Forgotten in a moment was the past with its many trials, unthought of was the future--the present alone existed for the two so closely clasped in love’s embrace. Those moments of rapture were like premeditated bits of eternity. The world and all its vain dreams could not give the supreme madness of joy which they experienced in silence and solitude. The kisses they drank from each other’s lips were sweeter than the honey of Hymettus. Their corporal beings seemed to vanish and dissolve away, while their souls merged into one whose aspirations were boundless, whose thoughts knew not words and whose pleasures were not of this earth. * * * * * The sun was high in the heavens when Sana at last released herself from Carl’s arms. “Come, Carl dear. We must be going. I shouldn’t wonder but what mother is already very anxious for me.” Arm in arm they sauntered homeward, along the quiet shore of the Niger--that river of history, Sana’s horse following behind them, puzzled, no doubt, over the strange being who came and caused his mistress to neglect him so. They had strolled but a short distance, when they heard a woman’s cry. Their soaring flights of fancy were brought quickly to earth by the almost unearthly yells and shrieks. Looking around they perceived a negro girl chasing a large monkey that was running away with her clothing. It had chosen an opportune moment for its mischief while the dark damsel was enjoying a swim. Carl and Sana hurried toward the scene of the chase, but as they neared the spot, they saw the monkey suddenly turn and attack the girl. Flashes of livid flame sparkled maliciously in its small beady eyes, as it made the fatal spring. It was about to rend the throat of its victim, when it observed Carl coming toward it, revolver in hand. Crazed now with fear, the animal leaped from the prostrate negress and lunged at Carl, its new enemy. A well directed shot, and it was over. The hairy thing fell dead at Carl’s feet, while the negress, recovering from her fear, and embarrassed at the presence of the man, got up quickly and without so much as stooping to pick up her clothing, rushed away into the water, resembling nothing so much as an animated puppet of ebony. Sana’s mother, a gypsy not of the type Carl had often seen traveling through America, was waiting at the door of her modest home. She greeted Carl in friendly fashion when introduced by Sana. She had heard of him, she said, and thanked him profusely for the aid he had given her daughter. She was quite surprised when Carl asked her for Sana’s hand in marriage. That would be up to Sana entirely, she told him, and if Sana was satisfied she would be satisfied also. Upon hearing this, Sana threw herself into Carl’s arms exclaiming that that had already been settled.