Evening star., 1909-02-25

that he wishes me to receive this lbubcsi.
Yet I know that man. as | know all men.
white and black. He Is an evil man, and
II Is not my pleasure To speak with him
alone. Let him come with a guard of six
captains. and let the captains he armed
with spears. 50 tha- If | give the word.
there may be AN end OF this lbubcsi.'
Then the messengers saluted and de-
parted as before
On the morrow at about the same hour
a praiser. or herald. arrived outside ths
inner fence of the kraal. and after he
had shouted out RacherS titles. attr,-
butes. beauties and supernatural powers
for at least ten minutes. never repeating
himself, announced that the indunas of
the king were without, accompanied hv
the white man. lbubes awaiting her per
mission to enter. She gave II through
NOc, and. the horn wand in her hand.
seated herself upon a carved stool I'm front
of the great hurt. Presently an alterca-
tion arose upon the farther side Of the
reed fence in which She recognized 1sh-
mael's strident voice. mingled with tho
deeper tones of the Zulus, who seemed 10
be insisting upon something.
They command him To take of his
headdress.' said Noie. "and threaten To
beat him IL he will not
Go. tell them to admit him as he is.
that l may see his face. and learn if he
be the white man whom / knew, or an
other" answered Rachel. and she went
Then the gate was opened and the mes
sengers were led in by women. After these
came six captains. carrying broad spears.
as she had commanded. and last Of all
Ishmae himself. Rachel's whole nature
shrank at the sight of his dark. hand
some features. She loathed the man now
as always: her instinct warned her OF
danger at his hands Also she remem-
bered his threats when last they met
and she rejected him. and what
had passed between him and her father
on the following day. But Of all this she
showed nothing, remaining seated In 81
lence with calm, set face
Ishmael was advancing with some
what defiant air. Except for a kaross
upon his shoulders he wore European
dress. and the ridiculous hat with the
white ostrich feather I'm ii. both of them
now much the worse for wear, which she
remembered so well. Also he had a light
ed pipe in his mouth. Presently one or
the captains appeared to become suddenly
aware of this pipe, for stretching out his
hand. he snatched it away, and the hat
with it. throwing them upon the ground.
Ishmael. whose teeth and lips were hurt.
turned the man with an oath and
struck him. whereon instantly he was
seized, and would perhaps have been
killed before Rachel could interfere, had
it not been unlawful to shed blood In her
presence. AS IL was. with a motion OF her
wand she signifed that he was to he
loosed. a command that Mole interpreted
te them. At any rate they let him go.
though a captain plaoed his feet on the
hat and pipe Then IShmael came for
ward and said awkwardly:
How do you do? ] did not expect TO
see you here" and he devoured her beauty
with his bold, greedy eyes. though not
without doubt and dread, or so thought
Rachel.
Taking no notice of his greeting, she
said i'm cold voice:
Il have sent for you here to ask II you
have any reason as to why L should not
order YOU to be killed for your crime
against me?"
Now Ishmael paled. for he had not ex-
pected such welcome. and began to
deny the thing.
Spare your falsehoods," went on Rach-
ell II have it from the kings lips, and
from my own knowledge. Remember only
that here / am the InkosaZana with power
of life and death. If I speak the word, or
point at you with this wand, In a min
ute you will have gone to your account
.Inkcsazana or not" he answered in
cowed voice, you know too much. Wen,
then. she was taken that you might fol-
low her to ,Zululand to ask her life, ana
you see that the plan was good. for yoh
came, and he added. recovering some
of his insolence and familiarity: I'VE are
here together, two white people among
all these silly niggers."
Rachel looked him up and down; then
she looked at the indunas seated In 81
lence before her. at the great-limbed
ca plains with their broad spears beyond,
reminding her in their plumes and atti-
tudes of some picture that she had seen Of
Roman gladiators about to die. Lastly
she looked at the delicately shaped Mole
by her side with her sweet. inscrutabie
face, the woman whose parents and kin
this outcast had brought to a bloody
death, the woman whom to forward his
base ends he had vilely striven to muir
der Slowly she looked at them all and at
him. and said:
Shall I explain to these mobiles and
captains what you call them. and what
you are called among your own people?
Shall I tell them something of your story,
Mr.. Ishmael?
You can do what YOU like he answer
ed sulleny. You know why | got YOU
here-because / love YOU: ] told you that
many months ago. While you were down
at Ramah | had no chance with you, be
cause that old hypocrite of father of
yours. and this black girl. and he looked
at Mole NiciouSly. Here / thought that
il would be different-that YOU would be
glad of my company, but you have turned
yourself into a kind of goddess and hold
me off and he paused.
Go on" said Rachel.
CTo be continued tomorrow