The Russellville Democrat., 1885-05-14
THE AUCTION 0F nAIDEss-

e10 angry Tg2ce, 1sS8 Iss tsssas ftfsr ' {. rl- ] Iy troTe b cheek her sobs in order fhas < she na- -zht answer him, for the tears of ! InAide1s fell as easily then as now. and young hear1s were as soft and old heads a. full of plans for wOrldiF gain and ss fOrgetful 0f tho power of love as in this [ year of our Lord, I8S3. taough the { scene was B25ylon, and the time five hundred years before the day on which the infant Jesus opened his eyes in the manager at Bethlehem
 :. Altfea, Alfhear' called Beleses again: and Althea drew the veil of siI- < yer tissue across her face. and entered { the presence of her father.
 She stood before him. Der wiliowy fg- ure clad in rich stuff. her face faintly | outlined beneath her reil. the dusky plaits of her long hair falling to her knees, and with bent head made him ! the rsverence . girl always offered 10 her father. But she could mol speak; sobs still ehoked her voice.
 Beleses looked at her with mingled emotions. She was lovely as dream graceful as 9 willow branch, but she had resisted his command. opposed her self to his will He stretched out his l hand in paterHal carzss. but ere he touched her anger oYer1 anne affection, and he struck her, though lightly, upon the shoulder.
 Again dropping heads'' he cried Again weeping eye2 Again an air ss though I had given command that tBou sh0uldst be put to death, instead of ordering all things well for thee? ! Why. girl, thou art seventeen, and un- | &I--R fade Thou wit be maiden in the house of thy father. and reproach to { thy parents And Arigaees is 8 man of might and rich beyond compare. Thou [ will have slaves. and jewels. and honor. l Go to toy mother, girl. aud tell her thou { hast listened 10 my words, and bid her see that thy robes are of the finest and richest stuiE grudge nothing when give my daughter 10 ArDaees, for he will be son 10 be proud of-a fitting spouse for thee, and thou must wed him. m-"
 But Althea at this uttered little scream.
 ..Father," she cried. T VIII never mary Arsacss. Rather will take my own life. Arbaces is rich and power ful, and not i'll to look upon. but to me he is nothing. Father, love Balinea, 1 and shame would be my portion should wed one man while I loved anolher. 1 And my Balinea would die. He has told nc so. Father. have pity on me,'
 But the old man only laughed sareas- tiealIy.
 ..Ihy Balfuea would die?" he an- sweEed. '.The prate of a forune-hunt- CT, who has made silly girl believe that he loves her. For the sake of this Painea. who has neither money nor the esteem of men, nothing but face like q woman's and the gift of song, which he shares with the wild birds. thou hast refused to wed more good men than l can now recall by name. This time l will be obeyed. l 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 lon, or a river about it's walls, said AL thea T will live unwed, rather than disobey my father. but I 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.
 Thou canst be resolute, Althea," he sad. but so can l. 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, will send thee this year to the auction of maidens, and there thou wilt be sold. Thou. the Ioveliest maiden to day in Babylon, to whom bids for thee. Thou | nc is.Tre serfr. Fr.T some ugly or defOrmcd woman who has ha no gooers; for al this auction cf 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 t1 take to wife .uncOmcly creatures, and 60 become rich. Thy Balinea may go ither fl be pieases. and bid for the l hUuehbaeked Gissa He would gain q fortune SO; but he will not be able tO bld for thee; his purse is too small.
 Father Father" screamed Althea.
 But old Beleses flung her from him as she chung 10 him, and left her lying pr1strate on the floor. ScDbing and wce3.ng. she crouched there until day ia ed and twilight fell. hen female slave, bearing silver lamp. entered the | room, usheHmg m AltEra mother, Nasara, who much alrmed, had been searching everywhere for her child. She bent over the weeping girl, lifted her in her arm and bore her away to her own chamber There, amongst the sil cn pillows, she sooihed her 70 rest, and 10 dreams of love and Bal nea. But Nasara bad no power to induce her bus band to forgive this beautiful daughter, og o. give her, wtl a fitting dowry, Q 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 womeH to b. sod to the highest bidder that day. and q great c7nc9urse had gathered in inc open spa, devoted to that purpose, not Ouly those w desired to pay for iovel " yes or receive much needed money with unpregOssts ng ones we there, bul many who came from eu iositg: and through the crowd went the hisper that in his anger, Beieses. one of the be-t-known citzens of Babylon. had sent his only daughter, the marvellous beauty, AIthea. to be sod to whoso de-