Page:The New Negro.pdf/141



one now. . . . that’s a sketch of a little African girl. . . delightfully black. . . I made it while I was passing through East Africa. . . her name was Sahdji. . . wife of Konombju. . . chieftain. . . of only a small tribe. . . Warpuri was the area of his sovereign domain. . . but to get back to Sahdji. . . with her beautiful dark body. . .rosy black. . . graceful as the tongues of flame she loved to dance around. . . and pretty. . . small features. . . . large liquid eyes. . . over-full sensuous lips. . . she knew how to dance too. . . better than any. . . . . . ..

Sahdji was proud. . . she was the favorite wife ... as such she had privileges. . . she did love Konombju. ..

Mrabo. . . son of Konombju, loved Sahdji ... his father. . fifty-nine. . . . too old for her. . . fifty-nine and eighteen ... he could wait ... he loved his father. . . but. . . . maybe death. . . his father was getting old. . . ..

Numbo idolized Mrabo. . . Numbo was a young buck. . . . would do anything to make Mrabo happy. . ..

one day Sahdji felt restless. . . why. . . it was not unusual for Konombju to lead the hunt. . . even at his age. . . Sahdji jangled her bracelets. . . it was so still and warm. . . she’d wait at the door. . . . standing there. . . shifting. . . a blurred silhouette against the brown of the hut. . . she waited. . . waited. ..

maybe. ..

she saw the long steaming stream of natives in the distance. . . she looked for Konombju. . what was that burden they carried. . . why were they so solemn. . . where was Konombju. . ..

the column reached her door. . . placed their burden at her feet. . . Konombju. . . . . an arrow in his back. ..