Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-12-01
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Family Reunion.
"WO ducc lnfpr tIo fl,roo ,

from the trees on the edge OF the
plain, across which they could
see the smoke rising from the bunga-
low and the cookhouse chimneys. Tar
zan of the Apes had rcgaincd his civ
tlizcd clothing from the tree where he
had hidden 1t, ana rs korak refused
to enter the presence of his mother In
tho savage half raincnt that he had
worn so long and rs Mcricm would not
leave him for fear. as she explained,
that he would change his mind and
run Off into the jungle again. the fa.
Their went on ahead to the bungalow
for horses and clothes.
My Dear met him ut the gate, her
eyes filed with questioning and sor-
row, for she saw that Mcriem was not
with him.
"Whcrc is she?" she asked, her voice
trembling. "Muviri told me that she
disoheyed your instructions and ran
Off into the Jungle after you had left
them. Oh, John. | cannot bear to lose
her too! And Lady GrcystOkc broke
down and wept rs she pillowcd her
head upon the broad breast where so
often before she had found comfort In
the great tragedies OF her life.
Lord Grcystoke raised her head and
looked down into her eyes. his own
smiling and filled with the light of hap.
ptness. ,# @ ss tz
"What isNG, John y she cried. "You
have good news. DO not keep me
waiting for It..
II want to be quite sure that you
can stand hearing the best news TINT
ever came to either OF u.s." he said.
"Joy never k,lls!" she cried. "You
have found.-her?" She could not
bring herself to hope for the tmpossi-
bic.
eyes, Jane" he said. and his voice
was husky with emotion. 81 have
found her nnd-himr'
"Where is he? Where are they"
she demanded
"Out there Mt the edge of the Jungle
He wouldn't come to YOU In his savage
leopard skin and his nnkedness. He
sent me to fetch him civilized cloth.
ing"
She clapped her hands In ecstasy and
turned to run toward the bungalow.
"Waitr' she cried over her shoulder.
Il have all his little suits. have
saved them all ! will bring one to
you"
Tarzan laughed and called to her to
stop.
"The only clothing on the place that
will fit him." he said, sis mine-if 1t
isn't too small for him. Your little boy
has grown, Jane"
She laughed. too; she felt like laugh
Ing at everything or Mt nothing. The
world was all love and happiness and
Joy once more. the world that had been
shrouded In the gloom Of her great sor-
row for so many years. So great was
her JOY that for the moment she forgot
The sad message that awaited Meriem.
She called to TarZan after he had
:ldden away to prepare her for it, but
he did not hear and rode on without
knowing Of it himself.
And so, an hour later, Korak the
Killer rode homo to his mother. the
mother whose image had never faded
In his boyish heart. and found in her
arms and her eyes the love and forgive
ness that lie pleaded for.
And then the mother turned toward
Meriem, an expression of sadness eras.
Ing the happiness from her eyes.
my little girl" she said, Sin the
midst OF our happiness a great sorrow
awaits you--Mr. Baynes did not sur
vive his wounds"
The expression of sorrow in Meriems
eyes expressed only what she sincere
ly felt, but 1t was not the sorrow OF
woman bercft Of her best beloved.
II am sorry" she said quite simply.
"But 1t was not love. did not know
what love was until knew that Korak
lived" and she turned toward the
Killer with smile.
Lady Grcystoke looked quickly up
into the eyes of her son. the son who
one day would be Lord Greystoke. No
thought Of the difference In the sta
lions OF the girl and her boy entered
her mind. To her Mcricm was ut for
king. She only wanted to know that
Jack loved the little Arab waif.
The look in his eyes answered the
question in her heart, and she threw
her arms about them both and kissed
them each dozen times.
"Now," she cried, IT shall really
have a daughter!"
1t was several weary marches to the
nearest mission. but they waited at
the farm only n few days for rest and
preparation for the great event before
setting out upon the journey, and n ftcr
the marriage ceremony had been per-
formed the;' kept on to the coast to