The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-25
(Continued.l

|. (ContinuedA | ignoring this ominous suggestion, thou thinkest, whens she is gone, to be queen in her place, or to rule as high priestess through this White One.''
 If do, that will be a bad hour for thee, Eddo." replied Noie. 1t shall not be- woman No bastard shall reign here Mother of the Trees while the nations round cringe befo re her feet. I have spells; have poisons: . have slaves who can shoot with ar rows.'
 Then use them if thou canst, thou evil-doer," said NOie, contemptuously.
 Aye. I will use them all. and not on thee only. but on that white witch whom thou lowest. She shall never pass living from this land that Is ring She shall choose me to reign through her as her high priest or she shall die-die miserabIy. For a little while that old hag. Nya, may protect her with her wisdom, but when she passes, as she must. and quickly. for I will light fires beneath this fallen tree of hers. then I tell thee the Beautiful One shall choose between my rule and doom."
 Now Noie would hear no more.
 Dog," she cried. filthy night-bird darest thou speak thus of the Inkosa- zana? Another word and I will offer
 
 hatest," and snatching the spear from RachePs hand. she charged at him, holding it aloft.
 Eddo saw her come. With a scream of fear he leapt to his feet. and ran swiftly along the bole till he reached the mass of the fallen branches Into these he sprang. swinging himself from bough to bough like an ape until he age. Then having quite lost sight of him. Noie returned laughing to Ra- chel. by whom stood the old Mother of the Trees who had slid from her arms, and gave her back the spear, saying in the dwarf language,
 This Eddo speaks great words, but he is also great coward"
 "Yes, yes," answered the old woman, our folk he fears the Red Death, but, child. I tell thee he is terrible. He hates me because I rule through the white art. not the black. but while my tree stood he must obey me, and I was safe. Now it is down, and he may kill me if he can. according to the GUS tom of my land. and set up another to be queen, she at whose feet my tree bowed itself and fell by the will of the Heavens. and whom, therefore, the people will accept. Through her he will wield all the power of the Ghost kings, over whom no man may rule but a woman only. Come. Child, and thou, White One, come also. I know
  that was mine is thine: protect me till die, and in payment I will give thee whatever thy heart desires-'
 1T ask no payment" Rachel answer words. 'and I think that it is I who dwarf"
 Then guided by Nya, who clung to bole of the tree and along great branch. till at length they reached a place whence they could climb to the ground. Before they were clear of the boughs the dethroned Mother, from whose round eyes the tears fell, turned and kissed the bark of one of them. wailing aloud.
 Farewell. thou mighty one. under race before me. have dreamed for cen turies. Thou art fallen beneath the stroke of heaven. and great was thy fall and I am fallen with thee. Save my tree. that in the land of ghosts I still may sleep beneath thy shade for ever."
 Then she ran to the very point of the tree and broke off it's topmost twig; which was covered with narrow and green leaves, and holding it in her hand, returned to Rachel.
 'I will plant it, she said. land per chance it will grow to be the house of queens unborn. Come now. come," and | she turned her face towards the forest. |
 The thunder had rolled away, and | from time to time the shone | dercely, so flercely that, unable to bear | it's rays, all the dwarfs who were | gathered about the fallen tree had re- | treated into the shadow of the other | trees around the open space. There they stood and sat watching the three | of them go by. Men, women, and | they all watched. and Rachel they saluted with their raised hands. | but to her who had been their mother for unknown years. they did no rever- ,nce. Only one hideous little man ran up to her and called out,
 ''Thou didst punish me once. old now why should I not kill thee m payment? Thy tree is down at asst"
 Nya looked at him sadly. and an- swered,
 'I remember. Thou shouldst have lied, for thy sin was great, but, aid lesser burden on thee. Man, :hou canst not kill me yet: my tree is town, but 1t is not dead"
 She held up the green bough in her land and looked at him from beneath t, then went on slowly, Man, my wis 1om remains with me. and tell thee hat before I die thou shalt die. and not as thou desirest. Remember my words. people of the Ghosts
 Then she walked on with the others. leaving the dwarf staring after her with a face wherein hate struggled