Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 136: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

926 came to him. “It is a miracle. The white ants! J am nothing—my hate is less than nothing. The white ants—they have been sent by the Almighty to teach me‘a lesson; a true lesson—not the one I tried to teach the predikant.’” He crawled over to Hamilton, and cut- ting away the noose, gently rubbed his throat. ing strongly, and Oom Piet rejoiced. He had erred—but not beyond the possibility of making amends. He took the gag from Hamilton’s mouth and cut the ropes which bound his hands and feet. Almighty,” he said thankfully when Hamilton at last opened his eyes. “‘ For- give me, Englisher. J have been a fool. But the Lord of Hosts kept me from sin- ning the great sin. He refused the sacri- fice I offered to my hate.” And Hamilton, sensing that the eld man was completely broken and no longer har- bored hatred, did not upbraid him. Oom Piet was Katje’s grandfather, and very old —he was young and could with wisdom ig- nore the whole matter. Save for a very sore and burning throat, he was unharmed. He would forget—for Katje’s sake. “What happened?” he asked hoarsely. “ Almighty! And you can talk! The white ants ’’—Oom Piet’s tone was shrill and excited—“ got to the beam. While I slept, aye, while I hated, they got to the beam. They ate it up; they rotted away its heart. To outward seeming it was as it always was. Under no strain it would have remained there—who knows how long? But it could not stand the weight of your body and my body; it could not stand the weight of my hate.” Hamilton rose to his feet. ‘“‘ And so your hate has gone, Oom Piet?” he said slowly. “ Ja,’ the old man nodded emphatically. “Then shall not all be forgotten?” Hamilton held out his hand, and this time Oom Piet did not ignore it, but srasped it eagerly. ‘‘ Almighty,” he breathed softly. “ And you will never tell Katje?” He anxiously scrutinized the other’s face. ‘“ Never,” Hamilton answered gravely. Oom Piet breathed a deep sigh of relief. The Englishman’s heart was beat- ’ ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Then let us go to the house—she is waiting for you.” TV. In silence they made their way back to the house. At the foot of the steps leading up to the steep, Oom Piet said pathetically: “And you will opsit with her?” “Yes, Oom Piet.” Entering the house the old man lighted an oil lamp, and bidding Hamilton to be seated, went slowly up the stairs to Katje’s room. Her eyes dilated with terror as he came toward her, but the terror gave way to wonder as she noticed how his face had softened. He seemed to have become sud- denly very gentle. As he swiftly unloosed her from her bonds, he said softly: ‘““ All is well, Katje. A man—a fine man has come asking to opsif with you. You will say ‘yes’ and forget an old fool’s folly?” She nodded, her eyes were brimming with tears. Rising stiffly from the bed, she took a new candle from a shelf and went down- stairs very slowly. Oom Piet followed her a few steps, saw her silently seat herself opposite John Ham- iliten, saw her light the candle and place it between them on the table. Then, smiling happily, Oom Piet tiptoed back upstairs and entered his own room. For an hour or more there was silence, then Oom Piet called out: ‘“ Katje! I will settle my farm and cat- tle on your kinder.” They smiled into each other’s eyes. It was nearly daybreak. The gray clouds of night were swiftly passing; the sky was tinted with rose, lavender and gold. The candle’s pale yellow flame flickered unsteadily in the dawn-bringing wind. “ John,” Katje whispered. “ What did you and grandfather-do last night?” “We broke the beam,” he answered gravely. And like an echo, Oom Piet’s voice float- ed down the stairway: “Ja! The beam is broken, Katie.” ‘ Conmiclooolks .