The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-04-19

Those who were buyers were permitted to speak to the maidens. Arbaces ap- preached Althea first.
 " If all my fortune must be paid for thee will win thee, beautiful Althea, he whispered.
 She answered by bitter laugh. Then, trembling and pale, Belinea came for. ward.
 " "Althea, best beloved" he whispered, " have sold all have, but the sum is mere trae. | shall lose thee, for thou art Eirer than all the women of Babylon. Arbaoes will have thee. Farewell. When thou art his will kill myself," bu, Al thea caught him by the wrist.
 Listen, Balnea," she said. When the time comes Arbaces will have none of me. Then thou also refuse to take me. It is possible. Remain. but swear that you will keep silence until l place my hand thus upon the other. Then, if still thou wouldst have me, cry out: Give me Althea.' If not, will go my way and will live maiden in my la ther home forever"
 What dost thou mean, Althea v cried l.eiinea, but she made no answer
 and now the crowd was bidden to si- lence and driven back to certain distance, and cfier spoke thus:
 The rulers of Babylon, believing ,ha, the women should be wed. for that they are feeble, helpless creatures, unfit ta la Dor for themselves, unl.arned and weak oi will, so tha, they need protectors and directors, have instituted this auction of mAdens, that no woman in Babylon need lack husband. For the beautiful must Il grea price be paid. but with the iil-fa- sofcd we give the sum paid for the oth. CTS. that each may have the same advan- age. To-day our highest price is asked for Aithea, daughter of our good citizen Beleses and his wlie Nasara. Athea. unvaIl thyself'
 Asthea, al this bidding, arose and ad- vaaccd. She Hfted her white hand and tore the veil from her head A shrek arose as she dtd 70. and the lookers-en stood ,.etr+Tied. Instead oi the beautiful face they had exp C to see. they sa@ a tom and bleeding countenanee. and :. head destitute of every hair. Two great braids. which she ast on the stones al her feet, alone remained of her plentcous tresses
 {" People of Babylon,' she cried, this have done tha, may not wed man hate. How now, Arbaccs: Vii, thou bid for me?'
 A roar arose from the crowd. and Ar haoes fell forward in swoon. and was borne away by his friends. Belinea started forward but was checked by the soldiers.
 Again the erier spake
 She who was the loveliest has now become the most hideous. Veil thyself, Althea.'
 Then another name was called. The sale proceeded. Vast sums were paid for two beauties moderate prices for others. Even ,issa, with her pointed lace and pretty hair and eyes. was not too ugly ln the eyes of the man who re- ceived fortune her hands. Only AL thea remained unsought-too hideous Tor any to desire. And now she lifted her head and al the signal Belinea strode forward.
 "Gve me Al.hea." he said" Althea, who has done this for me -Athea, beau- tiiul. forever beautiful to my heart Give her me, and keep your base gold-l'l none of it."
 clam my portion she said. "Sueh IS the law of the Babylonish sale ofmaid, ems" And she gathered the gold into her veil as her lover led her away.
 And, so sayeth tradition. the gods smiled upon the lovers, and all Althea's beauty returned - the lovely hair grew long again, the wound healed without scar, and the constant Behnea had a ! lovely wife as we'll as fortune. And though old Bcleses might vex hims eli he could alter nothing. for the woman who was sold at the yearly auction of maidens could not be taken from CT husband And they lived and loved for man, happy years in the old ty of Babylon.