The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-24
THE LADY OF THE HEAVENS.
Copyright, 1908, by H. Rider Haggard


sSsASIasIsaAbla64saS4llAasAsasal4AAslN N
 T have always imagined that I did
 MT. Ishmael," replied the missionary in a cold voice.
 Then do you wish to see their
 throats cut before your eyes. or" and
 he looked at Rachel, "worse?''
 How can you ask such questions ?''
 said MT. Dove. indignantly. "Of course
 1 know that there are risks among all
 wild peoples. but I trust to Providence 1 to protect us'
 MT. Ishmael puffed at his pipe and
 swore to himself in Zulu.
 | Yes he said when he had recover
 ed little. ESQ I suppose did Seyapi and his people. but you have been
 burying them this afternoon-haven't
 you?-aH except the girl. Noie. whom
 you have sheltered. for which deed Dingaan will bury you all if you go
 into Zulu land. or rather throw you to
 the vultures. Don't think that your
 being an umfundusi. I 1nean a teacher, ! will save you. The Almighty Himself | can't save you, there. You will be dead ] and forgotten in a month. Whats more. you will have to drive your own
 wagon in, for your Kaffirs won't they know better. A Bible won't turn the blade of an assegai.''
 l Please. MT. Ishmael please do not l speak so-so irreligiously,' said MT. Dove in aIl irritated but nervous voice. 1 You do not seem to understand that have a mission to perform. and if 1 that should involve martyrdom--'' 1 "Oh bother martyrdom, which is what I have always said so. Still I do l trouble. and John-Jol1n," she added i'll a kind of pitiful cry, "can't you see that you have worn me out? Can't you understand that I am getting old and weak? Is there nobody to whom you | a 6I1fx vxyon fo Are there not enough heather here?" she went on with gathering passion.
 If you must mix with them. do what this gentleman says. and stop here, that is. if you won't go back. Build a house and let us have a little peace before we die. for death will come soon enough, and terribly enough. I am sure." and she burst into a fit of weeping.
 My dear" said MT. Dove, "you are upset; the unhappy occurrences of to- day. which-did we but know it-are doubtless all for the best, and your anxiety for Rachel have been too much for you. I think that you had better go to bed. and you too. Rachel. will | talk the matter over further with MT. Ishnnael. who. perhaps. has been sent | to guide me. I am not unreasonable, as you think. and if he can convince me that there is any risk to your lives flor my own I care nothing-I will consider the suggestion of building a | mission-station outside Zululand. at any rate for a few years. It may be that it is not intended that we should enter that country at present" So Mrs. Dove and her daughter went, heard her father and the hunter talk ing earnestly, and wondered in sleepy fashion to what conclusion he had come. Personally. she did not mind much on which side of the Tugela they were to live. if they must bide at all in the region of that river. Still, for her mothers sake she determined that if she could bring it about. they should stay where they were. Indeed there was no choice between this and returning to England. as her father had quarrelled too bitterly with the white men at Durban to allow of his taking up his residence among them again.
 When Rachel woke on the following morning the first thing she saw in the glowing light was the orphaned native Noie. seated on the further side of the little tent, her head resting upon her hand. and gazing at her vacantly. Ra- chel watched her a while. pretending to still sleep. and for the first time understood how beautiful this girl was in her own fashion. Although small, that is in comparison with most Kaffir women. she was perfectly shaped and developed. Her soft skin in that light looked almost white. although it had about it nothing of the muddy colour you are after. no doubt. casting down your golden crown upon a rystal sea- and the rest of it-I remember the stuff. The question is. do you wish to murder your wife and daughter. for that's the plain English of it?''
 "Of course not How can you sug- geSt such a thinR?''
 Then you had better not cross the Tugela. Go back to Durban. or stop where you are at least. for. unless he finds out anything. Dingaan is not likely to interfere with a white man on this side of the river.''
 ''That would involve abandoning my most cherished ambition. and impulses that-but I will not speak to you of things which perhaps you might not understand
 "I daresay I shouldn't. but I do un- derstand what it feels like to have here. sir. if you want to go to Zulu land. you should go alone; it is no place for white ladies'
 That is for them to judge. sir" an- swered MT. Dove. TT believe that their faith will be equal to this trial.'' and ly.
 For once. however. she failed him.
 "My dear John.' she said. eff you want my opinion. I think that this gentleman is quite right. For myself I don't care much. but it can never have been intended that we should absolute ly throw away our lives. I have al- ways given way to you. and followed you to many strange places without grumbling. although. as you know, we might be quite comfortable at home, or at any rate in some civilized town. r AI,@ IL, s.11r to go to Zululand. especially as there is Rachel to think of.''
 "Oh! don't trouble about me-" inter- rupted that young lady. with a shrug of her shoulders. sT can take my chance as I have often done before. to-day. for instance
 ''But I do trouble about you, my dear. although it is true I don't be- lieve that you will be killed; you know of the halfbreed: her hair was long,