Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-05-11

| therefore OF your gentlenesS you VIII ac-
cord me some few weeks before I pass
from him to you, In which l may mourn
my widowhood. l will say no more, but
surely you can guess the sorrow of my
heart and all that have left unsaid.
1T shall be as you wish, queen, re-
piled Olfan, taking her hand and kissing
it, while his somewhat sad face grew ra-
diant with happiness You shall pass
into my keeping at that time which best
pleases you, yet fear that in one matter
you must be troubled, now, this very hour.
What may that be, Olfan!" asked Ju-
anna anxiously.
"Only this, queen-that the rite of mar
riage as We practice it must be celebrated
between us. 1t is necessary for many
reasons that will be made clear to you to-
morrow. Moreover, such was my bargain
with Nam, sealed by an oath sworn upon
the blood of Aca an oath that | do not
dare to break
HOh, no, no!'' said Juanna in acute dis
tress. Think, Olfan, how can !, whose
husband is not dead six hours, VOW my
self to another man upon the altar of his
grave? Give me some few days, / pray
you.
''Most willingly would do this, queen,
but l may not. 1t is against my oath
Also what can it matter? You shall re
main alone for SO long as it shall please
you"
Then Nam spoke for the first time, say
ing:
''Shepherdess, waste no breath in words
for learn that, though this garment of
| modesty is becoming to one new widow
cd, yet you must put it from you. Moro
| hangs upon this ceremony than you know
| of. The lives of many hang upon it, our
own perchance among them, and more i'm
mediately the life of one of whom it does
not become me to speak, - and as though
by accident he let his eyes rest upon the
door of the adjoining cell.
OF his auditors Olfan thought that he
was abiding to his own life, but Juanna
and his daughter knew well that he spoke
of that of Leonard, which would be sacri-
feed did the former persist in her objec-
tions to the instant celebration Of the
marriage.
You hear his words, queen" said Oh
fan, land there is weight in them. The
times are very dangerous, and if our plot
| is to be carried through before midnight
must make oath to the captains and tho
council of the people that you have come
| back from death to be my wife,
MAY Dti dUSWeTeu JudD0d, Catching
at u straw in her despair but must /,
| who shall be set over this people as queen,
be married thus in secret? At the least
| will have witnesses Let some of the cap
| tains whom you trust, Olfan, be brought
| here to see us We'd otherwise the time
may come when l shall be held to be no
| true wife and there are none to establish
my honor by their words"
| 'fThCre IL little fear pf Spch thipu
queen" answered Olfan, with faint
smile, yet your words are just. l viii
| lead three of my captains here, men who
will not betray us, and they shall be wit
ness to this rite, - and he turned as though
he would go to seek them.
do not leave me-" said Juanna, catch
| ing him by the wrist. l trust you, but
| these two l do not trust. fear to DO left
| alone"
HThere is no need for witnesses, king"
| exclaimed Nam in Il threatening voice.
1.-The Shephertless has asked for wit
nesses, and she shall have them, answer
ed Olfan fiercely "OId man, you have
played with INC long enough. Hitherto l
have been your servant. Now / will be
your master. Some few hours ago your
| life was forfeit to me, for the white dawn
had turned to red, and meant to take it,
but you bribed me with this bait, - and
he pointed to Juanna. NAY, do not lay
your hand upon your knife. You forget
have my spear. Your priests arc with
out, l know it, but SO are my captains,
and / have told them where l am II
vanish as many vanish here, my life will
be required at your hands, for, Nam, your
spell is broken. Now obey me- Bid that
woman summon him who guards without
No; you do not stir!" And he lifted the
spear till its keen blue point quivered over
the high priests naked breast bid her
go to the door and summon the guard,
said. To the door, but not beyond it, or
beware. y
Nam was cowed. His tool had become
his master.
obey" he said to Soa.
"Obey, but no more" echoed Olfan.
The woman slipped past them to the
door, snarling like wolf, and opening
it n little way whistled through the crack.
Hide yourself, queen" said Olfan.
Juanna retrcated into the shadow be-
hind the candle, and that moment voice
spoke through the open door, saying, Il
am here, father"
"Now speak, said Olfan, advancing
the spear an inch nearer Mans heart
trance by which the king entered, where
you shall find three captains, generals of
the king. Lead them hither
And see that You speak to no one on
the way, > whispered Olfan in Nam's ear.
and see that you speak to no one on
the way" repeated Nam.
81 hear you, father" replied the priest
and went
Some ten minutes passed, and the door
opened again. 1.-The captains are here"
said voice
Let them enter,' said Nam
The order was obeyed, and three great
IA en- armed with spears stalked into the |
narrow chamber. One of them was broth
er to the king, and the two Others were his
chosen friends. Then the door closed
MY BRETHREN said Olfan, Il have |
sent for you to acquaint you with mys-
terry and to ask you to witness rite AGA,
who this day was hurled into the pool of /
the snake, has returned to earth as won-
an and Is abort to become my wife,
Here the captainsstarted. Nay, brethren.
ask no questions. These things are SO. 1t
is enough. Now, priest, play your part. !"
At last it was DONE and once more OIL
fan was bowling before her and kissing her
hand.
Greeting, Shepherdessl Hail, queen
of the People of the Mistr' he said, and
tho 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
"It is true that am a queen, is 1t not,
Olfansi
1T is true, lady"
And as the queen of the People of the
Mist have power, have 1 not, Olfan'"
Even to life and death, f" 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 disobey you except on mat
tiers of religion"
Good" said she, then, addressing the
captains in tone of command, added,
Seize that man who is named Nam and
the woman with him.
| Olfan looked astonished, and the can
hesitate, but made bound toward the
door.
| "Stay awhile, Man, said the king,
making q 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
I 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 it was differ
1 emit She Bit and tore like q wildcat and