Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-09-07
By II. RIDER HlGGARD.
(Xu. CoNTINUED)


here Billali collapsed flat on to his stomach.
with his hands stretched out before him as
though he were dead, aud |, not knowing
what To do, began 90 stare about the place.
But presently distinctly fell that some.
body was looking at me from behind the
curtains. | could not see the person, but |
could distinctly feel his or her gaze, and
what Is more, it produced very odd
effect upon NY nerves felt frightened. !
don't know why. The place was a strange
one, II is true, and looked lonely, notwith.
standing its rich hangings and the soft
glow OF the lamps; indeed these aces
series added TO rather than detracled from
ITS loneliness, just as lighted street at
night has always more solitary appear.
ance than dark one. Ii was so silent in
the place, and there lay Bilali like one
dead before the heavy curtains. through
which the odor Of perfume seemed to float
up toward the gloom of the arched roof
above. Minute grew into minute, and still
there was no sign of life, nor did the
curtain move; but felt the gaze Of the un-
known being sinking through and through
me. and filling me with nameless terror,
till the perspiration stood in beads upon
my brow.
AT last the curtain began to move. Who
could be behind it-some naked savage
queen, a languishing Oriental beauty, or
nineteeth-century young lady drinking
afternoon tea? | had not the slightest idea,
and should not have been astonished at
seeing any Of the three. | was getting
beyond establishment. The curtain agi.
tated itself a little then suddenly between
its folds there appeared most beautiful
white hand white as snow and with long
tapering fingers ending in the pnkest
nails. The hand grasped the curtain and
drew it aside, and as it did so heard
voice, | think the softest and yet most
silvery voice ever heard. 1t reminded
me Of the murmur of a brook,
"Stranger," said the voice in Arabic, but
much purer and more classical Arabic
than the Amahagger talk stranger,
Il
Now | fattered myself that in spite of
my inward terrors had kept a very fair
command of my countenance, and was
therefore little astonlshed at this question
Before had made up my mind how to
answer it, however, the curtain was drawn,
and tall figure stood before US | say
figure, for not only her body, but also her
face, was wrapped up in soft white gauzy
material in such way as at first sight to
remind me most forcibly of a corpse in its
grave.clothes. And yet | do not know
why it should lave given me that idea,
seeing that the wrappings were 50 thin
that one could distinctly see the CLEAN Of
the pink flesh beneath them. suppose it
was the way IN which they were arranged,
either accidentally or more probably by
design. Anyhow, | felt more frightened
than eyer at this ghost.like apparition, and
my hair began to rise upon my head as the
feeling crept over me that / was in the
presence of something that was not cainy.
The swathed mummy-lke form before me
was that of tall and lovely woman,
instinct with beauty in every part, and
also with certain snake-like grace that |
had never seen anything like before. When
she moved hand or foot her entire frame
seemed To undulate; and the neck did not
bend 1t curved.
"Why art thou SO frightened stranger
asked the sweet voice again-a voice that
seemed to draw the heart out Of me like
the strains of soft music is there that
about me that should alright man?
Then surely are men changed from what
they used to be" Aud with a little
coquettlsh movement she turned herself,
and held up one arm, so as to show all her
lovelness, and the rich hair of raven
blackness that streamed in soft ripples
down her snowy robes, almost to her
sandaled feet.
1T is thy beauty that makes me fear
oh, queen | answered, humbly, scarcely
knowing what to say, and | thought that
as did so heard old Billali who was
still lying PROSTATE on the floor, mutter,
"Good, my Balloon, good
Il see that men still know how to
beguile US women with false words. Ah
stranger" she answered, with laugh
that sounded like distant silver bells,
Chou was afraid because mine eyes were
searching out thine iheart, therefore vast
thou afraid But being but woman,
forgive thee for the lie. for it was courte-
ously said. And now tell me how came
We hther to this land of the Jewellers
among caves-a land Of swamps and evil
things and dead old shadows of the dead
What came We for to see? How is it that
We hold your lives SO cheap as to place
them in the hollow of the hand Of Hlya.
into the hand of She.whomust-be obeyed?
Tell me also how come we TO know the
tongue that talk. 1t is an ancient tongue
Liveth it yet in the world? Thou seest |
dwell among the caves and the dead, and
naught know | of the affairs Of men. nor