The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-02
THE LADY OF THE HEAVENS.
Copyright, 1908. by H. Rider Haggard
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'tBut what. mother?"


 much oppressed, my heart is heavy in me. hate parting with you, Rachel Remember we have never been sep arated since you were born.''
 Her daughter looked at her, and was filled with grief and compunction.
 Mother" she said, eff you feel like that-well. I love Noie, but after all you are more to me than Noie, and 1f you wish will give up this business and stop with you. It is very terrible, but it can't be helped; Noie will un, derstand, poor thing" and her eyes filled with tears at the thought of the girls dreadful fate.
 No, Rachel, somehow I think it best that you should go. not only for No1e's sake, but for your own. If your father would leave today or to- morrow, as you suggested, 1t might be otherwise, but he won't do that. so it is no use talking of it. Let us hope for the best.''
 "As you wish, mother" Now, dear, kiss me and go. I hear your father calling you; and, Rachel, IT we should not meet again in this world, I know you won't forget me, or that there is another where we shall. did not want to frighten you with my fancies. which come from my not not being % well; Goodbye. my love you happy, always-always." Then Rachel kissed her in silence, for she could not trust herself to speak, and turning, left the room whence her mother watched her go, she was mounted and, accompanied by her father, riding on the road along which Tamboosa had led the white OK.
 on he stopped, and looking at MT. Dove said:
 "Inkosazana, the Kings orders are that none should accompany you into Zululand.''
 ''Be silent" answered Rachel proud ly. "He rides with me as far as the river bank"
 Then they went on, and Rachel was relieved to find that whatever might have been her mothers mood that of her father was fairly cheerful. In- deed, his mind was so occupied with the details and object of her journey that he quite forgot its dangers.
 Two hours steady riding brought them to the ford of the Tugela river, across which lay Zululand. On the hills, beyond it they could see a num- Der of Kaffirs watching, who on catch ing sight of Rachel, ran down to the beating the water with their sticks, as she guessed, to scare away any croco- diles that might be lurking there.
 Now that the moment of separation had come. MT. Dove grew 10th to part with his daughter and again suggest ed to Tamboosa that he should ac- company her to Dingaan's Great Place.
 eff you set 2. foot across that: river. grimly. ''you shall die: look. there are the spears that will kill you.'
 As he spoke he pointed to the crest of the opposing hill over which, rum ming swiftly in ordered companies now appeared a Zulu regiment who carried large white shields and wore white plumes rising from their head rings.
 ''It is the escort of the Inkosazana." he added. Do you think that she can take hurt among so many? And do you think, if you dare to disobey the words of Dingaaf, that you can escape so many? Go back now, lest they should come over and kill you where you are.'
 Then, seeing that both argument and resistance were useless, and that Tamboosa would brook no delay, MT. Dove hurriedly embraced his daughter in farewell. Indeed, Rachel was glad that there was no time for words, for this parting was more terrible to her than she cared to own, and she feared lest she should break down before the Zulu who was watching her, and there by be lowered in his eyes and in those of his people.
 It was over and done. She had ei- tered the water, riding her grey mare while Tamboosa led the white OK at
 
 and saw her father kneeling in pray CT upon the bank.
 "What does the man?'' asked Tam boosa, uneasily. s"Is he bewitching uS?"
 Nay" she answered, "he prays to the Heavens for uS.''
 On they went between the two lines of natives, who ceased their beating of the water, and were silent as she passed. The river was shallow, and they crossed it with ease. By now the regiment was gathered on it's fur ther bank, two thousand men or more, brought hither to do honour to this white girl in whom they choose to con slider that the guardian spirit of their people was incarnate. Contemplating them, Rachel wondered how it came about that they should be thus pre- pared for her advent. The answer rose in her mind. If she had refused to visit Zululand, it was their mission to fetch her. It was wise, therefore, that she had come of her own will.
 Forward she rode. striking figure her bright hair hung sitting very proud and upright on her horse, with out sign of doubt fear. As she the captains of the regi- ment ran forward to meet her with lifted shields and crouching bodies.
 "Hai1!'' cried their leader. 'In the name of the Great Elephant, of Din gaan the King, hail to thee, Princess Of the Heavens, Holder of the Spirit of Nomkubulwana.''
 Rachel rode on. taking no notice, who Nomkubulwana, whose spirit she was supposed to enshrine. might be. Afterwards she discovered that it was only another name for the InkosaZana-y-Zoola, that mysterious white ghost believed by this people to control their destinies. with whom it had pleased them to identify her. As her horse left the wide river and set fOnf d lor1 nf Inc two thousand soldiers, who were watch ing, as it seemed to her, with wonder and awe. began to beat his oxhide shield with the handle of his spear, They beat very softly at first, produc- ing a sound like the distant murnur of the sea, then harder and harder till its volume grew to a mighty roar, to describe. a sound like the sound of thunder that echoed along the water and from hill to hill. The mighty noise sank and died away as it had begun, and for moment there was silence. Then at some signal ev-