Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-24


thought would best be dealt with BY
doctor-about Africa and the rest, mean"
YES. Lady jRagnall. though. of course.
we should always remember that coin
cidence accounts for many things. In any
case, they are done with now"
mot quite, Mr.. Quatermain, even as you
mean, since we have still n long way to
go. Also in another sense I believe that
they are but begun"
II do not understand, Lady Ragnall."
Nor do I, but listen. You know that
OF anything which happened during those
months / have no memory at all, except
OF that one dream when I seemed TO see
George and Savage In the hut. I remem-
Der my baby being killed by that horrible
circus elephant just az the Ivory Child
was killed or rather destroyed by Jana,
which I suppose is another Of your COIN
cidences, Mr.. Quatermain. After that I
remember nothing until / woke up and
saw George standing In front Of me COW
cred with blood, and you, and Jana dead
and the rest"
Because during that time your mind
was gone, Lady Ragnall"
"Yes. but where had Il gone? tell YOU
Mr.. Quatermain, that although I remember
nothing of what was passing about me
then, I do remember a great deal of what
seemed to be passing either long ago or
in some time TO come, though I have said
not either. II might upset him"
what do you remember" / asked
That's the trouble: j can't tell YOU.
What was once very clear to me has for
the most part become vague and form
less. When my mind tries to grasp it, IL
slips away. 1t was another life to this
quite a different life; and there was a
great story in it of which | think what we
have been going through is either a sequel
or prologue. see, or saw. cities and
temples with people moving about them,
George and you among them. also that old
priest Harut. You will laugh, but my
recollection is that you stood in some re-
lationshp to me, either that of father
or brother"
"Or perhaps cousin" I suggested.
or perhaps cousin" she repeated.
smiling. "or a great friend at any rate
something very intimate. As for George,
| don't know what he was. or Harut either.
But the odd thing is that little yellow man,
Hans, whom / only saw once living for
few minutes that / can remember, comes
more clearly back to my mind than any of
you.
He was dwarf, much stouter than
when | saw him the other day. but very
like. / recall him curiously dressed with
feathers and holding an ivory rod, seated
upon stool at the feet of a great per-
sonage-a king I think The king asked
him questions and every one listened to
his answers. That is all, except that the
various scenes seemed to be flooded with
continual sunlight"
(which is more than this place is. I
think we had better be moving, Lady Rag
nall, or YOU will catch chill under these
damp cedars"
! said this because I did not wish to
pursue the conversation. | considered il
too exciting under all her circumstances
especially as | perceived that mystical
look gathering on her face and in her
beautiful eyes, which / remembered noting
before she was married
She read my thoughts at once and an
swered with little laugh:
Yes. it is damp; but you know I am
very strong and damp will not hurt me.
For the rest you need not be afraid Mr..
Quatermain. / did not lose my mind 1t
was taken from me by some power and
sent to live elsewhere. Now it has been
given back and do not think il will be
taken again in that way"
"Of course it won't" I exclaimed con-
fdenty. Whoever dreamed of such a
thng?"
You did" she answered, looking me in
the eyes. Now before we go I want to
say one more thing. Harut and the head
priestess have made me n present They
have given me box of that herb they
called tobacco. but of which I have dis
covered the real name is Taduk 1t is
the same that they burned in the bowl
when you and | saw visions at RagnaIl
Castle. which visions Mr.. Quatermain by
another of your condolences have since
been translated into facts"
81 know. We saw you breathe that
smoke again as priestess when YOU uttered
the prophecy oracle Of the Child at the
Feast Of the First-fruits. But what are
you going TO do with this stuff Lady Rag
nall? l think you have had enough of
visions just at present"
"Sp do /, though to tell you the truth
! like them. l am going to keep it and do
nothlng-as yet. still, | want you always
to remember one thing--don't laugh at
me'-here again she looked me in the
eyes-'that there is a time coming, some
way Off | think, when / and you-no one
else Mr.. Quatermain-will breathe that
smoke again together and see very strange
things"
NO. 81" I replied 'I have given I'D
tobacco Of the Kendall variety; it is TOO
strong for me-"
'Yes, yes ." she said. "for something
that is stronger than the Kendah tobacco
will make you do it-when | wish"
Did Harut tell you that, Lady Ragnall?"
81 don't know" she answered confusedIv
II think the Ivory Child told me 1t used
to talk tn me often. You know that Child
isn't really destroyed. Like my reason
that seemed to be lost. it has only gone
backward or forward where you and |
shall see 1t again. You and | and no
others-unless it be the little yellow man
/ repeat that l do not know when that
viii be. Perhaps it is written in those
rolls OF papyrus which they have given me
also, because they said they belonged to
me who am the first priestess and the |
last They told me- however. or per
haps," she added, passing her hand across |
her forehead. 'it was the Child who told |
me, that | was not to attempt to read |
them' or rather have them read, until after |
a great change in my life What the |
change will be do not know"
CONTINUED MONDAY)