The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-16
:. THE LADY OF THE HEAVENS.
Copyright, 1908. by H. Rider Hagsard

(Continued.l

(Continued.l
 again. At nightfall, when she return ed she told Rachel that she had not found it possible to approach the huts where Dario was, as the hole she made in the fence to speak with him had been discoyered, and a strcter watch was kept over him. Ibubesi she said
 was in an i'll hun1or. and working fur iousiy to finish his Notifications, as he l watched, either by the Kaffirs of Ra- ham, or others. As for the people of Mafooti, they were grumbfing very | much, both on account of the heavy labor of working at the walls, and be-
 cause they were in terror of being at tackled and killed in payment for the evil deeds of their chief. Mani de- clared, indeed, that so great was their fear and diScontent, that she thought they would desert the town in a body, were it not that they dreaded lest they should fall into the hands of the Kaf- frs who were watching it. Rachel asked her whether they would not then take her and Dario and deliver them up to the Zulus, or to the white people on the coast. Mani answered she thought they would be afraid to do
 this, as Ibubesi alone had guns. and would shoot plenty of them; also if the Zulus found them with their Inkosa- zana they would kill them. She added that she had seen Dbubesi, who bade her tell the Inkosazana, that he was coming for her answer on the morrow. Rachel slept ill that night. The space of her reprieve had gone by, and
 next morning she must face the issue.
 For herself she did not so greatly care.
 for at the worst she had a refuge
 whither Ishmael could not follow her
 the grave. After all she had endured
 it seemed to her that this must be a
 peaceful place; moreover, in her case
 what Power could blame her? But
 here was Richard to be thought of. If
 she refused Ishmael he sworS that he
 would lull Richard. And yet how
 could sine pay that price even to save
 her lovers life? Perhaps he would not
 kill him after all; perhaps he would be
 afraid of the vengeance of the ZuluS,
 and was only trying to frighten her.
 An! if only the Zulus would come-be-
 fore it was too late! It was scarcely
 to be hoped for. Tamboosa, if it were
 he who had spoken with the lad, would
 not have had time to return to Zulu
 land and collect an impi, and when
 they did come, the deed might be done.
 If only these servants of IbubeSi would
 rise against him and kill him, or carry
 off Richard and herself! Alas! they feared the man too much, and she
 could not get at them to persuade
 them- There was nothing that she could do except pray. Richard and she must take their chance. Things must go as they were decreed.
 If she could have seen Ishmael at this hour and read his thoughts, that sight and knowledge might have brought some comfort to her tortured heart. The man was seated in his
 hut alone, staring at the floor and pull ing his long black beard with hands rough from toiling at the walls. He was drinking also, stiff tots of rum and water, but the fiery liquor seemed to bring him no comfort. As he drank he thought. He was determined to get possession of Rachel; that desire had become a madness with him. He could never abandon it while he lived. sworn that she would rather die than became his wife, and she was not a woman who broke her word. Also she hated him bitterly, and with good cause. There was only one way to work on her-through her love for this man, Richard Darrien; for that she did love him. he had little doubt. If it were choice between yielding and the might give way. But there came the rub
 Dingaan had sworn to him that if he made Darrien's blood to flow. then he't should be killed, and, like Rachel Din gaan kept his oaths. Moreover. that Zulu who met the cattle herd had sworn it again in almost the same words. Therefore it would seem that if he wished to continue to breathe, Darrien's hlood must not be made to flow. All the rest might be explain ed when the impi came, as it would do sooner or later, especially if he could show to them that the Inkosa0ana was his willing wife. but the Murder of Darrien could never be explained. We'll, the man might die, or seem to die, and then who could hold him responsible? Or if they did. if any of his people re- mained faithful to him, an attack might be beaten off. Brave as they | were. the Zulus could not storm those walls on which he had spent so much though now he almost wished that he had left the walls alone and settled the affair of Rachel and of Darrien first.
 Ishmael poured out more rum and drank it, neat this time. as though to nerve himself for some undertaking. i Then he went to the door of the hut and called, whereon presently a hid | eouS old woman crept in and squatted down in the circle of light thrown by | the lamp. She was wrinkled and de and her snake-skin moocha, | with the inflated fish-bladder in her | hair showed that she was witch | doctress.
 Well. mother" he said. "haye you
 "Yes, Ibubesi, yes. I have made it | as aICne can do. Oh! it is a won | derful drug, worth many cows. How | many did you say you would give me? Six?"
 NO, three, but if it does what is | wanted you shall have the other three as we'll. Tell me again, how does it i work?"
 Thus, Dbubesi. Whoever drinks this medicine becomes like one dead-none can tell the difference, no. not a doctor even-and remains so for a long while perhaps one day, perhaps two, per baps even three Then life returns, and by degrees strength. but not mem ory; for whole moons the memory is gone, and he who has drunk remains
 like a. child that has everything to
 earn." &
 such g medicine
 You never heard of it because none can make it save me, and l had its secret from my grandmother; also few can afford to pay me for it. Still. it aas been used, and were I not afraid could give you cases. Stay, I will show you. Call that beast" and she pointed to a dog that was asleep at the side of the hut. Here is milk; l will show D