Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-02


 in cages in the market place, to be mocked by the pasSersby and to serve as a warn ing to any whose monkey hearts should dare to plot sacrilege against the divinity of Aca and of Jal. Now, Shepherdess, take your choice. As you know we'll, have loved you from Q babe, and I love you yet, although you have scorned me for this mans sake. Take your choice. say. Cling to me and trust me, giving your lover to the priests, and will save you. Cling to him, and will bring shame and death upon you all, for my love shall turn to hate"
 At this juncture Leonard quietly drew his revolver, though at the time nobody noticed 1t except Francisco. Indeed by now Juanna was almost in as great a rage as Soa herself.
 'How dare you speak to me thus, p she said, stamping her foot, you whom I have thought good and have trusted from child? What do you say? That I must give him who saved me from death over to death, in order that may buy back your love and protect myself? You evil woman, tell you that first will die as I would have died yonder in the slave camp" and she ceased, for her anger was too great to allow her to say more.
 Leonard could bear it no longer Indeed it is to be feared that some amount of per. sonal feeling was mixed up with the de- termination that he had come to in the interests of their common safety. With an exclamation he lifted the pistol and GOV cred Soa. Both Francisco and Juanna saw the act and sprang to him, the latter exclaiming, "Oh, what are you going to dos''
 II propose to kill this woman before she kills us, that Is all. " he answered coldly.
  faithful to me for many years. cannot see her shot,
 Let the butcher do his work, '" mocked Soa. Ut shall avail him little. Doubt less he is angry because have spoken the truth about him, ' and shn folded her arms upon her breast, awaiting the bullet.
 What Is to be dOne:" said Leonard des- perately. If do not shoot her, she will certainly betray us.''
 Then let her betray,'' said Francisco. Ut Is written that you shall do no mur- der"
 If you fenr to shoot a woman, send for your black dog, white man" mocked Soa. He would have killed my father, and doubtless this task also will be to his lik- ing"
 II can't do it. Get rope and tie her up, Francisco" sGld Leonard. We must watch her night and day. It will be a pleasant addition to our occupations Aft CT all, it is qnly one more risk, which is no great matter among so many. fancy the game Is about played out anyhow" Francisco went for the rope and present ly returned, accompanied by Otter. 4 month of furious dissipation had left its mark even on the dwarf's iron frame. His bright eyes were bloedshot and unsteady, his hand shook. and he did not walk alto gether straight
 You have been drinking again, you Eot, said Leonard, turning on him say Agely. Get back to your drink. We are in sorrow here and want no drunkards in ! our company. Now, then, Francisco give me that rope"
 Yes, baas, have been drinking" an swered the dwarf humbly. It is well to drink before enc dies. since We may not drink afterward, and I think that the hour of death is at hand. O Shepherdess of the heavens, they said down yonder at the settlement that you were a great rain maker. Now, if you can make the rain to fall, can you not make the sun to shine? Wind and water are all very well. but we have too much of them here" ''Hearken," said Leonard While you reYeled, Sot, the last of Mavoom's men vanished, and these are left in their place |" And he pointed to the knives. ''1s 1t so, baast" answered Otter, with a hiccough. "Well they were n poor lot, | and we shall not miss them. And yet would werc a man again and had my hands on the throat uf that wizard Nam. Wow! but would squeeze It." Ut Is your throat that will be squeezed soon, you fool." said Leonard. Look here, god or no god, get you sober, or will beat you"
 II am sober, haas am indeed. Last but a pain here" And he tapped his great head. And why arc you tying ur that old COW Soa, baast'' Because she threatens to use her horns Otter. She says that she will betray II: all.''
 "Indeed, baas! We'll, it Is in my minC thnt she has betrayed us already. Why dc yOu not kill her and have donc with its''
 Because the ShepheTdess here will hav, none of 1t, answered Leonard; "also dC not like the task"
 | II will kill her if you wish, baas," sait Otter, with another hiOcough. "She fl wicked Let her die.''
 II have told you that the ShepherdeS will have none of it. Listen. We mus watch this woman. We will guard her to I keep you from your drink"
 "Yos, baas. I will watch, though i would bo better to Kill her and have done for thus we should bc spared trouble"
 Then they bound Soa securely and SC her in a corner of the throne chamber, ant all that day Leonard and Francisco mount cd guard over her by turns. She mAde n, resistance and said nothing. Indeed seemed as if certain las0Bude had folloWe, her outbreak of rage, for she leaned he head back and slept or made prStenSe t sleep.
 The day passed uneventfully. Olfal visited them, as usual, and told them tha the excitement grew tn the o1tY. Indee, the unprecedented prolonGation of the col, Wsather was driving the people into state of superstItious fury that must soOl express itself in violence of one form or an other, and the priests were doing every thing in their power to fomens the trouble Nc immediate danger was to bS aRpre hcnded, however.
 After sundown Leonard and FganoiSc went out into the courtyard to inspect tn weather according to their custom. Ther was no sign of a change. The wind hley as bitterly as ever from the mountains, tn sky was ashen, and the stars seemed far Oi and cold.
 "AA ID hoFoE Gn7bSet s1A0 A0oooGu with 8 sigh, and re-entered the palace followed by Francisco. Then, having solemnly cautioned Otte to keep a strict guard over Soa. they YraI ped themselves up in their hlankets in ol der to get some rest. which both of then needed sadly. Juanna had already retired laying herself down to sleep tmmediatel on the other side of the curtain, for sh feared to be alone Indeed they could SC l the tips of her fingers appearing beneat the bottom of the curtain. t Very soon they were asleep, for eye , terror must yield at last to the neoessitie of rest, and a dense silence reigned owe the palace, broken only by the tramp e the sentries without. Once Leonard opeI ed his eyes hearing somethinR move an