Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-04-06
THE PEOPLE
OF THE MIST
By n. RIDER HAGGARD.
copyright, 1898, by the Author.l

copyright, 1893, by the Author.
A priest came in bearing n torch, fol
there was no window to the chamber, and
after him two women.
WHO is thisf' said Nam. pointing tc
the second of the women
This is she who is servant to AGA, ia
ther," answered the priest.
How comes she here?" said Nam again
II gave no orders that she should be
taken"
She comes of her own free will, ia
Their, having somewhat to say to you.
Fool how can she speak to me when
she does net know our languagef But OF
her presently. Take her aside and watch
her Now, Saga, your report. First, what
of the weather."
1T is cold and gray and pitiless, father.
The mist is dense, and no sun can be
SEEM
81 thought it, because of the cold," and
he drew his robe close round him. "A
few more days of this - and he stopped,
then went on. Tell me of Jal, your
lord
"Jal is as Jal was, merry and somewhat
drunken. He speaks our language Ill, yet
when he was last in liquor he sang a song
that told of deeds that he and he whom
they name the deliverer had wrought to-
gether down in the south rescuing the
| goddess AGA from some who had taken hei
captive. At least, SO ] understood that
song"
perhaps you understand it wrong "
answered Nam. Say, niece, do you still
worship this god?"
Il worship the god jail, but the man,
dweller in the waters, hate" she said
flercely
"Why, how is this9 But two days gone
you told me that you loved him, and that
there was no such god as this man and
no such man as this god"
THAT was so, father, but since then he
has thrust me aside, saying that weary
him. and courts handmade of mine own,
and therefore demand the life of that
handmaidon. ~
Nam smiled grimly. "Perchance you
demand the life of the god alsof"
Yes" she replied without hesitation
II would see him dead if it can be brought
about"
Again Nam smiled "Truly, niece,
your temper is that of my sister, your
. | VIII DEOuSHb lllEcS llltli
sacrifice bee; use she grew jealous of them
Well, well, these are strange times, and
70. may live to see your desire satisfied by
the death of the god. Now. what of that
womanp How comes she to be with your
She was bound by the order of Aca,
father and jail was set to watch her, but
l drugged .Jal, and loosing her bonds led
her down the secret way, for she desires tc
speak to you"
How can that be, niece' Can l then
speak her languagef'
Nay father, but she speaks ours Had
she been bred in the land she could no,
speak it better"
Nam looked astonished, and going to
the door called to the priest without to
lead in the stranger.
You have words to say to me-" he
said.
Yes, lord, but not before these That
which have to say is secret. j."
Nam hestated.
Have no fear, lord" said Soa, reading
his thoughts See l am unarmed."
Then he commanded the others to go
and when the door had closed behind them
he locked at her inquiringly.
Tell me, lord, who am II" asked Soa
throwing the wrapping from her head and
showing her face to the glare of the torch
light.
How can know who you are, wan
dererf Yet had | met you by chance
should have said that you were of oul
blood
This is so, lord. / am of your blood
Cast your mind back and think if you car
remember "a certain daughter whom you
loved many years ago, but who through
the workings of your foes, was chosen tc
be a bride to the snake" And she paused
Speak on, - said Nam in a low voice.
'Perchance you can remember, lord
that, moved to it by love and pity, on the
night of the sacrifice you helped that
daughter to escape the fangs of the snake. u
Il remember something of it" he re
piled, but tidings were brought to Inc
that this woman of whom you speak wa:
oyertaken by the vengeance of the god and
died on her journey"
THAT Is not so, lord l am the woman,
your daughter, and you are none Other
than my father | knew you when first
saw your face though you did not know
me. +"
Prove it, woman, and beware how you
lie. Show me the secret sign and whisper
the hidden word into my ear.
Then, having glanced cautiously behind
her Soa came to him and made some
movements with her hands in the shadow
of the table, and bending forward wills
pered awhile into his ear. When she had
finished, her father looked up, aud there
were tears in his aged eyes.
Welcome, daughter" he said. 81
thought | was alone and that none of my
blood lived anywhere upon the earth
Welcomed Your life is forfeit to the
snake; but, forgetting my vows, l will
protect you-ayc, even at the cost of my
| own
Then the two embraced each other with
every sign OF tenderness, a spectacle that
would have struck any one acquainted
with their characters as both curious and
interesting
Presently Nam left the chamber, and
having dismissed the attendant priest and
his grcatuicce, Saga, who were waiting
outside he returned and prayed his daugh-
ter to explain the reason of her presence in
the train of AGA.
First, you shall swear an oath to me,
my father, " said Soa and If you swear il
not | will tell you no word of my story.
You shall swear by the blood Of AGA that
you will do nothing against the life of that
queen with whom / journeyed here. Fol-
the rest, you may work your will upon
them, but her you shall not HARM"
why should l swear this, daughter?"
he asked
lyon shall swear because /, whom you
love, love her, and also because SO shall
you gain the greater honor.
''Who am that l should lift my hand
against the gods, daughteri l swear it by
the blond OF AGA, and if / break my osth
then may jail deal with me as once he
dealt with AGA"
Then Soa went on freely, for she knew
thai this was vow that could not he
broken. Beginning at the commencement
she told him all the story of her life since,
40 years ago, she had fed from among the
People of the Mist, passing on rapidly,
however, to that part of 1t which had &c
do with the capture and rescue of Juanna
from the slave traders, and with the prom
Use that she had made to Leonard as the
price of his assistance, a promise, she ex
planned, which she had no intention Of
fulfilling until she was forced to do so b,
Juanna herself. Then she gave him ,
minute history Of the object and details q
their expedition down to her final quarre
with Leonard and her mistress on the pre-
yious day.
To say that the old priest was thunder
struck at these extraordinary revelation.
would be too little. He was literally over
whelmed-so overwhelmed that for awhile
he could scarcely speak.
1T is well for this jade Of mistress o
yours, who dares to make a mockery O
hat CHI cfa har u