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


eoSSeeeSSSeSSet6S6l61t6ltlattttAiSStlSS SS 1 of them remained seated, and did not | salute. still she stayed motionless | utter1ng no word for long while, six | Ience fought against theirs, and she
 knew that the one who spoke first would own to inferiority.
 At length, in answering salutation l she lifted the little wand of white horn | that she carried and turned slowly as though to leave the place, so that now the moonlight glistened on her lovely halr. Then, fearing perhaps lest she should depart or vanish away, the man seated in the centre said in a low, half awed voice:
 'I am Dingaan, King of the Anna zulu. Say, White One, who art thou?' By what name am known here, 0
 Dingaan the Kfng?" she replied. an swering the question with a, question. By a high name, White One, a name
 that is seldom spoken, the name of
 kubulwana, the Spirit of our people.
 How earnest thou by that name?" My name is my name,' she said.
 We know, White One; the wind has
 borne all that story through the land. it whispers it from the leaves of the
 forest, and the reeds of the water and
 the grass of the plains. We know that the Heavens gave thee their own
 name, O Child of Heaven, O Holder of the Spirit of Nomkubulwana."
 Thou sayest it, King. l do not say 1t, thou sayest it.
 'I say it, and having seen thee I know that it is true, for thy beauty, White One, is not the beauty of wo- man alone, although still thou beest woman. Now I confirm to thee the words my messengers bore thee in past days Here, with me, thou rihest. word Death and fife are in thy hands; command and they go forth to slay; command, and they return again. Only thou rulest alone with me, and the black folk not the white shall be thy servants
 T hear thee, King. Now, as a first fruit, give to me Noie, daughter of Seyapi, my slave whom the soldiers stole away from Ramah beyond the
 ''She is dead, White One, she is dead for her crimes" answered Dingaan looking at her.
 Now Fachels heart sank in her, for it might well be that a trick had been played on her, and that this was true. Or perhaps this tale of Noie's death was but a trap to test her powers, moreover it was not likely that the should live. would dare to break his word to one whom he believed or half believed to be a spirit.
 For a moment she thought, then af- ter her nature determined to be bold and hazard all upon a throw. There fore she did not argue or reproach, but said:
 "She is not dead. have questioned every spear in Zululand, and none of them is red with her blood"
 "Tcou art right he answered, ''the spears are clean. She died in the river"
 Now Rachel was sure. and answer ed in her clear voice:
 'I have questioned the waters, and I have questioned the crocodiles, and they answer that Noie has passed them safely"
 ''Thou art right, White One She died by a rope in wonder huts."
 Now Rachel looked at the huts and cried:
 ''Noie, hear thee, see thee, smell thee out. Come forth, Noie.''
 The King and his councillors stared at her, whispering to one another, and before ever they had done their whis- perings out from among the gloom of the hnts crept Noie
 To Rachel she crept, taking no heed even of the King, and crouching down in the faint shadow of her that the threw, she flung her arms about her knees and pressed her fore head on her feet. Now Rachel's heart bounded with joy at the sight of her, and she 1onged to bend down and kiss her, but did not, lest her great dignity should be 1essened in the eyes of the King, only she said:
 "I greet you, Nofe, be seated in my shadow where you are safe, and tell me, have these men dealt well by you2'
 Not so i'll. Inkosazana, that is since T. reached the Great Kraal. But one of them, he who sits yopder,' and she pointed to a certain induna, struck me on the journey, and took away my food"
 Now Rachel looked at the man an- her hand, where on this induna shfv- cred with terror, fearing lest she should point it at him. Rising he came to Rachel and flung himself
 What have you to say." asked Ra- chel. you who have dared to strike my servant?"
 'Inkosazana," he mumbled, "the maid was obstinate. and tried to run away and our orders were to bring her to the King. Spare my life. pray thee"
 King" said Rachel, ''I have power over this man. have I not?'
 'It is so," answered Dingaan. "Kill him if thou wilt"
 Rachel seemed to consider while the poor wretch with chattering teeth inn plored her to forgive. Then she turn ed to Noie, saying:
 "He struck you. not me. I give him to you to do by as you will. Shall he sleep tonight with the living or the dead?"
 Noie looked at him. and next at a mark on her arm. and the induna, ceasing from his prayers to Rachel cIutched Noie by the ankle. and begged her mercy.
 Your life has been given to you," he said. "give mine to me. lest ill-for- tune follow you.''
 Do you remember" asked Noie con- 'how when you had beat en me, wonder by the Tugela, you said you hoped that it would be your luck to put spear through this heart of mine? And do you remember that I you that the spear would be over your own heart first. and that thereon you called me Daughter of Wizards and struck me again-me, the child of Seyapi, upon whom the mantle | of the Inkosazana lies, me who have drunk of her wisdom and of his. you struck me. you dog" and lifting her |