The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, November 02, 1887, Image 1
S?MSK WATCHMAN, Kst&bl?sbed Apri?, 1850.
Consolidated Aus. 2, 1881.j
.'Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thon Aims't at. be thy Obantry's. thy God's and Truth's"
THE TKUK SOUTHKON, Established Juoe, lSW
SUMTER, S. C., WEBNESBAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1887,
New Series-Yoi. TIL No. 15,
^nWis?i?d OTsry Wednesday,
ST
Gr. OSTEEN,
SUMTER, S. C.
TERMS:
?wblfto?iars per annum-in advance.
ADYIKTISKMRNTS.
One Square^ first laser lion-.-$1 00
% Bvery saesequ?nj i?^tion. 50
KSsSacts for taree mon tbs, or longer will
be made at reduced rates.
AH communications Vaich subserve private
inter??is "will be charged for as advertisements.
Obituaries aad tributes "of respect will be
charged for.
U4C.ff.iII.il,
STORE,
?"resh, Sweet Goods.
Before buy ir g your Groceries ea?? at ocr
Store and Examine oar Stock and
Price oar Goods. You will find
PRICES TO SUIT THE TIMES.
We don' $ want a fortune, it is only a liv?
ing, therefore we believe in
""Quick Sales andJSmatl Profits."
\a oar Stock one can find everything that is
. "kept in a well assorted
Faney (xrocery Store.
In future there will be
NO USE OR EXCUSE
far one to send to Charleston for anything in
'the Fancy Grocery Line, because they can get
anything that they want or their appetite
craves at our Store, and by buying here one
%??fca?e the satisfaction of knowing .what
they are getting. Not only that, but we can ?
save buyers freight on their goods.
Mr. Frank E. Taylor, of Charleston, says: j
toin Jmp More Monsy in Suiter ^
*tnan it does in Charleston. Kow, why does j
lit bring more ?ere than it does in Charleston ?
The Nett* and Courier correspondent of Sum- j
ter answers that question in bis communica?
tion of the 14th, when he says the farmers sell j
'the cotton to the merchants with the under-;
standing that a part if not the whole value of j
the cotton is to be traded out with the buyer, ?
and if this contract is carried out in good ;
faith, the merchant mest charge an additional ;
?Efc?fit to that which 'he would sell for cash to
?over the probable loss on the "cotton, &c.
Kow we handle no cotton.
We Buy and Sell For Casfe,
we have no cotton losses staring ns in the
face, therefore one need have no fear of our
- - charging an additional profit.
^SieeMffiilitstoAl,
And money refunded if goods do not come up
Ho .recommendation. We allow no misrep?
resentation.
We sell good Coffee at 22?c. -f the best at
25c per pound.
Pure Sugars from 6c. up.
Try our teas at 65c. ; they are as good as
"?fce doIiJar tea.
. We handle ^
-Heavy as well as Fancy Groceries,
AND WE- SELL AT
SOCK BOTTOM PRICES:
In our
BRI <SOOI>S.
fehoe and Eat Stocks,
there will be found many bargains. No
trouble to show goods,
fcents 6n? Eal and Congress ?5f?es at S3 -5C:
worth $2 00 *
Soys Bals, at $1.15, worth fully SI .50
anywhere.
^Women's Shoes from' S;.00 up. You
Ought to see what a stylish shoe we have tor
ladies from No. li to 8, at $155:
Call and see ocr gooes-it will pay _voNj to
do so. We deliver goods tc any part of the
city free, and at once, it necessary.
6.L& C. W. KINSMAN}
?Next to C. E. Stubbs' Office.
Sept 21_.
TAX NOTICE.
tpBB TREASURER OF SUMTER COUNTY
|_ hereby gives notice that bis books will be
open at his Office in the Town cf Sumter from
the FIFTEENTH DAY OF OCTOBER,
to the FIFTEENTH DAY OF DECEMBER,
?$8?, eiceOt on the following named dav*,
wheo he will attend at the places named,
either in person or by deputy for the collec?
tion of Taxes'; for the Fiscal year and
TS87:
/ On Monday, October l?tb, at Shiloh.
On Tuesday, October 18th, at Lynchburg is
Lynchburg Township.
On Wednesday, October 19th, at Reid's Mill.
'On Thursday. October 20th, at Bishopville.
On Friday, October 21st, at Manville.
On Monday, October, 24th, at Providence.
On Tuesday, October 25th, at Mayesviile.
On Wednesday, October 26th, at Cordon's
Mill.
On Friday, October 28tb, at J. M: Tindal s
Store.
On Satcrday, October 29th, al Bloom Hilf.
On Monday, October 31st, at Wedgefield.
On Tuesday, November 1st, at Stateburg.
On Wednesday, November 2d, at Rercbert's
Stof?, in Rafting Creek Township;
On Tbersday, November 3d, at Spring Hil!.
On Friday, Novemoer 4th, at Punch's X
Roads.
P. P. GAILLAR&,
Treasurer Sumter, Co.
Sejtt. l r, 1887._
tammi i ca
Sf A TN STREET, SUMTER, S. C.
Wholesale and Retail
FRUIT AND CONFECTIONERY.
PURE IMPORTED CANDIES:
fciscurrs; CLACKERS, CAKES.
? Fine Variety of Penny Confections.
SEO ARS, CREWING TOBACCO AND
CIGARETTES A SPECIALTY.
tankee Notions of all Kinds.
Tm and Feme?/ Glass Ware.
?B?CEKIES,
Canned Goods etc.
AH Country Orders filled promptly.
TERMS CASH.
R F. I-AROUSSELIERE,
Man:? 2er.
H0?10^* p*"ladelph!a
at tbe .Newspaper Ad ver
t?g?wrAgency of Mesa*
ni our authorized asenta
POWDER
Absolutely Pure.
This powder never varies. A marvel of
parity, strength abd.wholesomeness. More
economical than the ordinary kinds, and can?
not be sold in competition with the multitude
of low test, short weight, alum or phosphate
powders. Sold only in cans. ROYAL BAK?
ING POWDER CO.. 106 Wall-st., N. Y.
iB^^^l ^^^^^^^^^^^^S ^^^^^
HI FEIEND
..MASES ^Igyfiai
W^?i 1P iii
"Should bc used a few montii? before confinement.
-Send for book u To SIOTHEES," mailed in*.
p-R*T>TTET.T> UEG'CIATOR Co., "Atlanta, "G&.
THE SUMTER
FOR BOYS.
Location Healthy and Pleasant.
^5X?gaj^..Course of Instruction Thorough.
i??^5^Good Boarding Accommodations.
<??3^ Terms reasonable.
Pnn??? prepared for College or Business.
FALL SESSION-Sept. 5 to Dec. '?'S, 1387.
SPRING SESSION-Jan.2 to June-, 1883.
Best refeienees g?veD.
For "Circulars or other information, applv
to A. X?. .MCINTOSH, A. M.
Principal.
Lock Box No; 49. ;
X)ct. o. Summer, S C.
TH? B?SH?FVILLE j
BISKOPYILLE, S. C.
A SCHOOL FOR
Toling; Ladies and Genilement
THE COURSE OF STUDY is thorough,
practical and exhaustive. Compl?te in
all departments: Primary, Grammar f.nd
High School, embracing ten grades. It pre?
pares students for College or for business, so?
ciety and life.
In point bf climate, health a^d morality.
Bishcrpviile bas few equals and nb superior in
South Carolina. With the pure air and free?
dom of the country it combines many of the
conveniences of the tow .1.
Board can be secured in the best families of
tue town ?t eigh? dollars per month.
