The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-02
Still but half conscious, and hor memory

Still but half conscious. and hor memory
a blank, she looked round her with a va
cant stare. by degrees n rag OF light camc
back to her. She raised her head. Grand
father" she family murmured: The old
ter" he cried. "You are given back to me!
Mithra be praised" And for perhaps h
first time he embraced his child with all a
fathers tenderness.
Leila had now sunk back and closed her
eyes. fatigued by her first effort. Suddenly
"How did I come here?" she asked.
Catherine and hor brother-where are
theyY
Goucha- Nichin, though capable Of treach-
cry and deceit, could not lie, nor. as he we'll
knew would it have availed him in this in
stance.
''Iney are in the subterranean sanctu-
ary," he said.
"Hesvens!" cried Leila terrified. "What
do ! hear?" md pressing either hand against
her head, she endeavored to collect her dis
jointed thoughts.
IL have been asloep, is it not 80 grand
father?-ssleep a long time-nnd the 9th
ersp All! ycs. remember now! We were
last moment, was sorry that had
obeyed you. I tried to shake off that
terrible sleep. | felt thHt | WAS betray-
ing them. Oh! grandfather" she
concluded, in a voice shaken with sobs; do
not tell me that you have left them to such
o frightful death; that We have run away
from them like robbers in the night! Tell
me it is all u horrible drean,!w
my daughter said the fire. worshipper,
at was necessary. Think you it cost me
nothing? Have you ever before known mt
betray the confidence of another mortal
But here there were interests higher than
justice of humanity. l WIS forced to sub
nit and to ignore my " feelings in orde
to accomplish the sacrifice exacted BY
Mithra." -
"Ohv' sobbed Leila. perish the being
who exacts such sacrifcesl He is a vain
idol, or rather the very genius of evil!'
Leila! do not blaspheIne!'
lis it not your own lesson? Have yor
not taught me to know the tree by its owl
fruit? No, he can be neither just nor good
but do not think" she cried, %springing tt
her feet. shat ] am going to let such
crime be done. Once already I haze fount
the way to the sanctuary. | will seek i
again. Perhaps / may be in tine!"
"Leila," said the gueber, in a trembling
voice, far different to his usual tone o
stern authority, my heart is breaking a
the sight of your grief. l would have spares
you, but it was not left to me. II now
cease speaking these impious words-aban
%disobeyed me; l forbid you to return to tn
sanctuary"
"My father" said Leila, in a voice as firm
as it was sad, you have just said that jus
tlce must yield the interests of Mithra;
am about to let obedience yield to justice.
"What isyour desire?" said the guebe1
in broken tones.
ITO find them again, to call them bacl
to life. to lead them to the light of day!'
"They can NOT recover conscience excep
by certain formula, which you are ignoran
Of"
"Then I will die with them!"
"And this. for strangers?"
"They are strangers no more"
Mithra?"
"Mithra has exacted barbarous and infa
nous things!" said the young girl. I"
am no longer one of the faithful. Farewell
grandfather" and she wrapped the cloa
around her.
II shall be left Alone" murmured the oil