The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-09
no other tiding from the West for

no other tiding from the West fo | days'
 "Thy watchmen call but slowly
 King. the water in the pool speak | swifter.'' said Rachel. then. still in tn midst of a heavy silence. for this thing
 was fearful to them. she turned an'
 departed.
 "So it is true. so it is true!" Rache | kept repeating to herself, the word | suiting themselves to the time of tht
 footfall of her bearers She was spen | with all the labor and emotions of tha l long day. eliminating in the last scene | when she must play her daneerou: | superhuman part before these keen | witted savages. She could think nc | more; scarcely could she undress ano | throw herself upon her bedHn the hut | Yet that night she slept soundly. bet | ter than she had done since Mole wen
 away. No dreams came to trouble he1 | anG in the morning she awoke re. | freshed. But now doubts did come. Might | she not be mistaken after all? She knew the marvellous powers of the natives in the matter of the transmits sion of news. powers so strange that many, even among white people, at | tributed them to witchcraft. She had no doubt. therefore. as to the fact of some EngliShman or Boer having en- tered Zululand. Doubtless the news of his arrival had been conveyed over scores of miles of country by the call ing of it as the captain said. from hill to hill, or in some other fashion. But might not this arrival and the circum- stance of her dream or vision be a mere coincidence? What was there to show that the stranger who was riding a black horse was really Richard Oar rien? Perhaps it was all a mistake. and he was only one of those white wanderers of the stamp of the out cast IShmael who. even at that date made their way into savage countries 0aiO inU a life of license. And yet. and yet Quabi, of whom she also dreamed. had visited the Great Palace-as she dreamed.
 The next two days were terrible to Rachel. She endured them as she had endured all those that went before. trying the cases that were brought to her. keeping up her apparanc of dis tant dignity and utter indifference. She asked no questions, since to do so would be to show doubt and weakness although she was aware that the tale of her vision had spread through the land. and that the issue of the matter was of intense interest to thousands. From some talk which she overheard while she pretended to be listening to evidence. she learned even that two men going to execution had discussed it, saying that they regretted they would not live to know the truth. On the second day she did hear one piece of news. for although she sat by her
 
 waters, these remained blind and dumb.
 The induna. Tamboosa. on one of his ceremonial visits. after speaking of the health of her mare, which. it seemed, was improving. mentioned incidentally that the messengers running night and day had met the white man and ''call- ed back that he was safe and well. He added that had it not been for her vision this said white man would cer- tainly have been killed as a spy.
 ''Yes. I knew that" answered Ra- chael, indifferently. although her heart if I said that the Inkoos was to be brought straight here when he ar rives. If not. let it be known that such is my command. The King can him to do so. as probably we shall not depart until the next day..
 Then she yawned. and as though by an afterthought asked if any news had been "called back from Noie.
 Tamboosa answered, No: no system of intelligence had beenssorganized in the direction in which she had gone. for that country was empty of enemies. and indeed of population. However. this would not distress the Inkosazana, who had only to consult her Spirit to see all that happened to her servant.
 Rachel replied that of course this had not troubled about the matter. then waved her hand to show that the interview was at an end.
 It was the morning of the third day, l and while Rachel was delivering judg- 1 ment in a case. messenger entered l and whispered something to the induna l on duty, who rose and saluted her.
 What is it?" she asked.
 "Only this. Inkosazana: the white | Inkoos from the Buffalo River has ar | rived. and is without
 Good" said Rachel. '1et him await | there.'' Then she went on with her judgment. Yes. she went on. although ! beating in her ears sounded like the l roll of drums. She finished it, and | after a decent interval, bowed her head | in acknowledgment of the customary | salutes. and made the sign which inti- l mated that the Court was to be clear l ed.
 Slowly slowly. all the crowd melted | away. leaving her alone with her wom- an.
 "Go." she said to one. of them. "and bid the captain admit this white chief. Say that he is to come unarmed and alone. Then depart. all of you. If should need you I will call.''
 The girl went on her errand while Ter companions filed away through the glanced round to make sure of her solitude. It was complete. no one was eft. There she sat in state upon her carved stool. her wand. in her hand, Ter white cloak upon her shoulders. md the sunlight that passed over the )n her hair till it Shone like a crown If gold. but leaving her face in shadow: at quite still like some lovely tinted statue.
 (To be Cont1nued.>