The Trustees have secured the services of
Prof. Nash and Miss Annie Lucas, and nc
pains will be spared to make the school in
every cray worthy of public patronage.
Prof. Nash is a graduate of Davidson Col?
lege, and iias bee:1, engaged for several years
hi teaching.
The F-.'.'.i Session of this School begins Sep?
tember 5, 1887, and continues until December
23. The Spring Session begins January 2,
1883, and continues to June i.
Tuition reasonable. For circulars and in?
formation regarding board, tuition, &c, ad?
dress, inclosing stump,
SHEPARD NASH, Principal,
B?shop#il!e, S. C.
30 A KD OF TRUSTEES.
J. L. PARROTT. PRES ,
\V. J. BARRETT, SEC.,
A. C. DURANT.
W. D. SCARBOROUGH,
Vv\ R. DIXON,
JNO. F. KELLY.
Aug. 17 v
1873.
18S7.
MACON SCHOOL, i
i
ENGLISH, CLASSICAL, MATH EM AT- j
?cal and Commercial, preparing boys
j either for College or Business.
For Circular, address.
W. A. BARRIER, Principal.
F. P. M ATZ. Ph. D., Vic- Rrih.
Sept 14. 4 Charlotte.' X. C.
2MMI) ItCKlii
FOR SALE,
FOR CASH. (JR ON GOOD SECURITIES.
Al! in first-class order.
One Frick & Co , 8 horse power?En
gineand Bo^'er, $250 00
One Steaurs35 horse t:o*er Engine, 400 00
One Lane Saw Mill Cnrriage with set
works, Rack Irons, Cheers and
Rollers Complete, for 200 00 j
One Edging Saw, Mandril and Table
with twenty-five fret of !"V" and
Flat Tr>?ck, twenty-two feet of
Can ?age and two SHWS, for 100 00
The above is at BARGAIN PRICES and
could not be r-placcd new for twice the
amount.
MOSK3 & KARBY.
Sept 21 ^Sumter, S. C.
CASH DEALERS IN
General Merchandise, ?
i
ALSO, AGENTS FOR !
STAMM LIFE ASSOCIATION, !
OF STAUNTON, VA.
LIBERTY STREET,
Oct. 5-r
SUMTER. S. C.
FIRM R?SOLUTION.
No 1 I will never see bim more,
Since thus he likes to roam ;
And when his cab stops at the door,
John, say, "I'm not at home,"
He smiled last night when Julia smiled.
They must'bavemet before;
If thus by her he is beguiled,
I'll never see him more !
Til sing no more the songs be loved,
Nor play the waltzes o'er ;
Nor wear the colors be approved
. .'ll never please bim more ? ^
I'll conquer soon love's foolish flame,
As thousands have before,
Look strange whenever I bear bis name,
And ne'er pronounce -it moi"2.
The plait of hair I must resign,
That next my heart I wore;
He, too, must yield that tress of mine,
He stole wheo truth he swore 1
The miniature I used to trace,
And feel romantic o'er,
I'll tear from its morocco,case,
And never kiss it more'!
This ring-his gift-I must return.
(It makes ray finger sore) ;.
Then there's bis letters, those I'll bum,
And trample on the floor !
His sonnet that ray album graced,
(My tears thus blot it o'er),
The leaves together there I'll paste,
And ne'er behold it more I
I'll waltz and flirt with Ensign G
(Though voted oft a bore) I
In short, Fl! show my heart is free,
And sigh for him no more !
If we should meet, his eye shall shrink,
My scornful glance before;
Ye gods-his knock
Here, John, I think
IT1 see him just once more !
By Ii. RIDEE HAGGAKD.
i 4UTH0R OF "KING SOLOMON'S 3H>*rS." "SHE,"
"JESS," "THE WITCH'S HEAD,,,! ETC.
feONTJLVlJbJ).!
,-_
! CHAPTER-XV.
SORAIS' sosa.
After our escape from Agon aud his pious
crew we returned to our quarters in the pal?
ace ami had a very good time. The two
queens, the nobles and the people vied with
each other in doing us honor and showering
gifts upon us. As for that painful little inci?
dent of the hippopotami it sank into obliv?
ion, where we were quite, co?tent to leavo it.
Every day deputations and individ?ala
waited on us to examine our guns and cloth?
ing, our chain shirts and our instruments, es?
pecially oar watches, with which they wer?
much delighted. In short, wo became quita
the rage, so much so that some of the fash?
ionable young swells ainons: the Zu-Veudi
began to copy the cut of some of our clothes,
notably Sir Henry's shooting jacket. One
day, indeed, a deputation waited on us and,
as usual, Good donned his full dress uniform
for the occasion.. This deputation 'seemed
somehow to be of a different class to those
.who generally came to visit us. They were.
'little, insignificant looking men of au exces?
sively polite, not to say.' servile, demeanor,
and theil- attention appeared to bo chiefly
taken up'with observing the details of Good's
full dress uniform, bf which they took copi?
ous not^s and measurement^. Vood was
much flattered at thc lime, not suspecting
that he had to deal with the six leading tail?
ors of ililosis. A fortnight afterwards, how?
ever, when on attending court as usual he
had the pleasure bf .seeing some seven or eight
Zu-Vendi "mashers" arrayed iii all thc glory
bf a very fair imitation of his full dress Uni?
form, ho changed his mind. I shall never
forget his face bf astonishment and disgust.
It was after this, chiefly in order to avoid re?
mark, and also because our clothes were
wearing ont and had to be saved up, we re?
solved to adopt the nati ve. dress: and a Very
comfortable one wc found it, though I am
bound to say that I looked suflicieutly ludi?
crous in it, and as for Alphonse? Only Um
slcpogaas would have none of these things;
when his moocha was worn put the fierce old
Zulu made him a new one, and went about
unconcerned as grim and naked as his own
battle ax.
Meanwhile wo pursued our study of tho
language steadily mid made very good prog?
ress. Oti the morning following our adven?
ture in the temple three gravo and reverend
Seigniors presented themselves armed with
manuscript books, ink horns and feather pews
and indicated that they had been sent to teach
us, and, with the exception bf TJmslopogaas.
we ail buckled to with a will, doing four
hours a day. As for Umsloj)Ogaas he would
have none of that either. He did not wish to
learn that "woman's talk." not he, and when
one of the teachers advanced on him with a
book and an ink horn and waved them before
him in a mild, persuasive way, much as a
church warden invitingly shakes the offertory
bag under the nose of a rich but niggardly
parishioner, he sprang up with a fierce oath
and flashed Inkosi-kaas before the eyes of our
learned friend, and there was an end of the
attempt to teach him Zu-Vendi.
Thus we spent our mornings in useful occu?
pation, which grew more and more interest?
ing as we proceeded, and the afternoons were
given up to recreation. Sometimes we made
trips, notably ono to tho .gold mines and an?
other to the marble quarries; both of which I
wish I had space and time to describe; and
sometimes we went out hunting buck with
dogs trained for that purpose; and a very ex?
citing sport it is, as the country is fall of
agricultural inclosures; and .our horses were
magnificent. This is not to be wondered at,
seebig that tho royal stables were at our com?
mand, in addition to which wo had four
splendid saddle horses gi ven* to tis by Ny
leptha.
