Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-16

words not my words. And tnou mast
done this thing 0 Bastard.
Perhaps" answered Mole, unconcern-
eddy.
Thou thinkest." went on Eddo, in his
fury beating the bOle on which he sat.
thou thinkest to protect that old bag.
IVA because her blood runs in thee. But.
fool IL is in vain. for her tree is down.
her tree is down. and as Its leaves withcr.
and Its sap dries up. so must she WIther
and her blood dry up until she dies. she
who thought to live on for many years.
What does that matter?' asked Noic,
seeing that then she will only join the
great company of the ghosts with whom
She longs To be- and return with them
10 torment thee, Eddo, until thou. too,
art one Of them, and lookcst on the face
Of Judgment
Chou thinkest." screamed the dwarf.
ignoring this omnous suggestion; thou
thinkest when She is gone. TO be queen
in her place, or to rule as high priestess
through this white one
.If I do. that viii Re bad hour for
thee. Eddo'' replied Mole.
1T shall not be, woman. No bastard
shall reign here as mother of the trees
while the ma tons round cringe before
her feet I have spells; I have poisons;
have slaves who can shoot with ar
rows"
"Then use them II thou canst. thou
evil-doer" said Mole. contemptuously.
AYE. | will use them all, and not on
thee only. but OF that white witch whom
thou lowest. She SHAH never pass
by the desert and the forest She shall
choose me to reign through her as her
high priest, or she shall dle-dle mlser-
ably. For little while that old hag,
IVA may protect her with her wisdom.
but when she passes as she must. and
quickly. for ] will light fires beneath this
fallen tree of hers. then l tell thee the
beautiful one shall choose between my
rule and DOOM.
Now Noia would hear no more
Dog" she cried. filthy nSnt-brd.
darest thou speak thus of the lnkoSaZstna
Another word and l will offer that heart
OF thine to the sun thou --latest, and
snatching the spear from Rachers hand.
she charged at him. holding 1t aloft.
Eddo saw her come. Win scream
Of fear lie leaped to his feet and ran
swiftly along the bole till he reached tho
mass of the fallen branches. Into these
he sprang, swinging himself from hough
to bouGh like an ape until he vanished
among the dark green foliage Then,
having quite lost sight of him. Mole re
turned. laughing. TO Rachel, by whom
stood the old mother Of the trees. who
had slid from her arms. and gave her
back the spear, saying i'll the dwarf IAN
guage:
This Eddo speaks great words, but
he is also great coward
Yes yes" answered the old woman,
The is q great coward, because like all
our folk he fears the Red Death. but,
Il
me because / rule through the white art.
not the black. but while my tree stood he
must obey me, and / was safe Now II Is
down, and he may kill me II he can, &C
cording to the custom OF my land, and set
up another to be queen. she at whose feet
my tree bowed itself and fell by the Will
of the Heavens. and whom, therefore. the
people will accept. Through her he VIII
WELD all the power OF the ghost kihss'
over whom no man may rule. but wom-
an only. Come, child. and thou. white
one, come also. l know where We may
hide. Lady, the power that was mine IS
thine; protect me till ! die. and IN pay
ment | will give thee whatever thy heart
Desires
Il ask no payment" Rachel answered
YEARLY, when she understood the words.
land l think that it is | who need pro
lection from that wicked dwarf.
Then guided by Nya who chung to Ra-
chefs hand. they walked down the bo.e
Of the tree and along a great branch. III
at length they reached a place whence
they could climb to the ground. Before
they were clear of the boughs the de-
throned mother. from whose round eyes
the tears fell. turned and kissed the bark
of one of them, wailing aloud.
Farewell. thou mighty one, under
whose shade l. and the queens OF my
race before me; have dreamed for centu-
res. Thou art fallen beneath the stroke
of heaven. and great was thy 1ali. ana
] am fallen with thee. save me from
in the land Of ghosts still may sleep be-
meath thy shade forever.
Then she ran to the very point OF the
tree and broke off its topmost tWig, when
was covered with narrow and SHINING
green leaves. and holding II in her hand,
returned TO Rachel.
II will plant H." she said. and per-
chance it will grow To be the house OF
queens unborn. Come now, come. ana
She turned her face toward the forest.
Tie thunder had rolled away, and from
time To time the sun shone fiercely. 50
fiercely that, unable 10 bear its rays, al
the dwarfs who We're gathered about the
fallen tree had reiterated into the shadow
Of the other trees around the open space
There they stood and sat watching the
three Of them 90 by. Men, women and
children. they all watched and Rachel
! they Saluted with their raised hands, but
10 her who had been their mother for un-
known years. they did no reverence. Only
I one hiGeOuS little man ran up 10 her ana
called out.
Thou didst punish me once. old wom-
an. now why should | not kill thee III
payment Thy tree is down at last
Nya looked at hun sadly. and answered.
II remember. Thou shouldst have died,
for tie sin was great. but | laid a lesser
burden on ttlee. Man. thou canst not
Kill me yet. my tree Is down but IL IS not
dead.
She held mp the green bough in her hand
and looked at him from beneath 1t, then
Went on slowly. Man, my wisdom re-
mains with me. and tell thee that be
fore | die thou shalt die. and not as thou
deSrest. Remember my words, people Of
tile ghosts.
TIen she walked On with the others,
leaving the dwarf staring after her with