Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-02

convention ana proclaimed ITSELF III It's
| pure strength and beauty. That kiss of
unity which circumstances did not create,
| nor their will control. and thus they
| confessed it to each other.
| How long?" she asked, looking up at
| him.
Eight years today lie answered,
"since 1 rode away after those wagons"
Eight years." she repeated land no
| word from you all that time. You have
| behaved badly to me, Richard"
| mo. no; could not find out. I wrote
| three times, but always the letters were
| returned, except one that went to the
| Then two years ago I heard that your
| father and mother had been in Natal.
but had gone to England, and that you
were dead. Yes, a man told me that
| you were dead" he added, with gulp.
II suppose he was speaking of somebody
| else, as he could not remember whether
| the name was Dove or Cove, or perhaps
| he was just lying. At any rate, did not
believe him. l always felt that you We're
alive
why did you not come to See, Rich
ard?'
Why Because it was impossible. For
years my father was an invalid, paralyz-
| ed. and 1 was his only child and could
not leave him.
She looked a question at him
Yes" he answered with a nod, dead.
| ten months ago, and for a few weeks l
had to remain to arrange about the prop
| erty. of which he left good deal, for
we did we'll of late years. Just then 1
heard a rumor of an English missionary
and his wife and daughter who werA said
| to be living somewhere beyond the bound
aries Of Natal In savage place on the
Transvaal side of the Drakensberg. and
as some Beers 1 knew were TICKLING into
| that country I came With them on the
/ r no nrV
| was vague enough
You came-ycd came to seek the girl.
Rachel Dove?"
''Of course. Otherwise why should /
| have left my farms down In the Cape to
risk my neck among these savages?'
"And them" went on Rachel, you or
somebody else sent in the spy, Quabi, VINO
returned to the Boer camp with his story
about the Inkosazana-y-Zoola.Y You remem-
mer you brought him in limping to that
old fellow with a gray beard and large
pipe, and the others who laughed at the
tale. 1 mean when you said that this
lnkosazana seemed very like an English
maid, the daughter of a teacher whom
you were looking for. and that you
would go to find out the truth of the
business
Eyes. that's all right But. Rachel" he
added with start. how do you know
anything about it-Oom Piet and the rest
and the words used? Your spies must be
very good and quick, for you can't have
seen Quabi'
my spies are good and quick Did you
get my message sent by the kings men ?
1t was that she who stood with you on
the rock in the river greeted you and
awaited YOU
Yes; l could not understand. do not
understand now. just before that they
were going to kill me as Boer spy
Who told you everything?
my heart" she answered smiling 81
dreamed it all. l suppose that I was al
lowed to save your life that I might bring
you here to save me. Listen, now, Rich
ard. while I tell you the strangest story
that you ever heard; and If you don't be-
lieve it. go and ask the king and his in
dumas"
Then she told him of her vision by the
pool and all that happened after 1t. When
she had finished Richard could only shake
his head and say:
Still I don't understand, but no wonder
these Zulus have made goddess of you.
Well Rachel. what is to happen now? Ii
you are to stop here they mayn't care for
me as high priest
II am not l am going home, and YOU
| must take me. l told them that you were
coming to do SO. You have your horse,
have you not. the black horse with the
white forefoot? Well. we will start at
once-no. you must eat first. and there
are things to arrange. Now stand at q
distance from me and look as respectful
as you can, for I fill strange position
here"
Then Rachel clapped her hands and the
women came running in.
Bring food for the Inkoos Darrien -
she said. land send hither the captain of
the gate"
Presently the man arrived crouched up
ties
Go to the king said Rachel, land tell
him the 1nkoSazana commands that the
horse on which she came be brought to
har at Shp 1oaCQS nj, nd q,
| while: also that an impi be assembled
within an hour to escort her and this
white chief, her servant, to the Tugela
Say that the Inkosi Darrien has brought
her tidings which make 1t needful that
she should travel hence speedily il the
Zulus. her people, are to be saved from
! great misfortune. and say. too. that he
goes with her. If the king or his indunas
would see the lnkosazana, or the Chief
Darrien. let him or the indunas meet them
on their road, since they have no time to
visit the Great Place. Let Tamboosa be
in command of the impi. and say also
| that II 1t Is not here at once, the InkoSa-
zana will be angry and summon an impi
| Of her own. Go. now. for the lives of
many hang upon your speed; yes the
lives Of the greatest in the land
The man saluted and shot away like an
| arrow.
will they obey your asked Richard.
II think So because they are afraid OF
me, especially since I saw you coming.
At any rate we must act at once, 1t is
our best chance-before they have time to
think. Here Is some food-eat. Woman,
| go, tell the guard that the Inkosis' horse
must be fed at the gate, for he will need
| it presently, and his servant also"
II have no servant, Inkosazana," broke
| in Richard. Il left Quabi at a kraal fifty
miles away, laid up with cut foot. AS
soon as he is better he will slip back
across the Buffalo river"
| Then while Richard ate. which he did
heartily enough for joy had made him
very hungry, they talked, who had much
| to tell. He asked her why she thought II
To leave Zulula nd at