The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-28

zone hair from that golden braid exceeds
her charms"
''Nonsense, Justus Do you think me
so vain as to be caught by such rlapsodies,
my good couslon2 Keep your fine speeches
for finer ladies than l."
When Justus and Theodore entered the
| reception chamber Of the Empress, Eilxasia
was already there. She was dressed mag
niticently IN rich green robe, embroidered
with gold stars. On her head she wore
Her train was three yards in length, and
was of white Persian silk, bordered with
gold stars on O green ground. A broad
girdle, in which gold was curiously inter-
woven, confined her loose robe in folds
around her waist and chain of emeralds
dropped from her white throat, setting off
it's exquisite fairness. A pale, olive hue
was family lighted up with struggling
crimson, but it was the eyes that lighted
up the wondrous-the deep, passionate
eyes, whose glancss seemed absolute to burn
with the fires of the spirit within. The
long lashes that shaded them rested on the
cheek; and the dark eyebrows were
pcncilGd 80 evenly that every hair lay in its
own place, and seemed as If it could not be
spared from the general effect.
Elkasia's hair was OF that peculiar tint
Of purplish black that is at once 80 rare and
beautiful; and unlike Thcodoras she
wore it in long curls, that fell over her
face, partially concculing the passionat
look that sometimes wellcd out from the
very soul in moments Of her intense en-
| thusiasm.
Won by that look--for she wore it now
IA person, entering the room, walked
| slowly past the others who were standing
III groups, OF reclining on seats about the
apartments, and stayed his footsteps only
when he reached the spot where she was
standing.
Addressing her in the grave and scntcn-
tious tone OF the period, he said, "Womcn
is tho source of evils
llcr quick eye caught sight of the golden
apple. She OWNED Immediately the cause
OF this, and the use to which he was to ap-
ply it, and her dark eyes glistencd with
proud yet happy expression as she quickly
answered. ''But woman is also the source
Of much good"
She turned aside to speak to Theodore,
but her words were bitter and sarcastic now
--ior there was an air of sweetness and
purity in Theodorn's face, that contrastcd
with her own passionate nature. The En-
in moment. All her beauty faded from
before his sight, and he turned away dis
cnthralled.
What was it! Did her tones Jar upon
his nerves. or was he attracted to the other
maiden, whose blushing check attcstcd her
modesty, and whose sparkling eyes pro-
claimed her intcllectuality2 Who knows,
save by what followed2 The apple quiv-
cred in his hand. lie atlvanced-stopped
went on, in Corporal Trims old fashion,
hundreds OF years afterward, and placed
the bright, shining fruit in the hand of the
fair Theodore
Never before had such a blow fallen on
the self-complaconcy of Eikasia. The
words died on her lips, and the tears forced
themselves into those large, black orbs that
burned so brightly few minutes before
1t was like rain after lightning. She had
not counted upon this. When the En-
pcror had entered she looked proudly
around, ana the memory Of that last glance
III the great steel mirror was still vivid en-
ough to assure her that she would bear Off
| the palm of beauty. Now, the veil had
fallen from her eyes, and she saw another
preferred before her!
a few moments of that forced gayety
which disappointed pride puts on, at first,
to hide the keen pangs that are crushing it,
and then Eikasia was gone; and the party
following her lead, as usual, broke up At
the door, Justus stood ready with mantle
of fine wool to guard Theodore from the
night air. She was trembling all over with
the strong excitement of the evening. JUS
tus thought she was shivering, and he
wrapped her up still closer. Could he have
known that she was dead to him from that
moment, the poor youths constant heart
would have Dled deeply.
In the monastery of Santa Maria Elkasia
secluded herself from every eye save those
OF the good sisters and her confcssor. She
had felt the throb of ambltion-she now
wore the garb of humility. The brief day
dream had faded, but its going down had
cftl none of those bright hues that the sun
leaves at parting. Henceforth, life was
painted for her in those sombre shades of
gray that are too dull already to subside
into any other tint. And while Eikasla
composed and sang psalms, to cure the
fever of soul painting for the gift of love,
'fhcodora was preparing to ascend the
throne beside him who, had he not been
Emperor, would have equally shared her
heart.
The Empress Euphrosyne, after her sons
marriage retired to monastery TO pass the
remainder of her days; one sigh to the
memory of Michael and she was lost to the
outer world.
Theodcra accompanied the Emperor on
one of his visits to the neighboring con-
vents. a nun attracted her notice by the
height and beauty of her figure. Her face
was almost entirely concealed, by the broad
bands which she, more than the others,
had drawn closely around it. But the full
red lips, unfadcd and blooming still, and
guarding row of pearls of unexamplcd
beauty, brought to her memory the proud
Eikasia, as she stood, waiting in the palace
hall, for the distinction she was so sure
would come to her.
Eikasia's eyes betrayed her emotion.
The Emperor spoke to her courtcousIy
without remembering her, and the 'last
straw" was laid on the pride that had been
her ruling passion. She answered him in
| q low n,urmllr that aoundn1 1iftlo lilo tbn