CHAPTER XXXV.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2027, 4 July 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXXV.

The brooding calm of nature continued long into the night. The ceremony of the marriage was to take place in the apartment of the tower that Hordeti had erected, so as to command a view of the whole lake. From the top of this tke electric light was exhibited on the rare occasions Morden chose to show his powers. He had ordered the islanders to attend and to add to the solemnity. A chosen party of tun naiiVea marshalled John Morden and Herbert and Ebby to the scene, bearing in their hand lamps enclosed wnhin purple glass. John Morden loft hia guoats ia the room to be devoted to tho ceremony and went out to turn on the marvellous light. By means of glass shades ie was made te appear of several huts. First of all it shone on tho lake with all its cold blue radiance, creating a scene such as we imagine to be ever existent in the land of Diablerie. In that ghastly light everything bore so dreadful an appearance that H-.rbeit and Ebby turned with dread from the soene. Through this light they saw a red gleam on the mountain. The light was changed ; the lake b2came one maos of blood-red color. They now saw that a number of boats were rowing towurda the isle ; the pullers looking like pantomime demons, the flashes of their oars like gouts of blood. In a moment a rioh beautiful magenta light transformed the lake into fairyland. This only lasted a few moments ; then came thiok and utter darkness, lv the magenta light the watohers saw a fleet of vessels put off from the shore beneath where they had noticed the red light. But other events boob took their attention. Orinora, attended by her two maidens, entered the room. Sho was attired in spotless white, aad was veiled; a beautiful, an entrancing saonfioe to love. A wreath of orange blossoms just plucked from tho tree by Ahema and Dorala adorned her brow. Herbert stepped forward, and in one feryent eoibiMoo expressed his affection. " I wonder," said Morden, who now appeared, "what has become of Harry and Paranoa? Surely they are not lost." "They are probably— the ho3tw," replied Dorala. John Morden appeared iv a fantastio but impie&dve attire. He had learned to become LhciUio by his position, fot he had found symbols all powerful with hia people. Ho wore a robe of the richest purple, faced with bilver and seared at the throat by a ma^aiikunt diamond, onse the property ot the haplt" h young Blake. On hit) head w.as a ti.ua of gold, Htudded with rubies ami diamonds, the symbol of his authority, which tho visitors had never seen him wear before. His white hair and venerablo beard gave him a