In the evenings it was customary for Sir
Henry, Good and myself to dine, or rather
sup, with their majesties-not every night,
indeed, but about three or four times a week,
whenever they had not much company or tho
affaire of state would allow of ijL And I ara.
bound to say that those little suppers were
quite the most charming things of their sort
that I ever had to do with. How true is the
saying that the very highest in rank are
always tho most simple and kindly. It is
from your half and halt sort of people that
you get pomposity and vulgarity, the differ?
ence between the two being very much what
one sees every day in England between the
old, out at elbows, broken down county fam?
ily and ?ie-overbearing; purse proud people
who come and "take the place." I really
think that Nyleptba's greatest charm is her
sweet simplicity*; and her kindly, genuine in- j
tcrest even in little tilings. She is the sim- I
plest woman I over knew, and where her pas- j
sionsaro not involved one of the sweetest; j
but she can look queenly enough when she
likes and be ns fierce as any savage, too.
For instance, never shall I forget that scene
when I for the fi ist time was sure that she
was really in love with Curt is. It came about
iii this way-all through Gooers weakness for
ladies' society. When we bad been employed
for some three months LU learning Zu-Vendi j
it struck Wester Good that ho was getting j
rather tired c : the old gentlemen who did us ?
the honor to lead us in the way that wo
should go, so he proceeded, without saying a
word to anybody else, to inform them thar it
was a peculiar i'act.but t hat we cou ld not make
any real progress iii thc deeper intricacies c<i 1
a foreign language unless we were taught by '
ladies-young ladies, he was careful to ex- !
plain. In his own country, kc pointed out, it j
was habitual to choose tho:very best looking
and most charming girls who could bo found i
to instruct any strangers who happened to !
come that way, etc.
AU of this the old gentlemen swallowed ?
open mouthed. There was, they admitted, j
reason in what he said, since tho contempla- \
tion of the beautiful, as their philosophy
taught, induced a certain porosity of mind !
similar to that produced upon the physical ;
body by the healthful influences of sun and air; ;
consequent!}* it was probable that wo might :
absorb the Zu-Vendi tongue a little faster if
suitable teachei*s could be found. Another J
thing*, was that as the f emale sex was naturally j
loquacious, good practice would be gained
Ibo viva voce department;'of our studies.
To ali of this Good gravely assented, n
tho learned gentlemen departed,.'assuring h
that their orders were tb fall ia with c
wishes in every way, and that., if possible, c
views should bo met.
Imagine, therefore, the surpris*, and *d
gust of myself, and I trust and believe ?
Henry, when, on entering the room where
were accustomed to cany on our studies, t
following morning, wo found, instead of o
usual venerable tutor?, tbreo of tho best lex
'ing young women whom Milosis could pi
duce-and that is saying n good deal-w
blushed and smiled and courtesied, and ga
us to understand that the}' were'tbero to caj
on our instruction. Then Good, as wo gaz
at one another in bewilderment, thought
t? explain, saying that i t had slipped his moi
ory before-but the old gentle'men had tc
him, on the previous evening, that it was a
?golutely necessary that our further educati
should bo carried on by tho other sex. I w
overwhelmed, and appealed to Sir Henry f
advice in such a crisis.
"Well," he said, "you see tho ladies a
I 'here, ain't they? If we sent them away, doi
you think it might hurt tn?ir.'feelings, e
Ono doesnt like to be rough, you see; ai
they look regular Blues, dont they, eb?"
By this time Good had already begun 1
lessons with tho handsomest'of tho three, ai
so with a sigh I yielded. That day ever
thing went very welt? the young ladies we
certainly Very clever, and they Only smil<
when wc blundered. I never saw Good :
attentive to his books before, and even S
Henry appeared to tackle ?5o-Vendi with
renewed zest "AK," thought 1, "will it c
ways bo thus?"
Next day we were much more lively; oi
work was pleasingly interspersed with que
tions about our nativo country, what the 1;
dies were like there, etc., ali of which we ai
sweredas best we could in Zu-Vendu and
heard Good assuring his teacher that her lo v
liness was to the beauties of Europe as the sn
! to the moon; to which she replied with a litt
toss of the head that she was a plain teachiu
woman and nothing else, and that it was n(
kind "to deceive a poor giri so." /f hen w
had a little singing that was really charmin*
so natural and unaffected. The Zu-Veni
love songs are most touching. On "thc thir
day we were all quite intimate. Good nai
rated some of his previous love affairs to hi
fair teacher, and so moved was sh
that her sighs mingled with his OT? n. I ?ii
coursed with mine, a merry, blue eyed girl
upon Zu-Vend?an art, and never^aw that sh
was waiting for an opportunity to drop ;
specimen of the cockroach tribe down rn;
back, while in the corner Sir Henry and bi
governess appeared, so far as I could judge
to be going through a lesson framed on th
great educational principles laid down b;
Wackford Squeers, Esq., though in a vcr
modiued or rather spiritualized form. Tin
lady softly repeated the Zu-Vend i word fo:
"hand," and he took hers; "eyes," and he gaze<
drep into her brown orbs; "lips," and-bu
just at that moment my young lady droppec
tho cockroach down my back and ran awa]
laughing. Xow, if there is one thing I loatl
moro than another it is cockroaches, am
moved quite beyond myself, and yet laugh
ing at her impudence, I took up the eusluoi
?he had been sitting on and threw ic aftei
her. Imagine then my shame, my horroi
and my distress, when tho door opened, and
attended by two guards only, iii walked Xy
leptha. The cushion could not be recaller
(it missed the girl and hit one of the guards
cu the head), but I instantly and ineffectually
tried io look as though I had not. thrown it,
Good ceased his sighing, and began to mul?
der Ziz-Vendi at the top of his voice, and Sh
Henry whistled ami looked sil!}-. As for thc
poor girls, the}' were utterly dumfoumled.
And Xyleptha'! she dr*?w herself up till bei
frame seemed to tower even above that of thc
tall guard.?,'and her face went first red and
then pale as death'.
"Guards," she raid, in a quiet, choked
voice, and pointing at the fair; but uncon?
scious disciple Of Waekford Squeers, "slay
me that woman?'
The men "hesitated, as weft they might.
"Will ye db my bidding?" she said, again in
the same voice, "or will yo not*"
Then they advanced upon tho girl with
uplifted spears. By this time Sir Henry had
recovered himself, and saw '??iat tho comedy
was likely to turn into a tragedy.
"Stand back!" lu? said, in a voice of thun?
der, at .the .sa*i\e tune getting in front of the
teirifled girl. "Shame on theo", Xyleptha
shaine! Thou shalt not kill her."
"Doubtless thou hast good reason to try to
protect her. Thou eouldst hardly do less in
honor." answered the infuriated queen; "but
she sha1! die--she shall die!"' and'she stumped
her little foot.
"It is weil," he answered; "then I will- die
with her. I a"1 thy servant. O queen; ?lo
with me oven as thou wilr." and he bowell to?
ward her, and fixed his clear eyes contemptu?
ously on her face.
"I could wish to slay thee, too," sbo an?
swered; "for thou dost make a mock of inc;"
and then feeling that she was mastered, and
I suppose not knowing what else to do, she
burst into such a storm of tears, and looked
so royally lovely in her passionate distress
that, old as I am, I must say I envied Curtis
his task of supporting her. It was rather odd
to see him holding her :h his arms considering
what had just passed: a thought that seemed
to occur to herself; for presently she wrenched
herself free and went, leaving us all much
disturbed.
Presently, however, one of tho guards re?
turned with a message to the girls that they
were, on pain of death, to leave the city and
return tp their homes in the country, and that
no further hann would come to them ; and
accordingly they went, one of them remark?
ing philosophically that it could not bo
helped, and that it was a satisfaction to know
that they had taught us a little serviceable
Zu-Vemli. Mine was an exceedingly nice
girl, and, overlooking the cockroach. I made
her a present of my favorite lucky sixpence
with a hole in it when she went away. After
that our former masters resumed their course
of instruction, heedless to say to my great
relief.
