Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-11-16
SH E..
A History Of Adventure.
By H. RIDER HAGCARD. I
Xxx. coNT1NuED)

Hast thou aught 10 say, woman
Thou silly straw, thou feather. who didst
think to float toward thy passions petty
ends, even against the great wind of my
will Tell me, for fain would under
stand Why didst thou this thingI'
And then think l saw the most ire
mendous exhibition of moral courage and
intrepidity that it is possible to conceive
For the poor doomed girl knowing what
she had to expect at the hands of her terri
BILE queen, knowing, too, from bitter ex-
perience. how great was her power, yet
gathered herself togather, and of the very
depths of her despair found materials to
defy her.
II did it, oh, queen, she answered
drawing herself up to the full height, and
throwing back the panther skin off her
head. because my love is stronger than
the grave. did it because my life with
out this man whom my heart chose would
be but living death. Therefore did
risk my life; and now that know that it
is forfeited to thine anger, yet am | glad
that did risk it, and pay it away in the
risking. ay, because he embraced me once,
and told me that he yet loved me-
Here Ayesha half rose from her couch,
and then sunk down again.
Il have no magic went on Ustane her
rich voice ringing strong and full, and |
am not queen, nor do live forever, but
a woman's heart is heavy to sink through
waters, however deep, oh, queen. And
womans eyes are quick TO see, even
through thy veil, oh, queen.
Listen; l know it, thou dost love this
man myself, ana therefore wouldst thou
destroy me who stand across thy path,
Ay, die die and 90 into the darkness,
nor know l whittier 20 But this
know. There is light shining in my
breast, and by that light as by lamp, |
not share unroll itself before me like a
scroll. When first | knew my lord, and
she pointed to Leo, Il knew also that
death would be the bridal gift he gave me;
it rushed upon me of sudden, but turn
ed not back, being ready to pay the price,
and behold, death is here! And now, ev.
en- as knew that, so do l. standing on the
steps of doom, know that thou shalt not
reap the profits of thy crime. Mine he is
and though thy beauty shine like a sun
among the stars, mine shall he remain for
thee. Never here npon this earth shall he
look thee in the eyes and call thee wife
Thou, too, art doomed, see'-and her
voice rang like the cry of an inspired pro-
phetess; "ah, l see
Then came an answering cry of mingled
rage and terror, turned my head Aye
sha had risen, and was standing with her
outstretched hand pointing at Ustane, who
had suddenly stopped speaking gazed
at the poor woman, and as | gazed there
grew upon her face that some woful fixed
expression of terror that / had seen once
before when she had broken out into her
wild chant Her eyes grew large. her nos
trils dilated and her lip, blanched.
Ayesha said nothing; she made no
sound, only she drew herself up, stretched
out her arm, and, her tall yelled frame
quivering like an aspen leaf, appeared 10
look fixedly at her victim. Even as she
did so Ustane put her hands to her head,
uttered one piercing scream. turned round
twice, and then fell backward with thud
prone upon the floor. Both Leo and my
self rushed 10 her-she was stOne-dead-
blasted into death by some mysterious
electric agency or overwhelming will force
whereof the dread She had command
For moment Leo did not quite realize
what had happened. But when he did his
face was awful TO see. With a savage
oath he rose from beside the corpse, and
turning, literally sprung at Ayesha. But
she had been watching and seeing him
coming, stretched out her hand again. and
he came staggering back toward me. and
would have fallen had | not caught him.
Afterward he told me that he felt as
though he had suddenly received a violent
blow in the chest, and, what is more, COW.
ed as though all the manhood had been
taken out of him.
Then Ayesha spoke.
Forgive me my guest" she said softly,
addressing him, IF have shocked thee
with my justice"
Forgive thee thou fend, roared poor
Leo, wringing his hands in his rage and
grief-'Torgiye thee, thou murderessl BY
Heaven, will kill thee il can
"Nay, nay" she answered, in the same
soft voice, thou dost not understand
the time has come for thee to learn Thou
art my love, my Kallikrates-my Beauti- |
full, my Strong For two thousand years.
Kallikrates, have waited for thee, and
now at length thou hast come back to me,
and as for this woman" pointing at the
corpse "she stood between me and thee,
and therefore have removed her, Kallik-
rates"
ut is an accursed liel' screamed Leo.
"My name is not Kallikrtes! l am Leo