The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-08-30

Mascara, who much ARMED, had been
searching everywhere for her child.
She bent over che weeping girl, lifted
her in her arms, and bore her away to
her own chamber. There, amongst the
silken pillows, she soothed her to rest,
and to dreams of love and Balinea. But
Mascara had no power to induce her hus-
band to forgive this beautiful daughter,
or to give her, with a fitting dowry, to
the man she loved.
Time passed on, and brought the day
of the year on which the auction of
maidens was held in Babylon in those
days. There were fifteen women to be
sold to the highest bidder that day, and
great concourse had gathered in the
open space devoted to that purpose, not
only those who desired to pay for lovely
wives or receive much needed money
with unprepossessing ones were there,
but many who came from curiosity; and
through the crowd went the whisper
that, in his anger, Beleses, one of the
best-known citizens of Babylon, had
sent his only daughter, the marvellous
beauty, Althea, to be sold to whose de-
| sired her for wife,
Girls who were pretty and girls who
were not sat together on long stone
bench, closely yelled and utterly silent.
| The auctiOneer walked about with an
air of Importance. Anxious parents
whispered to the children. An old man,
with long white beard, chuckled to
himself over bag of gold. A poor
man, whose necessities were known to
all Babylon, though he was virtuous
and of good character, solemnly stared
at the little crooked figure of Gissa, who
had come to be sold of her own accord,
and who, doubtless, would bring the
greatest sum with her.
The green and white robe, belted with
embossed silver about the taper waist of
Althea; the white hands, the gorgeous
armlets, the long earrings of rich gold,
distinguished Althea from her compan-
ions, though she was closely yelled.
Those who were buyers were permit
ted to speak to the maidens. Arbaces
approached Althea first.
II all my fortune must be paid for
thee l will win thee, beautiful A1thea, -
he whispered.
She answered by bitter laugh. Then,
trembling and pale, Ballnea came for
ward.
"Althea, best beloved" he whis.
pered, 81 have sold all / have, but the
sum Is mere trifle. / shall lose thee,
for thou art fairer than all the women Of
Babylon. Arbaces will have thee. Fare
we'll. When thou art his l will kill
myself but Althea caught him by the
wrist.
Listen, Balinea," she said. "When
the time comes Arbaces will have none
of me. Then thou slso mayest refuse
to take me. 1t is possible. Remain
but swear that thou wilt keep silence
until place my hand thus upon the
other. Then, if still thou wouldst have
} me, cry out: s'Give me Althea." Ifnot
, go thy way, and | will live maiden in
my fathers home forever"
''What dost thou mean, AltheaP'
cried Balinea; but she made no answer
| And now the crowd was hidden tt
. silence, and driven back to certain
distanee-and crier spoke thus
/ "The rulers of Babylon, believing
, that women should be wed, for that they
: are feeble, helpless creatures. unfit t.
labor for themselves, unlearned anC
weak of will, so that they need protec
, tors and directors, have instituted thi:
auction of ma;dens, that no woman Ii
: Babylon need lack husband. For tn,
Z beautiful must great price be paid, bu
: with the ill-favored we give the sun
3 paid for the others, that each man ma,
, have some advantage. To-day, on
highest price is asked for Althea
daughter of our good citizen Belese
l and his wife Mascara. Althea, unvei
thyself."
: Althea, at this bidding, arose and ad
vanced She lifted her white hand an,
: tore the veil from her head A shriel
: arose as she did so, and the lookers-ol
e stood petrified Instead of the beauti
S full face they expected to see, they say
r a torn and bleeding countenance; and
Q head destitute of every hair. Two grea
, braids, which she cast ON the stones a
/, her feet, alone remained of her plente
n Gus tresses.
s People of Babylon!" she cried, eth
t have l done that may not wed ma
, | hate! How now, Arbaces? Wilt tho
g bid for meP"
A roar arose from the crowd and Al
: baces fell forward in a swoon, and wa
+ borne away by his friends. baline
n started forward, but was checked by tn
G soldiers.
Again the crier spoke:
U :" one VINO was lOV6ueSb is now OF
J, come the most hideous! Veil thysel
y Althea."
Then another name was called. TIL
q sale proceeded. Vast sums were pal
II for two beauties; moderate prices fo
: others. Even Gissa, with her lit
It pointed face and pretty hair and eye
Ii was not too ugly in the eyes of the ma
If who received fortune at her hand
|. Only Althea remained unsought-to
n hideous for any to desire. And now ST
IL lifted her hand, and at the signal Bal
n nea strobe forward.
Is "Give me Althea," he said" Altht
If who has done this for me-Althea, beal
le tiful forever to my heart. Give her
$ me, and keep your base gold. I'll MOI
n of it,
L But Althea, giving him her hand, ar
s, still remaining yelled, spoke quickly
y 81 claim my portion she sal
lie sSuch is the law of the Babylonian sa
a of maidens. ~ And she gathered Il
10 gold into her veil as her lover led h
away.