Evening star., 1909-02-28
We're ordered to await him on the banks

We're ordered TO await him on the banks
of the Tugela.
Escape was evidently impossible at pres
ent, and If 1t had been otherwise, clearly
the ZuluS did not mean to let her go. She
must abide here in the company of heI
;erro-s and her dreams
At length. happily for her these dis
tressing dreams of Rachers begar to be
varied by others of a pea santer complex
ion, of which, although they were vivid
enough, she could only remember upon
waking that they had to do with Richard
Darrier, the companion of her adventure
in the river, OF whom she had heard moth
ing fox so many years. For aught she
knew he might have died long ago, and
Yet she did not think that he was dead.
Well if he lived he might have forgotten
her, and yet she did not believe that he
had forgotten her, he who d boy had
wished to follow her all his life. and
whom she had thought of day by day
from that hour to this. Yes, she had
thought of him. but not thus. Why, at
such time did he arise in strength be-
fore her. seeming TO occupy all her soul?
Why was her mind never free of him?
Could 1t be that they were about to meet
again? She shvered as thu hope took
menbered that her mother had always
said that they would meet. Could 1t be
that lie of all men on the earth, for If
he lived he was a man now. was coming
nothing. Then in every peril she would
feel safe as a child in its mothers arms.
No. the thing was too happy to come
about: her imagination played tricks
with her no more. And yet, and yet.
why did he haunt her sleep?
The dreary days went on: a month had
passed since Mole vanished over yonder
ridge. and. worst of all. for three nights
the dreams of Richard had departed,
while those of her mother remained.
Rachel was worn out: she was in de-
Spair All that morning she had spent
in trying a long and heavy case, which
occupied but wearied her mnd-one of
those eternal cases about the inheritance
of cattle which We're claimed by three
brothers. descendants of different wives
of grandfather who had owned the
herd. Finally she had effected a COM
promise between the parties. and amidst
their salutes and acclamations, retired to
her hut But she could not eat: the
saneness of the food disgusted her
Neither could she rest, for the daily tenn
pest was coming up. and the heavy at
mosphere, or the electricity with which
ii was charged, and the overpowering
neat, eXasperated her nervous system
and made sleep impossible. At length
came the usual rush of icy wind and the
bursting of the great storm. The thunder
crashed and beloved: the lightning flick
cred and tiafed: the rain fell in a torrent
II passed as IL ALWAYS did, and the sun
Rachel went out of the ovenlike hut into
the cool sweet air. and sat down upon
{. tanned bulls hide which she had order
ed her servants TO spread for her by the
pool of water upon the bank beneath the
trees. 1t was very pleasant here, and
the rain-dropS shaken from the wet
leaves fell uoon her fevered face and
hands ana refreshed her
She tried To forget her troubles for
little while and began To think of Rich
ard Darrien. her boy-lover of a long-past
hour, wondering what he looked like now
that he was grown to be man.
III only YOU would come to help me.
Oh. Richard If only you would come to
nelp me the poor. worn-out girl muir
INJURED to herself: and so murnuring fell
asleep.
suddenly it seemed to her that she was
wide awake. and staring into a part OF
the pool beneath her where the bottom
was of granite and the water clear. n
this water she saw a picture She saw a
great laager of wagons, ard outside OF
one OF them a group of bearded. jovial-
looking men, smoking and talking. Pres
entity another man of sturdy build and
resoute carriage, who was followed by "a