The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-13

The Doom of Zimbabwe.
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.
Copyright. 1893. bv II. Rider HdOpard.)
CHAPTER vII.-tContinuedJ

n dream, though II was "A very vivid one. Still
shaken and unnerved. she passed into another
chamber and made pretence to cot OF tho meal
that was made ready for her. for II was now
the hour Of sunset. While she was thus en-.
ployed II was announced ths: the PhGnicIan
Metem desired to speak with her, and sho COM
manded that he should be admitted.
Lady" he said, sowing as soon as her at
tendants had, withdrawn to the further end Of
the chamber, you can guess my GRAND. This
morning I gave you certain tidings which
proved both true and useful, and for those
tidings you promised a reward:
"It 10 go" she said. and goingsto "a .chest she
drew from II an ivory casket full Of ornaments
OF gold and Of necklaces and other objects set
with uncut precious stones. Take them" she
eaid, they are yours, that is. save this gold
chain alone, for It is:vowed to Baaltis.":
"But. lady he asked. how can you appear
before Ithobal the King thus robbed OF all your
ornamentsf'
IT shall not appear before Ithobal the King"
she answered. sharply.
'"You say 90. Then what will the Prince Aziel
.hink Of you when he sees you thus unadornodf"
MY beauty is my adornmcnt," she replied,
mot these gems and gold. Moreover. IL lis
naurhtsto me what he thinks, for he hates me
aud has reviled me-
SMetom lifted his eyebrows incredulously, and
went on. 'Still, I will not deprive you OF this
woman's gear. Look now. I value 1t, and at no
high figure nd:drawing out his writer's pal
ette'and'a slip of papyrus. he wrote upon II an
Acknowledgment of debt, which he asked her.to
sign.
''This document, lady" he said, II will rre-
sent TO your father at q convenient season. nor
do I fear that he will refuse to honor it. And
now l take my leave, for you-have an ap-
pointment.to keep. and" he added. with en-
phasis, ''the time Of moonrise is at hand"
"Your meaning. 1 pray.youi' :she asked. st
have no appointmentsat moonrisc. nor at any
other hour"
Metem bowed'politely. but in a fashion which
showed that he put no Faith in her words.
again 1 ask your meaning" she said. 'for
your dark h~intings:are scarcely to be borne"
The Phnnician looked at her. There was n
ring Of truth in her voice.
Lady he said. will you indeed deny. after
I hive seen It written by yourself. that within
some few minutes you meet the Prince Ariel
beneath. the great tree In the palace gardens.
tbere-so said the scroll-to ask his aid in this
matter osthe suit OF Ithobalf'
written by:myselfl" she said wonderingly.
"Meet the Prince Aziel beneath the tree in the
palace gardensi Never have Thought of IT,"
yet, lady, the scroll I saw purported to DO
written by you, and your own woman bore 1t to
the Prince. Yonder. as l think. she sits at the
end Of the chamber. for I know her shape"
'Come.hither," called ELISA, addressing the
woman. Now tell me, what scroll was this
that you carried to-day to the Prince Aziel, say
ingethat I s~ent:ltf'
Lady. nswered the .girl confusedly. "I
never told the Prince Aziel that you sent him
the SCROLL"
THE truth. woman. the truth" said her mis-
tress. "Lie not, or it will be the worse for you
Lady, this Is the truth. AS was walking
through the market place an old black woman
met me and offered..me a piece OF gold II I
would. deliver a letter into tho hand OF the
Prince Ariel. The gold tempted me-, for I had
need OF it, and I consented; but of who wrote
the letter I know nothing. nor have.I ever seen
the woman before"
"You have done.wrong. girl" said ELISA,
shut I believe your tale. Now 60"
When she had gone. ELISA stood for a while
thinking. and as she thought Metem saw an ex.
preston Of fear gather on her face. =
Say" she asked him. lis there anything
strange about this tree Of which the scroll tellsi"
Its size is strange" he answered. land it has
Eve roots that stand above the ground"
AS he spoke she:uttered a little cry.
"Ah!' abe said, ut is the tree of my dream.
Eow-now I understand. Swift! Oh! come with
me swiftly! for see. the.moon rises" and she
Sprang to the door, followed by the wondering
Metem.
Another minute, and they were speeding
down the street 30 fast that those who loitered
there turned their heads and laughed. for they
thought that a jealous husband pursued his
wife. As ELISA fumbled at the hasp of the door
Of the garden, Metem overlook her.
what means this huntH" he gasped.
THAT they have decoyed the Prince here to
murder him." she answered, and sped through
the gateway.
Therefore. we must be murdered also-a
woman's logic" he reflected to himself as he
painted after her.
Swiftly as ELISA had run through the street,
here she redoubled her speed. fitting through
the glades like some white spirit, and so rapidly
that her companion found it difficult to keep
her in view. At length they came to a large.
open space Of ground, upon which played the
level beams of the rising moon, striking upon
the dense green foliage Of an immense tree that
grew there. Round this tree Elisa ran, RlAnc-
ing about her wildly. so that for a few seconds
Metem lost sight Of her, for its bulk was be-
tween them. When he saw her again she was
speeding toward the figure of a man. who stood
In the open. about ten PAGES from the outer
boughs Of the tree, to, which she pointed as she
ran. crying, Reward.
Another moment and she had almost reached
broken words. Then, suddenly. in the bright
moonlight. Metem saw a shining object flashed
toward, the pair from the darkness OF the tree.
i would seem that ELISA saw IL also; at Least;
above her head as though to catch the object,
then as her feet touched the earth she
toward her. and as he went he perceived
black dwarf slip from the shadow of the tree
into some bushes beyond, where 1t was lost.
.Sow he was there to fnd ELISA half seated, half
lying on the ground, the Prince Aziel bending
over her, and fixed through the palm Of her
fight hand. which she hold up piteously, a little
Draw II out from the wound, he painted.
1T avails not" she answered. "the arrow Is
poisoned"
With an exclamation Metsm knelt beside.her,
and, not needing her groans ofpain, drew the dart
through the pierced palm. Then he tore a strip
Of linen from his robe, and knotting IL round her
wrist, he took a broken stick that lay near and
twisted the linen till 1t almost cut Into her
hesh.
"Eow. Prince" no said suck the wound, for
. salve that is an antidote for this poison. and
presently will be back with IT.. Till then. II
you would live. do not suffer that bandage to be
parted swiftly.
Aziel put his lips to the hurt to draw the