Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-20
THE LADY OF THE HEAVENS
By H. RIDER HAGGARD.
stsu Copyright BY Ride Hagsard)

Copyright. 1893. BY d. Rider Hsgsard.)

fame to the ground I think that you
slept and dreamed a moment. that Is all?"
"Mayhap, mother" replied Rachel, but
II SO mine was most wondrous dream
such as has never visited me before, and
as / pray never may again. For | was
borne beyond the stars into the glorious
cities of the dead, and l saw all the dead.
and those that l had known In life were
brought to me by shapes and powers
whereof / could only see the eyes
And didst thou find him whom thou
souShtest most of ALP
Nay" she answered. him alone Il did
not find. ] sought him, i prayed the
guardians of the dead to show him to me.
and they called up all the dead. and
scanned them every one, and they sum-
moned him by his name, but he was not
of their number, and he came not. Only
they spoke in my heart. bidding me to
look for him in some other world.
All" exclaimed Nya, starting little,
they said that to thee. did they? Well.
worlds are many. and such a search
would be long" Then. as though to turn
the subject, she added. And what sawest
thou, Noie?
II. mother l went not beyond the
stars. / climbed down endless ladders into
the center of the earth. my feet are still
sore with them. ! reached vast caves full
of blackness that shone, and there many
dead folk We're walking, going nowhere.
and coming back from nowhere. They
seemed strengthless. but not unhappy. and
they looked at me and asked me t1d1ngs
Of the upper world. but l could not an
swer them. for whenever i opened my lips
to speak a cold hand was laid upon my
mouth. ] wandered among tnem for
many moons only there was no moon.
nothing but the blackness that shone like
polished coal, wandered from cave to
cave At length I came to q cave i'll
which sat my father, Seyap and near to
him my mother, and my other mothers.
his wives. and my brothers and sisters. al
of whom the Zulus killed. as the WHO
beast, Ibubesi, told them to do"
Il saw Ibubesi, and he prayed me TOT
my pardon. and l granted it to him.
broke in Rachel.
Il did not see him." went on Mole
ferceIy NOR would / have pardoned him
If / had. Nor do ! think that my father
and his family pardon him; I think that
they wait to bear testimony against MIN
before the Lord of the dead"
Did Seyapi tell you SOP" asked Rachel.
Nay. he sat there beneath black tree
whereof l could not see the top. and
gazed into a bowl of black water, and
in that bowl he showed me many pic
lures Of things that have been and things
that are To come, but they are secret; l
may say nothing of them
And what the end of 1t, my
niece" asked Nya, bending forward
eagerly
black tree. which shaped like the
tree of our tribe above US took fire and
went up in a fierce flame. Then the
roofs of the caves fell in and all the peo-
pie of the dwarfs flew through the roofs.
singing and rejoicing, into a place Of
light: only she added slowly. lit seemed
10 me THAT | left alone amidst the
ruins of the caves, l and the white ghost
of the tree Then voice cried to me to
make my heart bold. to bear all things
with patience. since to those who dare
much for loves sake much will be for
given. So / woke but what those words
mean | cannot guess. seeing that l love
no man. and never shall. and she rested
her chin upon her hand and sat there
musinE
No" replied Nya. thou lowest no man
and therefore the riddle is hard" but as
she spoke her eyes fell upon Rachel.
Mother" said Rachel presently. my
heart is the hunGrier for all that it has
fed upon. Can thy magic send me back
TO that country of the dead that ] may
search for him again? If SO, for his
sake i will dare the journey.
Not So. answered Nya. shaking her
head: 1t is road that very few have
Travelled. and none may travel twice and
live
Now Rachel began to weep.
Weep not. maiden. there are other
roads. and per"hance tomorrow thou shalt
walk them. Now. Ii, down and sleep
both Of you. and fear 10 dreams.
So they laid themselves down and slept.