The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-03-27
curiosity; and through the crowd went

CuTlO5llyt dHu tHIOuSu Ii lAo CioWu WCAt
the whisper that, in his anger, Beleses,
one of the best known citizens of Baby
lon, had sent his only daughter, the
marvellous beauty, Althea, to be sold
to whose wanted 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 their children. An old
man with a long white beard chuckled
to himself over bag of gold. A poor
man whose necessities were know to
all Babylon. though he was virfuous
and of good character, solemnly gaz Il
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 companions, though she was close
ly yelled,
Those who were buyers were per-
mitted to speak to the maidens. Arba-
ces approached Althea first.
''If all my fortune must be paid fo-
thee | will win thee, beautiful Althea,"
he whispered.
She answered by bitter laugh.
Then, trembling and pale, Balinea
came forward.
'.Althea, best beloved" he whisper
ed, Il have sold all l have, but the
sum is mere trif1e. | shall lose thee,
for thou art fairer than all the women
of Babylon. Arbaces will have thee.
Farewell. When thou art his 1 will kill
myself" but Althea caught him by the
wrist.
''Listen Balinea," she said. .tWhen
the time comes Arbaces will have none
of me. Then thou mayst also refuse to
take me. 1t 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
60 my way, and | will live maiden in
my fathers home forever"
"What dost thou mean, Althea?"
cried Balinea; bnt she made no answer.
silence, and driven back to a certain
distance-and a crier spoke thus;
1.-THE rulers OF Babylon, believing
that the women should be wed, for that
they are feeble, helpless creatures, un-
fit to labor for themselves, unlearned
and weak of will, so that they need
protectors and directors, have insti-
tuted this auction of maidens, that no
woman in Babylon need lack q hus-
band. For the beautiful must great
price be paid, but with Tie ill-favored
we give the sum paid for the others.
that each man may have some advan-
tage To-day our highest price is ask
ed for Althea, daughter of our good
citizen Beleses and his wife Nasara.
Althea, unveil thyself."
Althea, at this bidding, arose and ad-
vanced. She lifted her white hand and
tore the veil from her head, A shrek
arose as she did so, and the lockers on
stood petrltied. Instead of the beauti-
full face they had expected to see, they
saw q torn and bleeding countenance;
and head destitute of every hair,
Two great braids, which she cast on
the stones at her feet. alone remained
of her plenteous tresses.
'.People of Babylon" she cried,
''this have done that I may not wed a
man hate! How now, Arbaces? Wilt
thou bid for me?"
A roar arose from the crowd, and
Arbaces fell forward in a swoon, and
was borne away by his friends. Bali
nea started forward but was checked
by the soldiers.
Again the crier spake:
''She who was the loveliest has now
become the most rideous. Veil thyself,
Althean
Then another eame was called. The
sale proceeded. Vast sums were paid
for two beauties; moderate prices for
others. Even Gissa, with her pointed
face and pretty hair and eyes, was not
too ugly in the eyes of the man who re-
ceived fortune at her hands. Only
Althea remained unsought-too hide
Gus for any to desire. And now she
lifted her head, and at the signal Bali
nea strobe forward.
'Give me Althea," he said-.Althea
who has done this for me-Althea,
beautiful, forever beautiful to my heart.
Give her to me. and keep your base
gold-T'll none of it"
81 claim my portion she said.
''Such is the law of the Babylonish
sale of maidens. 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 wounds healed without
a scar, and the constant Belinea had
lovely wife as well as a fortune. And
though old Beleses might vex himself,
he could alter nothing, for the woman
who was sold at the yearly auction of
maidens could not be taken from her
husband. And they lived and loved
for many happy years in the old city OF
Rahvlon