That night, when in fear and trembling wo
attended thc r'?yal supper table, we found
that Nylcptha was laid up with a bad head?
ache. That headache lasted for three whole
days* but on the fourth she was present at
supperas usual, "and willi thc most gracious
and sweet smile gave Sir Henry her hand to
lead her to tho table. 2*o allusion was made
to the little affair described above beyond her
saying, with a charming air of innocence,
that when she came to see us?t our studies
thc other day she bad been seized with a giddi-'
ness from which sh^ had only now recovered.
She supposed, she added, with tho touch of
tho humor that was common to her, that it
was th1* sightrof penile working ?o bard which
had affected her.
In reply Sir Henry said, dryly, flint he had
thought she did hot look quite herself on that
day, whereat she Sashed ono of those quick
glances of liera at him, which, if ?io had tho
feelings of a man. must have gone -.'through
him Ii ko a knife, and tho subject. dropped en?
tirely Inderi, after supper was over Nylcp?
tha condescended to put. ns through an ex?
amination lo s?-,- what we had learned, and to
express herself "'el' sati>lied willi tho results.
Indeed i she proceeded to give us, esj?ecia!ly
Sir Henry, a lesson on her own account, mid
very interesting wc found it.
And ?;11 thc while that wc talked, or rather
tried to talk, a?3 laughed, Serais would sit
there in her carven ivory chair, and look ;:t
\is and read us all like a book, only from time
to time saying a few words, ami Mailing that
quick ominous smile of hers which was morn
Lkc a flash of summer lightning <?n a dark
cloud than anything e!se. And ::s iur.tr to
her as l:o ?Varea would sic (Jo-'d, worshiping
through his eye glass, for.be venlly was get- :
ting seriously devoted t" this som"!? r beauty,
ofvvhom. speaking personally, I felt .terribly |
afraid. 1 watched lier keenly, ami soon I
fourni but that for nil her apparent impassr- i
bi?ty she was at heart bitterly jealous of '
Nyleptba. Another thing I found out, ami
the discovery idled me willi dismay; and ihn* ;
was, that she also was growing devoted to
.Sir Henry Curtis. Of course I could not bo 1
sure; it is not easy to read so cold and !
haughty a woman, but I noticed one or two j
little things, and, as elephant hunters know, j
dried grass shows which way the win?I has ;
set.
And so another three months passed over
us, by which time we had all attained tu a !
very considerable mastery of the Zu-Vendi
language, which is an easy ono to learn. Anti
as tho time went on wo became great favor?
ites with the people^ and even with the COUP
tiers, "gaining "ah enormous reputation foi
cleverness, because, as I think "I have said, Sri
Henry was able to show them how to make
glass, which was a national want; and also.
. by tho kelp of a twenty year almanac
that wo had V*>U ."us, tb predict vari?
ous heavenly combinations which were
quite unsuspected .by the nativo as?
tronomers. V>'c even succeeded in de?
monstrating the principio of the steam eugine
to a gathering of the learned men, who were
filled with amazement; and several other
things of tho same cort we did. And so it
came about that the people made up their
?ninds that we must on no account he allowed
to go out of the country (which indeed was an
apparent'*n-pb?ibility even if wo had wished
it), and we were advanced to great honor and
made officers of the bodyguards of the sister
queons, while -permanent quarters were as?
signed to us in the palace, and our opinion
was asked upon questions of national policy.
But blue as tho sky seemed, there was a
cloud, and a big one, on the "*hori/.on. Tf?
had, indeed, heard to more of thoso eon*
^founded hippopotami: but it is not on that
account to be supposed that our sacrilege was
forgotten, or the enmity of tho great and
powerful priesthood headed by Agon ap?
pealed. Cn tho contrary, it was burning the
more fiercely because it was necessarily sup?
pressed, and what had "perhaps begun in
bigotry wasen<Uirgiii downright direct hatred
born of jealousy. Hitherto thc priests had
been 'the wise men of tho land, and w?n>
on this account, as well as from super?
stitious causes, looked on .with peculiar ve?
'eratiou. But our arrival, wi*th ?i?r ?uriand
ish wisdom and our strange inventions and
hints of unimagined things, dealt a serious
'blow t?'this'state- 'of affairs, aud^among the
educated Zu-Vendi, went far toward destroy?
ing tho priestly prestige. ? A still .worsj?
"affront to them, however, wasche'fa vor with
which we were regarded, anil thc trust thal
was reposed in us. All these things tended
tc make us excess vely obnoxious tof the great
sacerdotal clan, the most powerful beca'iisb
thc most united faction in tho kingdom.
Another source of i uminent danger to us
wis the rising'envy of some of the? greafc
lords, headed by Nasta, wfiose antagonism to
us had at best been but thinly veiled, and
which iic-'w threatened to break out into open
llame. Nasti-had for .some years been a
candidate for Nyleptha's hand in marriage;
und when we ap->earcd on tho scene, I fancy',
from all I could gather, that, though there
were still luauv oi?stacies'in'his path, success
was by no means out of his reach. But nov
all this had changed ; the coy Nyleptiia smiled
no more in his direction, and he wan rot slow
to guess the cause. Infuriated and'alarmed*,
ho turned his attention to Sors is, only to find
that bo might ashwell try to woo a mountain
sid?. With a 'Bitter >-s?t 'or two nbout his
' fickleness, that door was closed on. him for?
ever. So Nasta bethought bini of tbe'OO.Oo?
wild swordsmen who would pour down at his
bidding through the northern .mountain
parses, and no doubt vowed tc adorn the
gates of Milosis with our heads.
But first he determim'd- as we.?earned, to
make one more attempt, anti to demand tb'?0
band of Nylcptha in the open court after the
formal annual ceremony ot* the signing of the
laws that had bern proclaimed by the "queens
during thc year.
Of this astounding fact Nyleptha heard
with simulated nonchalance, and with a little
trembling of thu voice herself iufcrmed us of
it as wo sat at supper on the night preceding
the great ceremony of the law signing.
Sir Henry bit his lip, and, do what he could
to prevent it, plainly showed bis agitation.
'.And what answer will the queen bo
pleased to give to the great tord?" asked I, in
a jesting manner.
"Answer, Macuinazalm" (for wo had elected
to pass by our Zulu names in Zn-Vendis), she
said, with a pretty shrug of her ivory shoul?
der. "Nay, I know not; what is a poor
woman to do when tho wooer has ?J;0?U
swords wherewith to urge his lover" and from
tinder her long lashes ?he glanced at Curtis.
'Just then we rose from the table to adjourn
into another room. "Quaterniaiu, a. word,
qui- lr!" said Sir Henry to me. '.Listen; I
have never spoken alxmt it, but surely you
have guessed-I love Nyleptha. What am I
to dor"
Fortunately, I had moro or less already
taken the question into consideration, and
was therefore able to give such answer as
seemed the wisest to me.
"You must h->eak to Nyleptha to-night," I
said. "Now is your time-now or never.
Tl-isten; in the sitting room get near to her,
and whis?>er to her to meet you at midnight
by the Kademas statue at tho end of tho great
hall. I will keep watch for you there. Now
pr never, Curtis.''
We passed on into the other room. Nylep
tha was sitting, her hands beforo hen and a
sad, anxious look upon ber lovely face. A
little way off was Sorais talking to Good lu
her slow, measured tones.