i uiiC d 1d 1 ' i'l'.i ami uupouuk ft])^;&rano'\ In ; a haaci nc cani^l a rod of ebony and gold. Tos upppr end o* *he room was arrayed in tie form of a saerifity. On iho table or altar vv °.s a marriage contract engrossed on vellum, upon whioh rested a email column of ebony surmounted by a star of gold, the points flashing with diamonds. Herbert were not prepared for such & splendid scene. But & frerter surprise was still in store. Touching & knob John Morden once mo*« flashed forth the elc-ctic light ; this tim? of tue richest rote. It was but for &n instant; then succeeded the moßt intense gloom. As if in response the earth &hook, a flash of lightning flew through the heavens, and th« roll of the thunder and the rumble of the earthquake were mingled together. As if by magic — everything seemed magical in thia wonderful land— the lake waß lit up by hundreds of torches, and the boats began tv proc -ssion such as the strangers had seen on their first night on the island. Six trumpets sounded one atter the other a aummons from every side of the island, and the response was a magnificent burst of harmony from brass and wood instruments. In the islanders John had found apt pupils. The effect, on & lake with echoing island*, was bBjond description, beyond power ot pen to tell. The £*trang«ra looKed and liet^nfid as if they wiahed it would last for cve> . The instruments ceased at last and the gre&i chorus was heard, catalog from each side of the lake, but so well to^etiaer were the voices that tkey appeared as one : Gliding o'er our lako thus day by day How Herenely passes time awa; , While its wavelets wreathed with smiles Gently btthes its fifty faiiy isles. ,-_- An'l at night our toiclies cast their gleam*, , Lighting up this wondrous world of dreamt/ ,\ Tra la ha, la ha la, '' TralaJalala! Far away shines nightly Achernar, Buji our lake reflects i-ur glorious star, So ow loule' reflections of tha jfight Stny but hero a troubled night \ x r $ When the tuorniug breaks tut-y uass away ' To tho btar where shines eternal d*y ! Tra la ha, la ha la, Tia la la la la ! This chorus wag succeeded by a bridal c*t?h in the native language, the burden being ttiken by the female voices, tho reply being given by thp males. It h&d a peculiar and weird effect, the melody seeming to o;>ine irom all parts at once, echoing and reechoing : *Ho yon aira So yon aird Hah t ha ! " Come, ray children," said John Morden, when the echoes of the music had died away, " and let me join you together, never in this svorld to ba parted save by death." Herbert took Orinora's hand aud advanced with her to the altar, presided over by the v r nerab'o and imposing presence. Ebby „' ■\ alked at his side, and Dorala and Aherno '- supported their lady's tr.in. The manly Si ace of Herbert, the drc. .:Uke beauty of Oriuoia made a picture when Lucy stood in front of the altar that threw John Morden into an ecstasy. "From two such," ha exclaimed, " what a noble aud beautiful race might spring, thank the Great Power for this night. Ociuora wore raie and lovely jewels, and they made her l«ok a queen. John's eyes wandered over ber lovely form with the piide of a father. Suddenly he noticed a rorfy sparkle, almost concealed by the dress on her bosom. "What jewel ig that, Orinora ? " ho asked. "It is a native jewel I found in my drawers," said Oimora, with a blush that made her face rosier than the jewel's flash ; '• a gift from Paraaoa in other days. It worn by the last princess of the island." " Tha Singorambs," replied Morden with a pleased smile. "It is a good omen. But p<jch a princess never wore that mystic gift on this island as now." " Nor on any other," said Herbert. He was akouL to take their hunds wheto ft wild and barbaric about puttied into the air. John Morden staggered back like a man who kad received a mortal blow. His faoe became ghastly. Clear and wild the tones rang i.ti their ears, question aid answer, too well mderstood by John Mordew. Qulstiox — Ai laianora, airah ora, Ailaianoia ah ; Nai kaialora, naira nora Xiii kmab»ra sah — Marambola, Marambola nah ! Marambola, Marambola inah ! Answer— So diorara, So tuosara, Caroom boon ara Laice ozoom ! "My God, what does this mean?" cried John Morden; " I have not heard that terrible song since the night when Henry Allan and Maramboh attacked the isle. Am I dreaming? Do I hear rightly? What can it m-'an? " " Death and destruction," said an agitated voice, and dripping with water, bis clothea Urn and his whole aspect that of terror. Marry Forbes rushed into the room. " Death and destruction," cried John l\ r orden ; " what do you mean ? No one o*n approach this isle." He turned quickly and pHessed a knob on tho wall, diffeient from tnat ho used to turn uji the electric light. " There," ho said, triumphantly, "if the natives have rebelled I defy them. A circuit of J :",: -i pnoloses this island ; a circuit that none can pass.' ' You trust iv waat 13 of no avail," replied Hirry. "Pciramoawft3 here to-day and de-sti-oyed the machinery and took away tha in-'Hims. We aro drovnod. The island is ai.nouudcd by savages who have to kill eyery white person except Orinora." Orinora fainted in Herbert's arms. Dorala and Aherno beat their breaats and teret their hair af tar the manner of their excitable raot. "We are to bkme ; wo ar« to blame," they oileJ, tha tears raining down theirlaces. " We ltli the isle and he came and did tins." John Morden said nothing. Hi at once Bpiang out of the room. Harry who was wild with terror clasped Ebby in his arms. "We aro lost, Bbby," he said. " I ovarheaid the whole piot and I made all haste to reach tbo isle to give warning so that we could fly to the mountains. Bat I did not know my comae; 1 blundered here and there and ut last capsized tha boat. 1 saved my life by swimming, and aa Providence would have it lighted on the right island." Ebby did not reply. Instead of feeling teiror at tho naws ha was exalted. He could now get the party to fly to his balloon and it would save them. How to baffle the savages in the darkness of the night now became hia study. At thid moment John Morden entered. He appeared iv a few minutes to have wiUei and became un aged and helpless man. " Oh, my God," he cried sinking on to a ooucu, " hoy? I have been deceived. Marambola did not die ; he has lived these years for levenge, i.nd it is at last iv his ha»d. What treauhery, what ingratitude after all I J end for these wretches m human form. The s circuit is do-itroyed, the tir6araia gon3 — there 4| in no help for us. The niosi horrible of deaths will bo ours, the moat tenibie of fates Ounora's. Oh, my daughter, my child, 1 wiali y«u had died in your infancy : it would havo spared whf»t iaaat follow." Ha weut over to her and ki^eetl the lsvely girl franUoally. (To be continued.)

•Simll ho have hei, biiull ha have her— For 1)0 loves her, Fox he loves hei— Yes ! yea I ,