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

&
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 Balnea. But
Nasara 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
oper space devoted to that purpose, not
only those who desired to pay for lovely
wives or receive much needed money
with unprepossess;ng 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 a 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 chara ter. 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 veiled.
Those who were buyers were permit
ted to speak to the maidens. Arbaces
approached 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, Ballnea came for
ward.
"Althea, best beloved" he whis-
pered, 81 have sold all have, but the
sum Is a mere trife l shall lose thee,
for thou art fairer than all the women of
Babylon. Arbaces will have thee. Fare
we'll. When thou art his | 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: "Give me Althea." Hnot,
60 thy way, and will live maiden in
my father home forever"
"What dost thou mean, Althea?"
cried Balinea: but she made no answer.
And now the crowd was bidden to
silence, and driven back to certain
distance-and a crier spoke thus:
''The rulers of Babylon, believing
that women should be wed, for that they
are feeble, helpless creatures. unfit to
labor for themselves, unlearned and
weak of will, so that they need protec-
tors and directors, have instituted this
auction of ma;dens, that no woman in
Babylon need lack husband. For the
beautiful must great price be paid, but
with the ill-favored we give the sum
paid for the others, that each man may
have some advantage. To-day, our
highest price is asked for Althea,
daughter of our good citizen Beleses
and his wife Nasara. Althea, unveil
thysef."
Althea, at this bidding, arose and id
vanced. She lifted her white hand and
tore the veil from her head. A shrek
arose as she did so. and the lookers-on
stood petrified. Instead of the beauti-
full face they expected to see, they saw
a 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 plente-
Gus tresses.
"People of Babylon!" she cried, "this
have done that / may not wed a man
l hate! How now, Arbaces? Wilt thou
bid for me?''
A roar arose from the crowd and Ar
baces fell forward in swoon, and was
borne away by his friends. balinea
started forward, but was checked by the
soldiers.
Again the crier spoke:
"She who was loveliest is now be.
come 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 Gissa, with her little
pointed face and pretty hair and eyes,
was not too ugly in the eyes of the man
who received fortune at her hands.
Only Althea remained unsought-too
hideous for any to desire. And now she
lifted her hand, and at the signal Bali
nea strobe forward.
"Give me Althea," he said" Althea
who has done this for me-Althea, beau
tiful forever to my heart. Give her to
me, and keep your base gold. I'll none
of it"
But Althea. giving him her hand. and
still remaining yelled. spoke quickly
Il claim my portion" she said.
s'Such is the law of the Babylonian 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 Althes's
beauty returnad-the lovely hair grew