Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-04
THE PEOPLE
 OF THE MIST.
[Copyright, 1893, by the Author.l
 CHAPTER XIX.
By H. RIDER HAGGARD.

distinguished from its predecessors by the fall of some sharp showers of slcet. Now, the afternoon waned, the sky be- gan to clear in its accustomed fashion, but the bitter wind sweeping down from the mountains, although it drove away tho fog, gave no promise of any break in the weather. At sunset Leonard went to the palace gates and looked toward the tenn pie, about the walls of which a number of people were already gathering, as in Lon don q crowd of theater goers collect at the pit doors on tho occasion of some great theatrical event long before the time ad- vertiscd for their opening. Some of these people caught sight of him, and drawing as near to the gnIes of the palace as they dared howlcd curses and shook their fists in his direction.
 That Is n foretastc of what we must expect tonight, l suppose" said Leonard to Francisco, who had followed him as they retreated across the courtyard. We are in fix now, and no mistake. do not so much care for my own sake, but 1t breaks my heart to think of Juanna. What will be the end of it, I wonderf'
 For me, Outram, the end will be death, of that am sure. Well. have long expected it, and am ready to die. What your fate will be 1 cannot say; but, as to Juanna, comfort yourself, for many weeks have had prcsentimcnt that she will es- cape safely"
 Tn that case am ready enough to go.'' answered Leonard. ''Life is as dear to me as to other men, but l tell you, Francisco that 1 will pay mine gladly to- nigh; as the price of her deliverance.'
 Il know il, Outram. We are both of one mind there, and perhaps before many hours are over we shall be called upon to practice what We preach"
 But now they had reached the throne- room, where Otter. who for the last 24 hours had been quite sober, was squatted on the floor at the foot of bis throne a picture of Respondent misery, while Ju- anna walked swiftly mp and down the long room lost in reflection.
 Any news, Leonardo" she said as they came in.
 None, except that there are great prep arations going on wonder" and he nodded toward the temple; also mob is howl ing at the gates"
 Oh" groaned Otter, addressing Juan na. Cannot you, who arc named Shep. herGcss of the heavens, prophecy to these people that Uhc weather will change and so save Us from the Enake?"
 II can prophcsy,' she answered, but it will not change tonight, nor, think, tomorrow. However will try"
 Then came q silence. Nobody seemed to have anything 10 say. IL was broken by the entrance of Olfan, whose proud face sl owed the trouble of his mind.
 What passes, OlfanN' asked Juanna.
 Q queen, " he answered sadly, there is great trouble at hand. The people rave for the blood of you their gods, O queen Nam told you that ye are summoned this night to take counsel with the people Alas, l must tell you otherwiscl This night ye will be put upon your trial before the council"
 That We guessed, Olfan, and if the verdict goes against us, what thenf" Alas, ,Lat I must say it. Then, O queen, you will be hurled, all of you, into the pool of the snake to share the bed of the snake
 Cannot you protect us, Olfan!''
 "I cannot, o queen, except with my | own life The soldiers arc under my com | mand indeed. but in this matter they will | not obey me, for the priests have whispered in their cars, and if the sun docs not shine | they, too. must starve next winter. Par | don me, queen, but If you are gods, how Is it that you need help from mo, who am but n man? Cannot the gods then protect themselves and be avenged upon their en- cmiCsf"
 Juanna looked dcspairingly at Leonard, 1 who sat by her side pulling at his beard, as was his fashion when perplexed. II think that you had better tell him, ' he said in English. "Our situation is des- 1 perate. In few hours ho will probably | know us to be impostors Indeed he 1 guCsscs it already. It is better that he | should learn tho truth from our own lips | The man is honest, and, moreover, owes | his life 10 us, though it is true that were | it not for us he would never have boon in danger of his life, Now we must trust I him and take our chance. If we mako a mistake, it does not greatly matter-we have made so many already"
 Juanna bowed her head and thought awhile Then she lifted it and spoke. 'Olfan," she said, ''are we alone? That which have to say must be overheard by none"
 ..Wo are alone qucon," ho answered, | glancing round, "but these walls have | ears"
 "Olfan, draw near"
 He obeycd, and leaning forward she spoke to him almost in whisper, while the others clustered round to hear her voice.
 ''Youmust call me queen no more, ' she said in a voice broken with humiliation. II am no goddess. am but mortal wom- an, and this man." and she pointed to Otter, .'is DO god. He is only a dwarf"
 She paused, watching the effect of her words An expression of astonishmeni swept across the kings face, but it was her boldncss rather than the purport oi her speech that caused it. Then he smiled
 Perhaps have guessed us much, he answered, and yet l must still call you by that name. seeing that you are tht queen of all women, for, say, where ii ! hrax- Ef great! Here, at least, there are mono, and he bowed before her with statcl! courtesy that would havo become an, European gentlem1::.
 Now it was Lconari's turn to look as tonished. There was nothing in the king words to which he could take objection and yet he did not like their tone. It wa too full of admiration. and, moreover. i seemed to him that Olfan was not in tn
 least disappointed to discover as a fact tha
 Juanna was only a woman, a suppositiol
 that was fully established by his mex
 speech
 II am glad to learn from your lips,
 queen, that you are no goddess, but a mol tai lady, seeing that goddesses are fa p away, and we men must worship theI | from afar, whereas women we may love, 2 and again he bowed.
 , My worCiV' said Leonard to himself
 This king Is going to set himself up 6 = my rival. almost wish put things on | more satisfactory footing, but of course } is absurd. Poor Juannal'
 As for Juanna herself, she started an
 blushed Here was a new trouble, bI
 however disagreeable it might prove to a now was no time to show displeasure. t "Iisten, Olfan," she said. This is n'
 an hour for pretty speeches that mea
 nothing, for it seems that before the ligl
 dawns again may well be dead and f;
 beyond all love and worship. This is OI
 tnln. NE. cnrnn in rnnr land rn sank ndveI