Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-12-21
SHE E.:
A History Of Adventure.
By H. RIDER HACGARD. !
(XXU CONTINUED


as "a trumpet and with no uncertain sound.
And yet methiuks that but now didstt thou
talk of that unknown from which the
winding-sheet doth curtain US But per
chance thou seest with the eye of faith,
gazing on this brightness that IS To be
through the painted glass of thy magma
ton. Strange are the pictures OF the tu-
ture that mankind can thus draw with his
brush Of faith and this many-colored pig
ment of Imagination, Strange, too that
no one of them doth agree with another!
could tell thee But there, what is the
use why rob fool of his bauble? Let 1t
pass, and pray, OH, Holly, that when
thou dost feel old age creeping slowly to-
wards myself and the confusion of senility
making havoc in thy brain, thou mayst
not bitterly regret that thou didst cast
away the imperial boon | would have
given TO thee But so it hath ever been;
man can never be content with That which
his hand can pluck. If a lamp be in his
reach to light him through the darkness,
he must needs cast It down because it is
no star. Happiness danceth ever pace
before him, like the marsh fires in the
swamps. and he must catch the fre, ana
he must hold the star Beauty is naught
TO him. because ther9 are lips more honey
sweet and wealth is naught because 9th
ers can weigh him down with heavier
shekes: and fame is naught because there
have been greater men than he, Thyself
thou sadst it, and turn thy words against
thee. Well thou dreamest that thou shalt
pluck the star. believe 1t not and
think thee fool, my Holly, to throw
away the lamp.
made no answer, for could notes.
pecially before Leo-tell her that since |
had seen her face knew it would always
be before any eyes, and that had no wish
70 prolong an existence which must al
ways be haunted and tortured by her mem
ory and by the last bitterness of unsatls-
fed love But so it was, and so, alas it
is to this hour
And now" went on She, changing her
tone and the subject together. tell me my
Killikrates, for as yet know ii not, how
came We 10 seek me here? Gesternight
thou didst say that Kllikrates-himw whom
thou sawest-was thine ancestor. How
was it? Tell me-thou dost not speak
oyermuch."
Thus adiured, Leo told her the wonder
full story Of the casket and the potsherd
that written on by his ancestress, the
Egyptian Amenartas, had been the means
of guiding us to her. Ayesha listened in.
tently. and, when he had finished, spoke
10 me;
did not tell thee, one day when we
did talk of good and evil, oh, Holly-it
was when my beloved lay so ill-that out
of good came evil, and out of evil good
that they who sowed knew not what the
crop should be- nor he who struck where
the blow should fall? See, now this
Egyptian Amenartas, this child of the
Nile who hated me, and whom even now
| hate, for in a way she did prevail against
me-see, now she herself hath been the
very means to bring her lover to mine
arms. For her sake slew him, and now,
behold through her he hath come back TO
me! She would have done me evil and
sowed her seed that might reap tares
ana behold she hath given me more than
all the world can give, and there is a
strange square for thee to fit into thy cir
Gle Of good and evil oh, Holly.
And so, she went on, after a pause
"and so she babe her son destroy me if he
might, because | slew his father. And
thou, my Kilikrates, art the father, as in
a sense thou art likewise the son; and
wouldst thou avenge thy wrong, and the
wrong of that far of mother of thine, up.
on me. oh. Killlkrates2 See and she
slid to her knees and drew the white cor
sage still further down her ivory bosom
"see, here beats my heart, and there by
thy side Is knife heavy, and long, and
sharp, the very knife TO STAY an erring
woman with Take 1t now and be aveng
ed Strike, and strike home, so shalt thou
be satisfied Killikrates, and go through
life happy man, because thou hast paid
back the wrong, and obeyed the mandate
of the past" He looked at her and then
stretched out his hand and lifted her to
her feet
Rise. Ayesha," he said, sadly, "well
thou knowcst that cannot strike thee, no
not even for the sake of her whom thou
slewest but last night. am IN thy power,
and avery slave TO thee. How can kill
thee2 Sooner would Stay myself "
almost dost thou begin to love me,
Killikrates, 4" she answered smiling. And
now tell me of thy country-'tis a great
people, is it not. with an empire like that
of Rome? Surely thou wouldst return
thither, and it is well, for / mean not
that thou shouldst dwell in these caves Of
} Kor. Nay, when once thou art even as
am we will 90 hence-fear not | shall