THE TORN VEIL 4

Page 4

It was ten p.m. when the newly-married couple found themselves alone. After a hurried dinner Mrs Asante colud hardly keep her eyes open; she went staight to bed. Mr Asante sat on the verandah for a little fresh air; he dozed off. Suddenly he woke up with a start. Did he hear footstep?

He rushed to the sitting -room.

Was that Martha, sitting with bowed head on the settee in all her bridal finery? Martha, my dear, why haven't you gone to bed?'

She lifted her head. Asante blinked rapidly. He rubbed his eyes. Was he drunk or dreaming ? Akosua was looking at him shyly. He moved towards her.

Akosua, what are you doing here at this hour of the night?' She did not answer; but she got up from the settee.

Lovely she looked in her white brocaded silk cloth; the long bridal veil, held by a wreath of orange blossoms, was nearly sweeping the floor. She eluded him, a mocking smile on her lips. The warm blood throbbed in his veins.

How maddeningly beautiful she looks!'

Had he really left his cameo in ebony for that other common-place girl?

I must have been mad.' He stretched out his arms:

Akosua, forgive me.'

She smiled and beckoned to him. He ran towards her. She ran away from him. Round and round the sitting-room table they went; at last, he got hold of the veil and held fast to it. The leg of the table tripped him up and he fell, knocking his temple on the table's edge.

Asanre's younger brother, yaw, the best man, was the one to awaken the household the next day. They found the bridegroom sprawling on the sitting-room floor, a flimsy bit of a torn bridal veil tightly clenched in one fist. Joy was in his countenance. Dr Adjaye, who was called, said he had beendead for some hours. The whole neighborhood soon heard of the tragic occurrence, loud wailings and moaning pervaded the scene. The bride fainted.

No one could give an account  of the torn fragment, for there was no tear in Mrs Asante's veil.

We have not even gone through the telegrams of congratulation; I rushed here early so that we could read them them through,' said young Asante, the best man, his eyes filled with tears. Carefully he drew the telegrams from his coat pocket. Casually the doctor looked through. He gave a sudden start:

Hello! What's this, was Mr Asante a married man?'

Oh, he was only married to a cloth woman according to Native Customary Law,' carelessly replied young Asante.

Well, here is an important telegram from Akwapim.'

Dr Adjaye cleared his throat. It is dated yesterday and it reads:

To Kwame Asante, Adabraka

Your wife Akosua died 10 a.m. to-day. Come at once.

Kofi Asare.

THE END

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