The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-26
(Continued.l

T do not know, but it has, it has!
 1T were but to cast a stone at it, l should be dead in a day, and so would you-yes even you-nothing could save ycu Oh!' she went earnestly,
 swear to me, Sister, that you will never so much touch that tree; I pray you, swear"
 So Rachel swore, to please her. for she was tired of this tree and its powers.
 Then they went down the hill again, tlil they came to the mouth of the cave.
 Enter Lady Nya said, flor this must be thy home a while until thou goest hence to rule as Mother of the Trees after me. or, if it pleases thee
 better, up wonder to die."
 They went into the cave. having no choice. It was a great place lit dimly by the outer light, and farther down It's length with lamps Looking round her, Rachel saw that it's roof was sup ported by white columns which she knew to be stalactites, for as a child she had seen their like. At the end or 1t where the lamps burned and a fountain bubbled from the ground, rose a very large column shaped like the trunk of a tree. with branches at the top that looked like the bouRhs of why these dwarfs. or some ancient people before them. hmo chosen this cave as their temple.
 The ghost Tree of my race.' said oio 1Nyd, p0ahtl0g 10 tne only tree that never falls. the Tree that lives and grows for ever. Yes, it grows, for 1t is larger now than when my mother was a child"
 and ghostIy looking object Rachel saw piled around and beyond it many precious things. There was gold in dust and heaps. and rings and mug gets; there were shining stones red and green and white. that she knew were jewels; there were tusks of ivory and carvings in ivory; there were karosses and furs mouldering to de- cay; there were grotesque gods, fetish es of wood and stone.
 Offerings" said Nya. (which all the nations that live in darkness bring to the Mother of the Trees. and the priests of the Cave. Costly things which they value. but we value them not, who prize power and wisdom only. | Yes, yes, costly things which they give to the Mother of the Trees, the fools | without a spirit when they come here | to ask her oracle. Look. there are some of the xifts which were sent by | Dingaan Of the zulus in payment for | the oracle of his death. Thou brought | est them, Noie. my child.'
 Yes" answered Noie, "I brought | them. and the Inkosazana here, she delivered the oracle. Eddo gave her the bowl. and she saw pictures in the | bowl and showed them to Dingaan."
 Nay, nay" said the old woman testify. 'ft was I who saw the pictures. | and I showed them to Eddo and to this | white virgin. You cannot understand, | but it was so, it was so. Eddo'S gift of vision is small. mine is great. None l have ever had it as I have it, and | that is why Eddo and the others have suffered my tree to live so long, be- cause the light of my wisdom has shone about their heads and spoken through their tongues, and when I am gone they will seek and find it not. In thee they might have found it, Maiden, had thy heart remained empty, but now it is full again and what room is there for wisdom such as ours?-the of the ghosts. not the wisdom of life and love and beating hearts"
 Noie translated the words. but Ra- chel seemed to take no heed of them.
 "DingaaAT' she asked. 'Is Dingaan dead? He was well enough when when Richard came to Zululand. and since then I have seen nothing of him.
 '.He did not die. Zoola," answered Noie. though I think that ere long he will die, for you told him so. It was you who died for a while; not Din, gaan. By-and-bye you shall learn all that story. Now you are very weary and, must rest"
 "Yes," said Rachel with sob, T think I died when Richard died, but now seem to have come to life again that is the worst of it. Oh! Noie, Noie, why did you not let me rema n dead, instead of bringing me to life again In thlS QfSaQ1ul place!
 Because it was otherwise fated, Sister, replied Noie. 'tNo, do not be- gin to laugh and cry, it was other wise fated,'' and bending down she something into Nya's ear.
 The old dwarf nodded then taking Rachel by the hand, led her to where some skins were spread upon the floor
 Lie down." she said. ''and rest. Rest, beautiful White One, and wake ID to eat and be strong again. and nc ir1f Ranha1'S e E,d6O mad done when the fits of wild laugh -er were on her. singing something as she gazed.
 While she sang the madness that was gathering there again went out of RachePs eyes, the lids closed over hem. and presently they were fast shut in sleep. nor did she open them gain for many hours.
 Rachel awoke and sat up looking 'ound her wonderingly. Then by the linn light of the lamps she saw Nofe seated at her side, and the old dwarf who was called Mother of the them both-and remembered.
 '"Thou hast had happy dreams, Lady, md thou art well again. is it not sop Iueried Nya.
 "Aye, Mother" she answered t'too happy. for they make my waking the nore sad. And am we'll, I who de- ire to die''
 "Then go up through the open gate which thou sawest not so long ago, , md satisfy thy desire, as it is easy to lo," replied Nya. grimly. Nay" she ldded in a changed voice, Ego not up, hou art too young and fair, the blooi -uns too red in those blue veins of . hine. What hast thou to do with | ghosts and death, and the darkness of , he trees, thou child of the air and { sunshine? Death for the dwarf-folk, | ieath for the dealers in dreams, death
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