The time went on : in another quarter of an
hour I kuew that, according to their habit;
tlie queens would retire. As yet Sir Henry
had had n? chance of saying a word in pri?
vate; indeed, though "ve saw much of tho
roynl sisters it was by no means easy to see
them alone. I racked my brains, and at last
an idea came to me.
"Will the rrueeii IK? pleased/' I said, bowing
low beforo Soiais" "to sing iintc her servants*
Our hearts are heavy this night. Sing to us",
O Lady of the Night" (Sorais* favorite nanu?
among the.people).
"My songs, Macumazabn*; aro Mot such as
to lighten tlie heavy heart, yet will I sing if
it pleases thee," shu answered, and she roso
and went a few paces to a~ table), whereon lay
an instrument not unlike a zither; ami struck
a few wandering chord*.
Then suddenly,' hko the nofes pf some deep
throated bird, her rounded voice rang out ia
song so wildly sweet, and yet with so eerie and
sad a refrain; that it made ibn very blood .stand
still. Up, up soared the golden notes, that
seemed to. melt far away, and then to'.grow
again and travel on, laden witli hil tile sor?
row of the world and ad the despair of tho
lost. It was a m:?rv*H.'ns song' but-1 had nbji
time to listen to it pro'ierly. However'-1 g?i
the words of it afterward; a::d here i.: u trans?
lation of its t'?rdeiiV?'O far as it admits of be?
ing translated nt ali:
soilAl.N SONG.
As a dosoln.1 J bird that through darkm-ss its lost.
ivar, is v :ti~i-:K,
Asahaii'l that is helplessly raised when Death's
sickle is ?windln;:,
S6Is Hin : aye. tho life that lends passion aud
breath te my si:igiu?.
As the ni (rbi inhale's <on;r ?hat is full of n sweet?
ness unspoken* .
As :t spirit unbarring th;* gates of thc-slcfeis ford
token.
So i.-; ?cv.v: aye. the.hjw that ?hall fall when his
pillion is l>: 'ken"
As Ole 'ramp of the legions when tn.:npetstheir
Challenge ure sending
As the shoutorthe st:irm pi'l when li^htninps
the li?ack sky aro rending.
So is pov.vr! aye. ike p?.wer that shall li.? in the
.lust ni ils <Mnli'i;r. ?
So sh'irt is our li!-'-: } et with s??ace for all things
to ; ?rsaki* ns,
A bitter i"( hision, a dream from which naught
ea:i awake us.
Till i )..;;! ?r.v. V:L:?::.- footsteps at morn or at eva
shall o'.-i fake us
Ti':ra.?::;. '
Oh, th" worlj is fair at the ??awn?n;*-nawi:'?ti?
dawning,
Bul lite ivd Min ^inkr in blood. Iii.- red sun >'r.\)iA
in 1.1.1.
Ionic wish lint T could write down tho
music t*?o.
"Now, Curljsi 'tow,!7 I whispered", y. h? n >ho
began th" second verse, and tun:? d n:\ bark*
"Nyli'ptha." be said-for my nerv.-s wero
so much the stiften that I n?i:ld koarevrry
word, h ?iv ns ft- was spoken, even Ihrongh
Sorais"-di vine HM;e-v-"Nyleptha. 1 nm-: sj^ak
witii tl:e:> this night: upon my ?ile i must.'
Say mc not nay, oh, say MK no1 nay '."
"How ran I speak wi.h 11 iee t" she nu?- wem],
looking fixedly Indore her: "queens are not
like otiier people. I am surrounded and
watched."
"Lisien, Nylopthn, thus: I will be before
the statue of llndemas in tho great hall at
midnight. I have the countersign andean
pass in. Macumaz lin will be there to keep
guard, and with him ?Tic Zulu. 0!i, come,
my queen; deny me not."
"lt ia not seemly," she luurmured; '-and to>
morrow
Just then the music begann ito die in tho Josi
wan of the refrain, and Sorai.~ slowlv turned
her round. ?
"I will he thews" said Nyloptba, hurriedly;
"on thy life see that thou fail mc not."
. CHAPTER XVI.
BEFORE XnE STATUE.
It wa? night-dead night-and thVcilenc5?
lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
Secretly, as evil doers, sir Henry Curtis,
Umslbpogans and myself threaded our way
through the passages towards ,a hy entrance
to the great throne chaml>cr. Once we were
met hy the fierce, rattling challenge of tho
?entry. I gavo the countersign and the
man grounded his spear and let us pass.
Also, wo were ohVers of the queen's I ?ody
guard, and in that capacity'had a right to
como and go unquestioned.
We gained the hall in safety. Soemptf
.jmdso still was, it. that oren wfa?n. we had
passed, thc sound of our footsteps yet echoed
up the- lofty walls; vibrating faintly and still
.more fcintly against the cavern roof, like
ghosts of the f<xrtsteps of dead"meii haunting
the place that once they tied.
It was nu eerie spot, and it oppressed me.
Thc moon was full, andt .threw.great pencils
'and patches of light through tho high, win?
dowless O|)onings in- the walls, that lay pure
?and beautiful upon thc blackness of tho man-'
ble floor, Uko white/lowers on a coffin. Orre
of these silver arrows fell upon the statue of
the sleeping Hadeuias, and of the angt-1 form
bent over him, illumining it, and a small cir?
cle round ir, with a soft, clear'l??hf, n-miNd.
iug mo of that which Catholics illuming tho
altars of thoir cathedrals.
Hero by th 2 statue we took our stand and
waited-Sir Henry and I close together, Um
slopogaas 'some paces off in tho darkness, sp
that I could only just make out his towering
outline leaning on tho outline of an ax.
So l?ng did wo wait thnt I almost fell
asleep resting against tho cold marble, but
was suddenly aroused by hearing Curtis give
a quick, catching breath. Then from far, fa?*
far away there carno a little sound,.as'though
tho statues that hued the walls wero whisper?
ing to each other some message of the ages, i
It was tho faint ?weep, of a lady's drcsa
Nearer "it grew, and nearer yet. Wo could
see a figure steal from patch tc patch jolt
moonlight, and even hear tho soft fall of san?
daled feet. Another second and I saw tho
black silhouette of the old Zulu raiso its arm
in mute saluto, and Nyleptha was before r?s.
Oh, how beautiful sho looked as sho paused
a moment just within,tho circjo of tho moon?
light! Hor hand was pressed upon ber. heart,
and her white bosom heaved beneath it.
Hound her head a broidered scarf was loosely !
thrown, partially shadowing theperfect.facft j
end thus rendering it even more lovely; for |
beauty, dependent cs it is to a certain extent J
upon tho imagination, is never so beautiful
as when it isbalf hid. . There she stood, radi?
ant but half doubting, stately and yet so
sweet. It was but a moment; but I then and
thero fell in lovo with her myself. and %aro
remained so to Ibis hour; for indeed sbo
looked more liko an angel out of heaven than
a loving, passionate, mortal woman. Low we
bowed before ber, aud then sho spoke. j
WI havo ??m?," she whispered, ''but it was ?
at great risk". Ye know noe how t am j
watched. Tho priests watch me. Sorais |
watched me with. those great eyes of hers. J
My very guards ..'aro- spies . upon me.
l?ast? watches mo too. Oh, let him bo care?
ful !" and sho stamped her foot. "Let him bo
careful; lama woman, and? thcroforo har^
to drive. A3-, and I am a queen, too, and
can still avenge. Let him bo careful, 1 say,
lest in placo of giving him. my hand I tako
his head;" and she ended tho outburst witb^
little sob and then smiled up at us bewitch?
ingly and boughed.
