Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1880-06-26

forbidden as one likely TO destroy tn,
bonds of friendship between u.s."
"And is friendship all that l mus
hope for~ he asked.
"AllI" she replied. Methinks it il
a great boon, the true and pure friend
ship which have heard described. Pe
sides, are you not my own relative?-
iearer than any save a brother? Sisters
children we are, Justus" And she laiC
her white hand upon his arm with a sis
terly freedom that disarmed him of al
resentment toward her. You will 20 r
she asked again.
Eyes, Theodora-and as a brother
only, if that is all you can desire me to
be to you. But shah make sorry at
endan'.'
The two passed out together, and jus,
rs they were about to enter the quantity.
decorated Greek chariot, another chariot,
with wild, prancing horses, nearly run
against them.
That is Eikasia's carriage" said
Theodore, when her momentary fright
was over. "Did you observe what a
beautiful thing it isr'
~ saw that it was built in the form of
a sea-shell," he replied. "Eikasia has
taste as we'll as beauty"
Eyes" said Theodore; "and oh, JUS
yusi how grandly beautiful she is! how
full OF glorious strength and majesty |!
DO you know that l shrink away into
nothing beside Eikasia? She seems to
overshadOw me with her commanding
presence"
And yet" said Justus, passionately.
lone hair from that golden braid ex.
ceeds her charms"
"Nonsense, Justus! Do you think
me 30 vain As to be caught by such
rhapsodies, my good cousin? Keep your
hne speeches for finer ladies than l."
When Justus and Theodore entered
the reception chamber of the Empress.
Eikasia was already there. She was
dressed magniicently in a rich green
rooe, embroidered with gold stars. On
her head she wore q cOrOnet composed
OF gold and emeralds. Her train was
three yards in length, and was of white
Persian silk, bordered with gold stars on
green ground. A broad girdle. in
which gold was curiously interviewer.
confined her loose robe in folds around
her waist and q chain of emeralds drooped
from her white throat, setting off its ex-
quisite fairnesa A pale. olive hue was
family lighted up with a struggling
crimson, but it was the eyes that lighted
up the wondrous-the deer, passionate
eyes, whose glances seemed absolutely to
burn with the fires of the spirit within,
The long Iashes that shaded them rested
on the cheek; and the dark eyebrows
were penciled 30 evenly that every hair
lay in its own place, and seemed rs if it
could not be spared from the general
effect.
Eikasia' 9 hair was of that peculiar tint
of purplish black that is at once so rare
and beautiful; and, unlike Theodore S,
she wore it in long curls, that fell over
her face, partially concealing the pas
sionate look that sometimes wellcd out
from the very soul in moments of her
intensest enthusiasm.
Won by that look-for she wore it
now person, entering the room,
walked slowly past the others who were
standing in groups, or 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 sem
tentiOus tone of the period, he said,
"WOmen is the source of evil"
Her quickeye caught sight of the gold
en- apple. She OWNED Immediately the
cause of this, and the use to which be
was to apply it, and her dark eyes glis.
tened with proud yet happy express
sion as she quickly answered, "But
woman is also the source of much good
She turned aside to speak to ThcOdora,
but her words were bitter and sarcastic
now-for there was an air of sweetness
and purity in Theodora's face, thai cOL
trasted with her own passionate nature. |
The Emperor, who saw it, too, was disen-
chanted in a moment. All her beauty |
faded from before bis sight, and he
turned away disenthralled.
What was it! Did her tones jar upon
his nerves? or ws he attracted to the |
other maiden, wh)ss blushing cheek at
tested her modes.y, and whose sp rkling
eyes proclaimed her intellectually?
Who knows, save by what followed?
The apple quivered in his band. He ad-
vanced-stOpped = went on, in Corporal
Trim g own fashion, hundreds of years
and placed the bright, shin
ing fruit in the hand of the fair Theo-
dOral
Never before had such a blow fallen
on the self-complacency of Eikasia The
words died on her lips, and the tears
forced themselves into those large, black
orbs that burned 80 brightly few
minutes before. It was like rain after
lightning. She had not counted upon
this. When the Emperor had entered
she looked proudly aruund, and the
of that last glance in the great
steel mirror was still vivid enough 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 herl
A few moments of that forced gayety
which disappointed pride puts on, at
inst, to hide the keen pangs that are
rushing it, and then Eikasia was gone;
md the party, following her lead, as
usual, broke up. At the door, Justus