



Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England




An I.D.B. in South Africa
By Louise Vescelius-Sheldon
Illustrations by G.E. Graves and Al Hencke
Published by John W. Lovell Company, New York.
This edition dated 1888.

An I.D.B. in South Africa, by Louise Vescelius-Sheldon.

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AN I.D.B. IN SOUTH AFRICA, BY LOUISE VESCELIUS-SHELDON.

CHAPTER ONE.

THE MARKED DIAMOND.

"Who is that beautiful woman in the box opposite us, Herr Schwatka?"

"Which one, Major?  There are two, if my eyes may be trusted."

"She with the dark hair?"

"That is Mrs Laure, and the gentleman is her husband, Donald Laure."

"What a beautiful creature, is she not?"

"Yes, beautiful indeed, as many of the Cape women are.  But the union of
European with African produces, in their descendants, beings endowed
with strange and inconsistent natures.  These two bloods mingle but will
not blend; more prominently are these idiosyncrasies developed where the
Zulu parentage can be traced, and naturally so, for the Zulus are the
most intelligent of all the African tribes.  Now they are all love,
tenderness, and devotion, ready to make any sacrifice for those on whom
their affections are placed; again revengeful, jealous, vindictive."

"But surely that woman has no African blood in her veins," said the
major.

"Yes," replied Schwatka, quietly; "but the fact is not generally known."

"What eyes!  I should like to know such a woman.  To analyse character
moulded in such a form would be a delightful study.  And the lady with
her, who may she be?" continued the major.

"