St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-01-12
THE AUCTION OF MAIDENS.

HE AICllUN VI MAlDENS.
"Althea! Althea! Where art thour'
1t was Beleses who called, in stern
and angry voice; and his daughter vain
" strove to check her sobs in order that
she might answer him; for the tears oi
maidens fell as easily then as now, and
young hearts were as soft and old heads
as full of plans for worldly gain and as
forgetful of the power of love as in this
year Of our Lord, 1888; though the
scene was Babylon, and the time five
hundred years before the day on which
the infant Jesus opened his eyes in the
manger at Bethlehem.
Althea! Althear' called Beleses
again; and Althea drew the veil of sill
vec tissue across her face, and entered
the presence of her father.
She stood before him, her willowy fig
ure clad in rich stuff, her face family
outlined beneath her veil, the dusky
plaits of her long hair falling to her
knees, and with bent head made him
the reverence girl always offered to her
father. But she could not speak; sobs
still choked her voice.
Beleses looked at her with mingled
emotions. She was lovely as a dream,
graceful as willow branch; but she
had resisted his command, opposed her
self to his will. He stretched out his
hand in a paternal caress, but ere he
touched her anger overc anne affection,
and he struck her, though lightly, upon
the shoulder.
"Again a dropping head?" he cried.
"Again 4 weeping eye? Again an air
as though ! had given command that
thou shouldst be put to death, instead
of ordering all things well for thee?
Why, girl, thou art seventeen, and un-
wed! In year or two thy beauty will
fade. Thou wilt be maiden in the
house of thy father, and a reproach to
thy parents. And Arbaces is a man of
might and rich beyond compare. Thou
wilt have slaves, and jewels, and honor.
Go to thy mother, girl, and tell her thou
hast listened to my words, al bid her
see that thy robes are of the finest and
richest stuff. l grudge nothing when
/ give my daughter to Arbaces, for he
will be a son to be proud ola fitting
spouse for thee, and thou must wed
him."
But Althea at this uttered little
scream.
Father" she cried, 81 will never
marry ArDaces. Rather I will take my
own life. Arbaces is rich and power
full, and not ill to look upon, but to me
he is nothing. Father, l love Balinea,
and shame would be my portion should
/ wed one man while l loved another.
And my Balinea would die. He has told
me so. Father, have pity on mer'
But the old man only laughed sarcas-
tically.
"Ihy Balinea would die?'' he an
swered. 1.-The pirate of fortune-hunt-
Ell, who has made a silly girl believe
that he loves her. For the sake of this
Balinea, who has neither money nor
the esteem of men, nothing but face
like woman's and the gift of song,
which he shares with the wild birds,
thou hast refusedto wed more good men
than l can now recall by name. This
time l will be obeyed. will consult
an oracle as to the day of thy wedding,
and on that day thou shalt become the
wife of Arbaces."
Not while there is poison in Baby
Ion, or a river about its walls" said Al
thea. Il will live unwed, rather than
disobey my father, but l will be the
wife of no one but Balinea.
She spoke as only those speak who
have formed unalterable resolutions,
and her father listened with an angry
comprehension of the fact.
.sThou canst be resolute, Althea," he
said. s.but so can ]. Mark me, for
what say shall be so. If by to-mor-
rows dawn thou dost still repeat that
which thou hast but just uttered, l will
send thee this wear to the auction of
maidens, and there thou wilt be sold.
Thou, the loveliest maiden to-day in
Babylon. to whom bids for thee. Thou
wilt bring fine price-a portion for
some ugly or deformed woman who has
had no wooers; for at this auction OF
maid ms, wisely instituted that the
women Of Babylon should all have hus-
bands, while for the beauties rich men
pay great sums. poor ones receive mon
ey to take to wife uncomely creatures,
and SO become rich. Thy Balinea may
go tnither if he pleases. and bid for the
hunchbacked Gissa. He would gain .
fortune so; but he will not be able to
bid for thee; his purse is too small"
Father! Father.' screamed Althea.
But old Beleses flung her from him as
she clung to him. and left her living
prostrste on the floor. SoDbing and
weeping, she crouched there until day
faded and twilight fell. Then . female
slave, bearing silver lamp, entered the