The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-16

| him. Then he took off his hat with his | shaking hand. and bowed to Rachel l Rachel" he said. T have kept my promise. and left you alone for three | days but time is up and now this gen | tleman and have come to hear your decision, which is so important to both | What am to decide?'' she asked in
 a low voice. looking straight before
 her.
 Have you forgotten? Your memory | must be very bad We'll. it is best to l have no mistake. and no doubt our l friend here would like to know exactly l how things stand. You have to decide | wether you will take me as your hus- band to-day of your own free will or ' whether MT. Richard Darrien shall suffer the punishment of death for | having tried to kill his sentry and escape. a crime of which he has been
 guilty. and afterwards I should take you as my wife with. or without. your consent When Richard heard these words the
 veins in his forehead swelled with rage and horror till it seemed as though they would burst.
 You unutterable villain,'' he gasp ed, you cowardly hound! Oh! if only my hands were free.''
 well, they ain't, MT. Dariren, and it's no use your tugging at that buff falo hide, so hold your tongue, and let
 us hear the lady's answer" sneered Ishmael.
 Richard, Richard" said Rachel in a kind of vail, ''you have heard. It
 is matter of your life. What am to do?'' .-.s ,--.-
 "De?" he answered, in loud, firm a question? The matter is not one of my life, but of your-of your-ohi I cannot say it. Let this foul beast kill me, of course, and then. if you care enough, follow the same road. A few years sooner or later make little diff ference, and so we shall soon be to- gether again."
 She thought a moment, then said quietly
 "Yes. I care enough, and a hundred times more than that. Yes. that is the only way out. Listen, you Ish- mael:-Richard Darrien, the man to you this answer. Murder him if you will, bring Gods everlasting vengeance on your head. He will not buy his life on such terms, be false to him. Murder him as you murdered my father and mother. and when know that he is dead I will go to join him and them"
 "All right, Rachel said 1shmael. whose face was white with fury, ''I think I will take you at your word. and you can go to look for him down be- low, if you like, for if I am not to get your prayers, MT. Darrien," and step ping forward slowly he cooked the double-barrelled gun.
 Men of Mafooti,'' exclaimed Rachel in Zulu, 'Ibubesi is about to do mur- der on one who like myself is under the mantle of Dingaan. If his blood should flow to-day or to-morrow,yours shall flow in payment, yours, and that of your wives and children, for the crime of the chief is the crime of the people, st
 At her words the four natives who had been watching this scene uneaSily, although they could not understand the English talk, called out to Ishmae1 in remonstrance. His only answer was to lite the gun. and for an instant that seemed infinite Rachel waited to 1 hear its explosion, and see the grey 1 eyed, open-faced man she loved, who | stood there like a rock, fall a shattered corpse Then one of the Kafhrs, bOlder than rest. struck up the barrels with | hit arm and not too soon. for whether | or no her had meant to pull the trig- l ger the rifle went off.
 "Try the other barrel" said Rachel l as the smoke cleared | away, "that shot was too high"
 (To be Continued.l