''Thou didst bid me come hither, my Lord
Incubjr' (Curtis had taught her to call him
so). "^Doubtless it is about business of ?tj?d
state, fori know that thou art overfull of
great ideas and plans for my welfare ana my j
I>eoplc*s. So, even ns n queen should I have !
come, though I greatly fear tho dark alone;" j
mid again sho. laughed"and gave bini a glauco I
from ber gray eyes'.
At this point I thought it wisc to movo^a
little, since secrets "of tho state" should not
bs made public property, but sho would not
let me go far, peremptorily stopping mo
within five yards or so, saying that sho feared
surprise. So it carno to pass that, however
unwillingly, I heard all that passed.
"Thou kuowest, Nylcptha,"said Sir Henry,
"that it was for nono of these things that I
asked thee to me at this lonely place. Nylcp- j
tha, wasto not thc timo in pleasantry, but
listen to me, for-I love thee!"
As he said tho words I saw her face break |
up, as it were, and change. Tho coquetry 1
went out of ir, and in its place there shone a ,
great light of love, which seemed to glorify
ir, and make it like that of the marble angel
overhead. I could not help thinking that it
must have been a touch of prophetic instinct
which made thc Jong dead Kadomas limn in
tho features of the angel of his inspiring vis?
ion so strange a likeness of his own descend?
ant. Sir Henry also must have observed and
been struck by the likeness, for, catching thc
look upon Nyleptha';: face, ho glanced quickly
from it to tho moonlit statue: and then back
again at his beloved.
"Thou sayest thou dost love: /' sho said,"
in a low voice, "and iby voice ri?:.:; truo; but
how am I to know that thou dost.:peak- the
truth ? Though," she went on, with proud hu?
mility, and in the stately third person which
U so largely used by thc Zu>Vendi,J'I bc as
nothing in thc 'eyes of niy To.rdV?ud sbo
courtesied towards him-"who comes from
muong a wonderful people, to whom my peo?
ple are but children, yet hero am I a queen
and a leader of mon J a:*i if I would go to a
bat tie a hundred thousand spears shall sparkle
in my train like stars glihu^eripy down .tho
path of tho bent moon. -And although :*nv
beauty ?jc ii ?tttfb thing in the eyes "of mvlcrd''
.-anil .-he lifted her broidered skirt and cour?
tesied again-"yet here among my own peo?
ple am I beltl.right lair; and ever sineeT was
a wonum thc great fords of my kingdom have
ni?dc quarrel c?tn^rjuiiig me. as though, for?
sooth," .she added"," with a flash of passion",
"I were a deer to l>c pulled down by the
hungriest wo.f, or a hors-; to be sold to thy
high-'st bidder. .T^tmy lord pardon mc if I
weaiy my lord, but it hath pleaded ni}- lord
to say that he loves mei Nylcptha; a queen of
the Zn Vend?; and therefore would J say; that
?l?ough my love and my hand bc hot itiiich
to my lord, yet t<> me are they all."
'"Oh'"she cried' with a sudden and thrill! g
change of voiov'jmd 1 edifying her dignified
mod * of adi bes -"obj bow eau I know that
thou love>t hut me? IJmv can I know that
thou wilt not wear;.- of mo and seek thinoov. n
place again, leaving me desolate? Wh > is
there to tell me hue that thou loves t some
other, woman, sc!:ie -fair woman unknown to
mc, i>ut. who yet draws breath, 'wi leal h this
sam-'moon that shines on mo to-night i Tey J
me how am I to know?"1 And sh" clasped fcc? |
hands and stretched th*m oui 'owards him; j
and looked appealingly into his f.-ire.
"Nyb-ptha," answered Sir Henry, adopting j
the Zn-Vcndi way of speech, "1 have told thee j
that I 1 -ve lin-?'; how am 1 to tell thoo how I
much I love tlier? N theres th?*n, a measure \
for love? Y-twill I try. I sty not that I j
have never l >o'.ce I upon another woman with
favor, but. this 1 say. that 1 love thee with ail
my HO and with ail in/ strength; that I love
theo new.' and shall love th-- t?l 1 grow cold
in death, ave. mid as i believe, beyond my
death, and on and on forever: I say that thy
voice is musie to my ear, and thy ".ouch ai
water to a thirsty land; that when thou art
there t he world i < beau?".ful. and when I sec
thee no* it is as though thc light was dead.
Oh. Nyleptha. 1 uni never leave theo! Hen
and now, for thy den r sa io*. 1 will forget my
pc .p:e and my father's bous?'; vea,'I reuoune,?
thom al!. By tliy side will l'i i ve, Nyleptha. j
and at thy side will i die."
i ic paused and gnsed at her earnestly, but I
she bung her head .'ike a liiy.' and said m-vcra 1
wordJ 9
"Lwkr lie went on. pointing to the statue
on whieii the moonlight pla vet I so brijrhtlv.
* i
"Thou se?st that nngel woman who rests her j
hand upon t!w* forehead of t!ic>Ieophi?f man; ?
ami thou seest howat lier tench his soul !
flames up and shines out through his flesh,
even as a lamp a? tho touch of the fire; so is I
it with me and thee, Nyleptha. Thou hast
awakened my soul ami called it forth, and
nov.-. Nyleptha, it is not minc, not mino, but
thine, and thine only. There is no more for
mc lo say; h thy hands is my lifo." And'he'
Before thc statue.
leaned back against tbo pedestal pf thc
statue, looking very pale, and his eyes shin?
ing, but proud and handsome os a goth
Slowly, slowly she raised her head?, ?nd
fixed her wonderful eyes, all alight with the
greatness of her. passion, full upon his face,
as t hough to rcad'his very S?ul Then at last
she spoke, low indeed, but clearly as a silver
bell:
-Of a truth, weak woman that I am, I do
believe the?j . 111 will be the ?lay for thee, and
for me also, if it 'be my,fate to learn that I
bavobelieved ali?. And now hearken unto
mo, O nuni, who hath wandered herc from far
to steal my heart and, make me all thine own.
I. put my hand upon thine baud .thus,.aud
thus I. whose lips have neverIcissedbefore, do
kiss thee on the brow; and now by my hand,
and by that first and holy kiss, ay, br my
people's weal and by my throne that like
enongh I shall lose, for thee, by thc name of
my high house, by the sacred stone and bj.thc
eternal majesty of tho Sun, I swear that for
theo will I live and die. And I swear that 1
will lovo theo and thee only till death, ay,
and beyond-if, es thou sayest., there be 4, be?
yond-and that thy will shall bo my willana
thy ways my ways;
"Oh, see, see, my Jto?di? thou knowest 'not
how humble is she who loves; I, who. am a
queen, I kneel liefore thee; even at thy feet I
do my homage;:.?nd the toye3yr impassioned
creature flung herself down eil her knees on
the cold nimble before him. And after tha?
I really do not know what happened, for I
could sfand it no longer, mid cleared off to
refresh myself, with a little pf old Cmslopcr .
gaas' society, leaving them to settle it their
own way, and a very long time they were
aboutit .. , f h?......
Borne three-quarters of an ..nour afterward
I thc '"pair of doves" came strolling toward us,
Curtis looking slightly silly, and "Ny lep:ha re?
marking calmly that tho mooulight made
very pretty effects .-on the. marble. Then, for
she Tvju? in a most gracious mood, she took my
hand and said that I was "hen ?oius;1 dear
friend, and therefore most dear to her-not "a
word for iny own sake, you .see. Next she
lifted Uimlopogaas1 ax nnd<jxam5ned itcurjj
ously, sayingsignificautly as she did so that
ho might soon bave cause to use it in defense
of her.
