Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-09-02
MIFFLINTOWN JUNIATA COUNTY, PENNA, SEPTEMBER 1874

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feasting cease, and. seizing from an
aged scald the harp that he was striking,
she tore away the strings, and then, in
sullen silence, she sat down before the
idols image. Again she rose, and with
dagger's point, scratched q few rough
characters upon the altar. The priests
had gathered around her, and when
they saw those letters they also shrieked
aloud with horror they fell before the
idol and bowed their faces to the
ground, bowling and heaping dust upon
their heads. Upon this, with fixed
and dreamy stare, Temora arose and
beating upon sort of shapeless drum,
commenced allow and melancholy chant.
She told them that the nation had
cause to mourn, that heavy calamities
had fallen upon them, that the gods had
sent curse among them. A monster
had been cast up by the treacherous
waves, and none had known their
danger. Their king, their prince, nay,
she herself, had been deceived for that
fearful monster had come among them
In human form, even as a beautiful
maiden. They had cherished her, and
now the judgement had fallen upon
them; it had begun with the king-he
was struck with hblindness-where would
it fall next? with prophetic glance she
could forsee. But here the drum
dropped from her hands; at once her
frantic violence was stilled she sank
upon the ground and her long hair fell
like a veil over her stern features-she
had said enough. As she began. q
smothered sonnd of cursing rose on all
sides now the whirlwind of furious
passion burst forth and knew no bounds.
The tumult spread far and wide among
the people. Led by the wizard priests,
they rushed to the palace, and demanded
that their king should come forth to
them. Now, the poor old king, being
in his dotage and almost governed by
the priests, had been persuaded and
tutored to think and to answer just as
they suggested. Led by the sorceress
he came forth sightless and trembling,
and his few faltering words confirmed
all that the artful Temora had declared.
All this time Prince Kegnar had been
absent. He came in from hunting just
when Temora had brought his father
forth. Horrorstruck, he soon perceived
the purpose of the fendlike woman; but
in vain he sought to 9uell the furious
tumult, his father was totally under the
dominion of the priests, and when a cry
was raised, demanding as their victim,
the young and innocent Gruith, the
kings assent was given. As for the
princess, she was not to be found. Two
persons, however, who at once had
guessed the place of her retreat, met at
the door of her mysterious chamber.
For once that door was scarcely closed.
1t opened at the gentle touch of Regnar,
but there was something arrested him.
stop, STOP" he whispered, holding
the door firmly with one hand while he
thrust forth the other to prevent Temora
from advancing. ''Stop but o little
time. Let US not disturb her yet"
Temora obeyed. Curiosity for awhile
mastered her vengeance. She wished
to hear distinctly the words which were
pronounced in that chamber but what
were the words that fell upon her ear
The low, sweet voice of Gurith breath
ing forth prayers to the God she wor.
shipped pleading for her worst enemy:
praying that He whose favor is life,
would give new spirit and sweet peace
of mind, and every blessing to her sister
Temora The voice Of Gurith ceased.
and Regnar entered softly. Temora had
sunk upon the step where she had stood;
she did not enter, though at last that
chamber stood open before her; but |
with still greater astonishment than that /
with which she had listened, she gazed |
upon its inmate. She was kneeling |
with both her hands covering her face. |
The tears that trickled through her |
fingers too well betrayed the anguish |
that had stopped her voice in prayer.
And this, then, was the secret of the |
mysterious chamber. Gurith has trusted |
to no spell but that of innocence her
had been in the confession of
held her high and spiritual communion
to him whose strength is made perfect |
in the weakness of his children. To Him
who hath borne our griefs and carried
whose gracious invitation is to |
the weary and the heavy laden, she had
gone in every time of trial, and from
the foot of his cross, where, she ever
laid the burdens of her griefs, she had
brought forth into the world that sweet
and holy cheerfulness which passed the
of the wretched Temora.
Struck to the heart, the sorceress skunk
silently away. Some feelings of re-
morse had seized upon her, and now
she would have gladly stopped the
tumult. Alas she had no power to
calm the storm which she had raised.
The frantic multitude had burst the
palace gates. Regnar was overpowered,
and they were dragging their meek and
victim to the altar of the
horrid idol, when suddenly, and it
seemed miracuIously, higher power
and stopped their blind
'urry. The aged monarch fell dead in
he arms of his attendants-the excite
nent of the last few hours had proved
,oo much for his feeble frame. In
,tantly, and almost at venture, q
single voice cried out, "Lopg live King
Regnar |" There was breathless pause
and then the cry was echoed by the
shouts of all the people. Gurith, the
christian Gurith, was saved.
A Western Casabfanca.
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