The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-08-14
CHAPTER XVIII (Continued) .

- HIS put an entirely new com
plexiOn upon the affair, and
began 10 regard the occupant Of
the black throne with an appre-
hensiou that I had not felt before.
could have wished our fate 10 lie in
anybody-s hands but his I quite agreed
" IN Jack on that point
wondered why Ala had not con-
suited this authority earlier il she did
not feel free 10 make her own choice
and act her own viii. Now that we
through Edmund. were so deeply in
VOWED. the consequences could not but
0e very serious # another adverse in
flueuce besides that Of Iugra was i'd
r~oted against us
But / suppose the EirI queen had
Simply followed the dictates Of her
heart al GrSr- and then events had so
crowded upon one another that there
was no opportunity TO take counsel
We were not compelled 70 wait long
TO discover the trend Of the oracle The
beaked face and the ietty eys were
turned upon Us again. and without
warning the gigantic form rose 10 its
fun height One arm was thrown out
toward us In a gesture Of TepuiSiou-
while the eyes hlazed from the out
thrust coIorless Countenance so feTceIy
that, in spite Of all MY efforts at self
command ] absolutely quailed before
them
Henry starred back and -vouId have
fed 1DcoUtfneut4E IF Edmund had not
seized my arm and detained him. Juha
alone % my surprise remained totally
uumoved. Either he did not under
stand or else be had aEeTInz con
fdence in us. and so feared nothing
Ala for a moment was oveTW helmed
with seeming disappointment and sor-
row Then she slowly raised her head,
her cheeks Redeemed her ewes Shone
with a determined look, and. meeting
the glance Of the great priest unfiiuch-
nslE- she laid her hand on Edmund S
shoulder 7 saw a mingled look Of
pride love and defiance pass over Ed
mund' 8 features Snd then ne faced the
new enemy be had found with a firm
glance
Vow we are in for it, whispered
Jack III Edmund pulls Us out Of this,
III swear By him forever
But the immediate consequences were
not so SeTiouS-at least in appearance
a. our foes had anticipated.
The priest trCm his towering eleva-
ton glanced ScornfuIIy AT Ala and
then In low HOMOGENEOUS tone. began
q kind Of chant only Ala Of course.
understood him. but a. she listened an
expression Of growing horror came over
hHT fare The scene lasted oniv two or
three minutes When the chant was fin
1~hed the oracuIar speaker slowly sank
hack uuou his throne and turned away
bis face which had become once more
as Impressive a. marble
Ala could hardly remain upright. she
leaned on Edmund-s arm, and, as /
tIUuEhI. SOh1-Ed-
Suddenly she stTai-hteuyd- The queen
y lock and manner returned Her
whole bearing and expression denoted
Resistance and resolution Turning her
back upon the black throne. without
another glance at its occupant. f+It with
2 look al E-duund-in which her in
most soul ShCne forth IN q way that
there vas no mista kinE-sIe led Us from
the chamber.
When we were alone afterward IN an
apartment IN the palace Edmund told
us the meaning Of what had occurred
That the decision was adverse he
SAID IT need not tel YOU. We have
got the religious head Of the planet
against us now But his closing speech.
which Ala has explained To me as best
she can waS a queer medley sort Of
prophetic vision fl would seeu-wFich
greatly affects Ala though for my part
I Cnl- laugh ar it,
"But what was it7-- urged Jack
Oh said Edmund. only 4 crazy
A5cIler ShiDron tumble of nonsense. lie
f0lEe5 about q grand confa era ton and