After that she nodded prettily to us ally and,
casting ono tender glanco.a't her lover, gh<led
off into the darkness like. .a-., beautiful risiom
When wo got back to our quarters, whick'
we did without accident, Curtis asked ine^
jocularly, what I was thinlring about. ..
i 'Tani wondering,*1.,.1 answered': "cu what
principle it is arranged that some people
should find beautiful queens, to fall in love
with them, while others find nobody at all,
or .worse than nobody^ and I,am also wonder?
ing how many brave men's lives this night's
work will cost.*' It was rather nasty of me,
perhaps, but somehow all the feelings do. not
evaporate with age, and I could not help be?
ing a littlo jealous of my old friend's lack.
Vanity, my sons, vanity of vanities !
On the following morning Good was in?
formed of the happy c>ccufrenee, and posi?
tively rippled with smiles that, originating
somewkero about the mouth*, slowly traveled
np his face like the rings in a duck pond*,
till they flowed over tho k$im of his eyeglass
and went where sweet .smiles go. The fact of
tho matter, however, was that not only was
Good-rejoiced about the thing on its own
merits, but also for personal reasons. Ile
odored Sorais quito as earnestly as Sir ITcnry
adored Nyleptha, and his adoration had not
altogether prospered. Indeed, it Mil seemed
to him and to mo also that the dark Cleopatra
like queen favored. Curtis in her own carious,
inscrutable way much more, than Good;
Therefore it was a relief to bini %o learn that
his unconscious rival was permanently and
satisfactorily attached in another direction
His face fell a little,' however," when ho was
told that tho whole thing was to be kept as
secret as the dead, above all from Sorai? for
tho present", inasmuch as thc political convul
J sion,which would follow such aunnnomicc
ment at tho moment would be altogether tOG
great to face," and would very possibly, if
prematurely madej shake Nyleptha from her
throne.
That morning we agaiji. attended ni, thc
throne hall, and i could not help smiling to
myself when I compared thc visit to our last,
and reflecting.ihat if the walls could speak
they would have strange talcs to tell'.
What actresses women are! There, high
upon her golden -tkr^e"" draped, in, her bla?
zoned ..kai" or robe of state*, sat the fair Ny
leptha; and when Sir Henry-came m a little
late, dressed in the full uniform of au officer
of her guard, and bumbljr bent himself be-,
foro ber,' she merely, acknowledged* his salute"
with a careless jiod and turned her ue?d
coicly aside. It was a very huge court, for
riotjpuly cl id the ceremony of the signing of
tho laws attract inmiypufc^de bf those whose
duty it was to attend', but also tho rumor
that Nasta was going to publicly a<k. thc
hand of Nyleptha in uiarriagc had. bone
abroad'," with the result that the great d>all
was crowded to its utmost capacity. There
w?ro our friends the priests in force, headed
by Agon, wno regarded us with a.vindicti.vo
eye"; and a most imposing band they were,
wi h their long while eiubroideredrobes girt
with a golden chain.. from which .hung the
fishlike scales'. T.h'erei too', were a number bf
the lords, each with' a band of brilliantly
attired attendants, and prominent.among
them was Nasta* stroking.lu"^ black beard
meditatively and looking unusually* un pleas*
ant. lt was a splendid and .impressive sight,
especially when the o?uecr having read oui
each law it was handed to the queens to sign,
whereon tho trumjiets-blared out and the
queens' gua ni grounded their spears with a
crash in sagat??: This reading and signing of
the law* took a Icing time, but at-.last it came
to an end, thc last ?.me reciting iliat '"whereas
certain distmguishod strangers, etc.," and pro?
ceeding tc confer on thc three of us the rank
of "lords,"- together,with .certain military
commands and largo estates bestowed by the
queens. \Vhon it was read tho trumpets
(dared and the spears ? lashed down as usual;
but 1 saw some of tho lords turn and whisper
to each other, while Nasta ground his teeth.
They did not lileo the favor that was shown
to us, which, maier all the circumstances,
was not perhaps unnatural.
Then there came a pause,.and Nasta slopped
forward, and bowing humbly*, though with
no humility in ids eye, craved a boon at the
hands pf thc Queen Nyleptha.
Nyleptha turned a little pale, but Itowed
graciously" and ??rayed tho -well beloved
lord" to sj ?oak on, whereon iii a few straight
forwasd, soldier like w ords he asked her hand
iuiaari-iage'
Theii, liefere the could find wprds to an?
swer, thc High Priest Agon t<K>k up the tale,
and in a speech of real eloquence and power
pointed out thej:iany advanragi-s of the pro- !
po>ed alliance- how it would consolidate the
kingdom; for Nasta's dominions, of which he
was virtually king, wv iv lo Zu-Vendis much
what Scotland usc?.I to bc to England; bow ic
wouhl gratify, tho;'wild mountaineers and bc
popular anning the soldiery, for Nasta was a
famous general; how it wouM set her dynasty
firmly on the throne, and would gain thc
blessing and approval of tho "Sun," i. e., of
the ofiico of high priest, and so on. Many of
his arguments were undoubtedly valid; and
there was. looking at it from a political point
of view, everything to bc said for the mar?
riage. But. unfortunately, it is difficult to
play tho game of politics with the persons of !
young and lovely queens as though they were
ivory effigies bf themselves on a chess IK>ard.
Nyleptha's face, while Agon spouted away,
zo*.
was a perfect study: sue smiled, indeed, bot
beneath the smile it set like & stone,' and ber
eyes began to nash ominously;
At last he ?topped! mid she prepared bawV
to"answ<rr! Before she did so, however, Sorell
leaned ?toward her and said! ina voicesnffl
cieutlyloud for mo to catch.what sb?
"Bethink thc? well, my sister^ere thoa dost
speak, "?or Tjnet?i?nks that' our thrones may.
hang upon thy word?." t u
Nyleptha made no onswrr- an? with' a
sh nix anti a sm ile j Semis leaned back again
and listened. *
"Of a truth a great honor ?i?s bcett?cm+?o
mc," she said; "that my poor hand slioold not
only have been asked in man-igge.? bjD&^tat
Agon herc should bo so swift to pronoimce
thc blessing of the Sun upon my union. Me?
thinks that in another minute he would hara
wed us fast ere the bride- had j said her my*
Nasta, I thank thee, audi ^piLbetb^?^ Jne <st
thy words, bu^now ns yeti haVe'i?o minder
marriage; that is a cup-of which none knew,
the taste until they lx*giu tordrlnk jit, Aga^a
I thank thee, Nasta," and she ruado cs though
sho would rise.
The givat lord's face .turned .aj^BOs^:!?
black as b is hc^?rd with fmV, for,.ba^??r
that tho words amounted to a final refusal ci
his suit.. , . y . ^ ~ -
"Thanks "be t?lj?ic queen ?or ner ^pagscms.
words," he su'd. restrainhig himself with dif- *
fieulty and looking anything tout grateful,
"myieart shall surely treasure them. And
now I ?ravo another boon, namely, the royal
leave to withdraw myself to my own poor
cities, iii the north until such time as tho
queen shall say my suit nay. pr yea* 24*}'
hap," he added, witha'sneer, *-tho queen irm
be pleased tc visit mc there, and to brins
with her these stranger lords," and he
scowled darkly toward us. "It is but a poor
country and a rough, but we ajre a haidy
race of mountaineers, ancL-tbere ?uSk b#
gathered 30,000 swordsmen to shoal ? wel?
come to lion? . > ' ^ - -
This speech', which was almost *a declarar
t?onof rebellion, wa^ received na., complete
silence, but Nyleptha fi?sneJ up and ?a*
swered it with spirit. ? r " ..
