and a broken
twig of Orchis.