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

III tue ulOrIlUS the uoTSeS StOOu DtlOIe
the bungalow. Farewells were ex-
charged, and new promises of pru-
dence and speedy return given. before
the little cavalcade Yves permitted TO
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 vas Lord
Singleton, who approached Sir George,
as. at a little distance. was heard a tri-
umphant flourish Of trumpets an
ncuIcing the arrival of the princess
and her suite.
you do not know the princess!'
questioned Lord Singleton.
.No, my lord"
Your father, then, will present you;
but have one piece of advice to offer.
Place over your heart a shield of triple
bronze. to preserve yourself from a
great danger-the danger of falling in
love with the princess"
Sir Johns eldest son smiled incredu-
lously.
'Do not SMILE" answered the govern
or, "and, above all, do not doubt the
truth Of what say. The princess. /
assure you, Is seductive, almost ire
sistible, and when you have seen her
you will be, / am convinced, of my
! opinion
MY lord" answered George, I doubt
neither her attractions o her charms,
but I am invulnerable."
In his turn Lord Singleton smiled.
"Invulnerable?" he repeated. "You
are sureT"
''Quite sure. l possess an allpOwer-
full shield-love! The heart Of Agnes
Purteli's betrothed can beat for no wo-
man but her"
you are right" answered the gov
ernor. Il had forgotten your engage
ment with one Of the most charming Of
my countrywomen. Yes; you are right,
to love ardently, Loyalty, wholly. Hap
| Ply the young girl to whom your heart
so entirely belongs-happy, indeed, is
she to be worthy to inspire such devo-
tion!''
At this moment the princess and her
followers appeared in sight. Preceding
nCA, n a. ilt1iC III duNdIlCt, WCIc
twelve musicians. dressed in purple
and silver, and mounted on horses of
spotless Wilderness. After these, on
steeGs 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 Rajat 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 o the princess guests. closed
the procession.
The princess was dressed in Euro
pean 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
Draids. 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 en-.
trancingly beautiful.
Some mysterious emotion. whose
cause we may divine, caused her heart
to beat violently and her eyes to diIate
with wonderful light. Her nostrils
quivered, her lips trembled, a faint
rose-tint c-ept into her pale cheeks, as
she drew rein lear George Malcolm.
Lord Singleton and his three country
men advanced to meet her.
Thanks, my lord! Thanks, gentle
men, she cried, saluting them with
her hand. "You have accepted my in.
vitation. l am most grateful. though,
! from your courtesy, l 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 In 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 superbly beau.
tiful; but no INNER emotion revealed
TO him that he had EMBODIED in his EN-
brace this woman, whose beauty and
power were all u~nrivaIled.
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-
eign!''
''Too much g%allantry, my lordr' cried
the princess, laughing. 'Of the crown
which my ancestors wore, nothing Is
left M 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 4 am, indeed, happy!"
Princess answered Sir John, ''youl
remembrance was an honor; nothing
could have pardoned my declining
Permit me to present to you my eldest
SON. Sir George
Djella lifted her eyes to the young
Englishman, regarding him for several
moments so ixedly that he felt almost
embarrassed under her gaze.
Welcome among us. Sir Georger'
she said, at last. II have many times