"Oh\ surely*,( Nasta, ? will eom?? asid the
strange lords in jny train, and for every maa
of.thy mountaineers who calls thee prince? wQ|
1 bring two fro?:.;he lowlands who cali me
queen, aiid we wili see which is the stanchest
breed, lill then farewell."
Tho trumpet^ blared out; tho^qwyu^rosii
and thc great assemblyi>roke up ?? murmur?
ing confusion^ and for myself I went nome
with a ueavy heart' foreseeing civil wnrC
After this there was quiet for a few weeks,
Curtis ami the queen did not often meet, send
exercise I the utmost -caution not to allow tho "
true relation in. which they stood to each
other to leak out: but, do what they would,
rumors as hard to trace as a.buzzing fly in a
ikirk room", and yet quite as audible! began to
hum round and round", and at last to settle on
her throne. /
CHAPTER XVIL '
TUG STORM BREAKS^ r \
.. And now it was that tho trouble., which at *
first had been but a cloud as large as a niants
hand began to loom very, black and big upon
our horizon, .-namely!. Sorais? preference fer
Sir.IIenry._ I saw tho storm drawing nearer
and nearer; and^jwor fellow^ did he.' ? The ,
affection of so lovely.'and highly placed t}
woman was-not 5 -tl^mg ^that could in -ti
general way bo considered a calamity by say
man; but, situated as Curtis xwas, it wai a
grievous burden to bear. : . .?--?V\,-.
, Tc begin with,"Nylcptba? thcHigh-arto^?j?er
charming, was? i$ must^ be .admitted, of ji
rather jealous disposition^ and was somewhat
apt to visit on her lover's head her indigna?
tion at the marks of what Alphonse-woijl4
have called the "distinguished consideration"
with which her royal sister favored him.
Then the enforced secrecy of his relatwna.to
Nyleptha prevented Curtis from taking soma,
opportunity of putting ? stop", or trying to
put ? stop, to this false condition of affairs,
by telling Sorais, hi a casual but confidential
way, that he was going to- marry her sister!
? third sting in Sir Henri's honey was that
he knew, that Good was honest ry-and sincerely
attached te tho ominous looking, but ioost
attractive, Lady of- the Night Indeed," poor
Bougwan was wasting himself to a shadow
of his fat and jolly self about her, his iso* .
getting so thin that-: bis. eyeglass woaid
scarcely stiele in it} while sbei with a sort of
careless coquetry, just gave. bino, encourage?
ment enough.to keep him going," thinking," no
doubt, that he might bc useful as a stalking'
horsed I tried, to .give.him a hint, in as deli
cat* a way as 1 could, but he flew into a huff
?pclwouldnot.listen .tome; so I determined
to let ill alone, for fear of making it worse.
Poor (rood ! he really was very ludicrous ba
his distress, and went in for all sorts ot ab?
surdities, raider, the bcKof that he was ad*
vancing ins suit." One of them was the
writing-with the a-sistance of one of tho
grave and reverend seigniors who instructed
us", and wlio, whatever may have boen the
measure bf his erudition, did not understand,
how to wran, a linc-of a most iqterndnablf
Zu-.Vendi love "song," of which the oouiwua$?
recurring refrain.'was something about *.!
will kiss thee': oh yes," I will kiss thee!" :.5bw
among the Xn-Tendi .it is a commoa and
most harmless.tbingTor young men ta sere?,
nado ladies nt night "as. I believe they do ia
the southern countries of Eun>pe, ft?d shag"
ail sort-; of nonsensical songs to them. ? ? "
. Availing .himself of. this custom. Goodbe
b^?hthi?i^^t^li4.^oiiId? serenado Sorais*
whose private apartments, together ..witli
'hose of her maidens, were exactly opposite
sur own, - on thc farther side of a r arrow
*outfc Vari? which divided ono section of tho
pvat pal-tcc from another. Acx*orcUn??yf
liaving armed himself with a native sither^
?n which, l)cing an adept with the light!
jajtar," lie Jiad easily learned to strum, bia
proceeded at midnight-the fashionable hour
for this sort of caterwauling-to make night
hideous with his amorous yells. I was fast
i lecp wben-tUey began, but they* soon woka.
lie un-for Good ]?fc<scs>cs a tremendous
l*pice and has no notion of time-and lian
io my window ?dace to seo what was tha?
natter. And there, standing in the twk
moonlight in thc court yard, I perwivrd.
J txl, adorned with an enormous ostrich
feather headdress an I a flowing silken cloak,
which it is thc right thing to wear, upon these,
jeeasions, an?l shouting cut tiie abomiua
We sung which he and the old gentleman
'md evolved, to a j^rky,Jilling accoinpani
ncnt. From the direction of .U?c quartetit of
Hie mafus of honor carno a succession of faint,
?itiggvriiigs; but the apartments of. Serais
lii i-sflf-whom t devoutly pitied if she hap
[K-nwl to lio there-?.y.ere silent as thc .grave.:
lhere was absolutely no end to that awf ul
??ng," v.-ith it-?etenial **I willkiss. iheei^and!
it last neither I nor Sir fieiiry, whom I had
?umimmed to enjoy thc sigh.t, ciniki stand it
my longer; S?>, nnjomUtring tho dear.oUL
>tory, I put my head to tho window opetiing
ludrdioutc*!, **For ^leaven's sake, Good, don't
on. talking about it,' but kis-* her and let**
di go tb sleep y That chocked him off/and
wc had no inore serenading. .. ; .
Thc whole thing formed a laughabio^n
?ident in a tragic luisinrss. ; ;4.....
Weil, the moiv Sir Henry held of! tho more
Sorais came on, as is not uncommon in such,
ras?*; till at last things got very queer in-,
dceit. .Evidently she was, by- some strange
p?rr,crsity of mind, quito blinded to tht? tra*
state of The case; and I, for one, f^eatiy
dreaded the moment .of "lier awakening.
Sorais was a dangerous woman to be mixed
up with." cither \yith_ or without one's QW?
consent At last thc evil moment came, aa t ^
saw it must come. One fine day. Good har* y
ing goiw out hawking,". Sh" Ilttiry anil ?"fl!*ra.
sining (jui<-cly talking over ,the situation, cs
pccially with reference to Sorais, when a
i: ourt messenger aiTiyed ^vith a written liote/
which wc with! S?H?jc. diSculty deciphered.'
and winch was to the effect that "the Queen.
Sorais commanded, the ^attendance of ti? -' . **.
Lord Incubu in her private apartments^ ^ ' ?1"?.!*
whither he. would be conducted by tba *.*.-..>'*.."
bearer.n . . ... "^X?
. "On my word!" groaned Sir Henry." - :'3?
liCairt you go in>t7ad,rolrf f?Bowl^ . - . ?
"Not if I kuow it," I sutt with vigor.
had rather face a wounded elephant with a '
shot gun. Wash up your, own dirty dishes, g?
my l)oy. If you will be. so fascinating y?o
must toke the conseqnencci Aiirt you just
in for it now-, that's alli". -
"You remind me of when? I was going to
bo flnggeti at school and ??? other boys caa? /
to console me,*: lie .sovjTf ghx>miTv% .?.What ? - '5
r?ght'lias this cv>nfotn;de\i qi;co*t to c?maiand -
"" c ' ^: ?m
'.''"vi