Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-08-31
CHAPTER VIII.

In the morning the horses StOOu DeIOre
the bungalow. Farewells were ex-
charged, and new promises Of pru-
dence and speedy return given, before
che little cavalcade ives permitted 10
start; Sir John and his two sons going
before; Stop and Kazil following be-
hind.
In two hours they had reached the
forest of Picara, where were already
gathered a large number of horsemen,
conspicuous among whom was Lord
Singleton, who approached Sir George,
as. at n little distance. was heard a tri-
umphant flourish Of trumpets an
nouncing the arrival of the princess
and her suite.
'You do not know the prineessl'
questioned Lord Singleton.
"No, my lord"
"Your father, then, will present you;
but have one piece of advice to offer.
Place yer your heart a shield of triple
bronze. to preserve yourself from a
great d~anger-the danger of falling in
love with the princess"
Sir Johns eldest son smiled incredu-
lousy.
"Do not SMILE" answered the govern
or, "and, above all, do not doubt the
truth Of what 1 say. The princess, I
assure you, is seductive, almost ire
sistible, and when you have seen her
you will be, l am convinced, Of my
opinion"
MY lord" answered George, I doubt
neither her attractions nor her charms,
but am invulnerable."
In his turn Lord Singleton smiled.
'InvulnerableY' he repeated. "You
are sure?"
"Quite sure. I possess an all-power-
full shield-love! The heart of Agnes
PartelPs betrothed can beat for no wo-
man but her!"
you are right" answered the gov
ernor. II had forgotten your engage
ment with one of the most charming of
my countrywomen. Yes; you are right,
to love ardently, Loyalty, wholly. Hap
by the young girl to whom your heart
so entirely belongs-happy, indeed, is
she to be worthy to inspire such devo-
tionr'
At this moment the princess and her
followers appeared In sight. Preceding
her, II a little in advance, were
twelve musicians, dressed in purple
and silver, and mounted on horses of
spotless wilderness. After these, on
steeds of midnight blackness, came n
guard of Amazons. numbering twenty
five. with helmets of polished steel,
surmounted with white plumes. Be
hind this graceful bodyguard rode the
princess, surrounded by the principal
officers of her household, and at her
right a Hindoo prince, the Rajah Door
gal Sahib, destined to play in our story
a most important part. Then followed
a second detachment of amazons.
while a large number of Wallets, splen,
didly mounted on fresh horses. des-
tined for the princess guests. closed
the procession.
The princess was dressed in Euro
nean fashion, in a simple habit of blue
cloth, cut by the most celebrated tailor
of London. A narrow white collar en-
circled her throat; a gray felt hat, in
which was a long red plume. was set
gracefully upon the thick and shining
braids. She rode a superb horse, hold
ing the reins with the left hand, and in
the right a curious and beautiful whip.
This simple toilet was extremely be-
coming. The close-fitted habit revealed
the exquisite beauty of her form, the
perfect roundness Of her arms. Never
In all the glory of her jewels and pre-
cious stones, and In the midst OF the
most sumptuous Of her apartments.
had the Princess Djelia been more Ell
t%rancingly beautiful.
Some mysterious emotion. whose
cause we may divine, caused her heart
to beat violently and her eyes to dilate
with wonderful light. Her nostrils
quivered, her lips trembled, a faint
rose-tint crept into her pale cheeks, as
she drew rein near George Malcolm.
Lord Singleton and his three country
men advanced to meet her.
Thanks, my lordl Thanks, gentle
men, she cried, saluting them with
her hand. "You have accepted my in
vitation. / am most grateful. though,
from your courtesy, / expected not
less"
In hearing her speak, George trem-
bled. Somewhere, it appeared TO him,
that he had heard that voice before:
but that the unknown i'm the velvet
mask was n With the Princess Djella
never entered the remotest realm of
his Imagination. He regarded her at
tentively, and found her superhir Sea.
tiful; but no INNER emotion revealed
to him that he had EMBODIED In his EN-
brace this woman, whose beauty and
power were all unrivalled.
Princess" replied Lord Singleton.
kissing her hand, 1--WE are alike proud
and delighted to be permitted to rem
der our homage to midas real sover-
cign!"
TOO much %gallantry, my lordt' cried
the princess, laughing. "Of the crown
which my ancestors wore, nothing is
left me but the diadem Of my black
hair" Then, turning toward Sir John
Malcolm, she added: "you have come.
and have brought your sons. Believe
me, l am, indeed, happy
Princess" answered Sir John. "your
remembrance was an honor; nothing
could have pardoned my declining.
Permit me to present to you my eldest
SOL Sir George
Della lifted her eyes to the young
~Englishman, regarding him for several
moments so fixedly that he felt almost
embarrassed under her gaze.
Welcome among us. Sir Georger'
she said, at last. II have many times