Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-10
.u, father, , replied the priest

men armed with spears stalked into the narrow chamber. One of them was broth CT to the king, and the two others were his chosen friends. Then the door closed.
 My brethren," said Olfan, "I have sent for you to acquaint you with mys- tery and to ask you to witness rite. Aca, who this day was hurled into the pool of the snake, has returned to earth as wom- an and is about to become my wife" Here the captains started. "NaY. brethren. ask no questions. These things are SO. It is enough. Now, priest, play your part. "
 At last 1t was done, and once moro Ol- fan was lowing before her and kissing her hand.
 Directing, ShepherdessI Hail, queen of the People of the Mistl" he said, and the captains repeated his words.
 Juanna awoke from her stupor. What was to be done now? she wondered. What could be done? Everything seemed lost. Then in her despair an inspiration took her.
 Ut is true that nm queen, is it not, Olfanf'
 Ut Is true, lady.''
 And as the queen of the People of the Mist have power. have not, Olfan?'
 Even to life and death," he answered gravely, though if you kill you must answer to the council of the elders to me All in this land are your servants, queen. and none dare disebey you except on mat ters of religion"
 ''Good!' said she, then, addressing the captains in a tone of command, added, ''Seize that man who is named Nam and the woman with him."
 Olfan looked astonished, and the cap- tains hesitated. As for Nam, he did not hesitate, but made a bound toward the door.
 Stay awhile, Man," said the king, making a barrier before him with his spear. Doubtless the queen has reasons, and you would wish to hear them. Hold them, my captains, since the queen com mands it.''
 Then the three men sprang upon them. Once Nam tried to draw knife; but, fail ing in his attempt, he submitted without further struggle. With Soa 1t was differ ent. She bit and tore like wildcat, and Juanna saw that she was striving to reach the panel and speak through it.
 ''On your lives do not suffer her to come to that door, she said. Presently you shall know why"
 Then the brother of the king dragged Soa to the couch, and throwing her down upon it stood over her, his spear point at her throat
 "Now, queen," said Olfan. your will is done, and perhaps it may please you to explain
 Listen, king, and listen you, captains, D she answered. "'These liars here told tou that tho deliverer was dead. Is it not sol He is not dead. He lies bound in wonder cell, but had spoken a word of 1t to you then he would have died. Olfan, do you know how my consent was won to be your wife? X shutter within that door was opened, and he, my husband, was shown to me, gagged and bound and being held over the mouth of hideous pit in the floor of his prison that leads know not where. Consent, or he dies, they said, and foI my loves sake I consented. This was the plot, Olfan, to marry me to you partly be- cause the woman wonder. who was my nurse, did not desire my death and partly that Nam might use mo to save himself from the anger of the people. But do not think that you would have kept mo long Olfan, for this was in tho plot also-that when you had served their purpose you ! should die by secret means, as one who knew too much
 Tt is a lIe," said Nam. Silence" answered Juanna. Let that door be opened, and you shal zee If have lied"
 "WaIt awhile, queen," said Olfan, who | appeared utterly overcome. If under stand you right, your husband lives. and 1 therefore you say that the words that WI
 have spoken and tho oaths that we have sworn mean nothing, for you are not my I wife
 That is so, Olfan." Then now am minded to turn wicked I and let him die, said tho king slowly
 "'for know this, Shepherdees, cannot giv, | you up."
 Juanna grew pale as death, realizing
 that this mans passions, now that once h.
 had given them away, had passed beyond
 control.
 II cannot give you up," he repeated
 Have not dealt we'll with yout Did
 not say to you, Consent or refuse, as
 shall please you, but having once consent
 ed you must not go back upon your wordsi
 What have I to do with the reasons tha
 prompted them! My heart heard then
 and believed them. Queen, you nro wed t
 me. Those oaths that you have sworn ma
 not be broken. It Is too late, now you ar
 mine, nor can suffer you to pass from m
 back to another man, even though he wa
 your husband before me-"
 But tho delivererI Must then becom
 my husbands murdereri"
 ! May, will protect him, and, if it ma
 be, find means to send him from the land. Juanna stood silent and despairing, an
 at this moment Soa, lying on the couch
 broke into shrill and mocking laugh tha
 stung her like a whip and reused he
 from her lethargy.
 'King," she said, II nm at your mercy
 not through any wanton folly of my owI but because fate has made Q sport of mC King, you havo been hardly used, and, 6 you say, hitherto you have dealt well wit mo. Now pray you let the end be as th beginning was, SO that may always thin
 of you as the noblest among men, exceI one who died this day to save me. Kinl
 you say you love me. Tell me, then, if m
 life hung upon a word of yours, woul that word remain unspokens Such was ID case I spoke the word, and for one shol | hour I betrayed you. Will you, whos heart is great bind me by such an oath this. an oath wrung from me to save m darling from the power of those dogsi
 this is so, then have erred strangely my reading of your mind, for till now t have held that you we.N \ man who woul perish ere he suffered Y -'.cre evil part ) force a helpless w.'i:Ia:t te his wife, or whose crime was that -i.r deceived him l save her husband.
 She paused, and cIiI7ping her hands though in prayer looked up into his troV t bled face with beseechinR eyes, then, | he did not speak, went on:
 King, l have one moro word to sa . You are the strongest, and you can tai
 me, but you cannot hold me, for that hol j. would be my last, and you would be bu .- the richer by your broken honor and a dead bride"
 I Olfan was about to answer when So @ fearing lest Juanna's pleading should pr r vail against his passion, broke in, sayin D ''Be not fooled, king, by woman's prett }, speeches or by her idle threats that sl d will kill herself. She will not kill hersel ' know her well. She loves her life t, t much, and soon, when you are wed. sl r. will love you also, for it is the nature 5, us women to worship those who mast us. Moreover, that man, the deliverer, Il not her husband, except in name. E. IF months l have lived with them, and :. l knnxz IL Tnla har kinr. tnhn io. z,n.