San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-27

The statue smiled with plying scorn.
"His own act has given me the power
hold" she said, land assuredly he shall
not escape mel"
Listen" pleaded Matilda: perhaps
you are not really wicked tits only that
you don't know! The ring he put
without ever thinking what he was do
| ing--on your finger was meant for
mine. 1t was. really! He is my lover;
/ give him back to mel"
"Matilda!" shrieked the 'wretched
man, you don't knew what you're do
ing. Run away, quick. DO as / tell
YOU"
$50, %says the goddess, turning upon
him, lin this, too, you have tried to
deceive me! You haze loved--you still
love-this maiden!"
"Oh, not in that wsy!" he shouted,
overcome by his terror for Matilda.
"There'S some mistake. Iou muslin
pay any attention to what she says;
she's excited. AL my sisters get like
ltnat when they're excited-they'd say
anything"
"Silencet" commanded the statue.
-"Shonld not have skin to read the
signs of love? This girl loves you with
no sisters love. Deny it mott"
Leander felt that his position was be-
coming untenable; he could only save
Matilda by a partial abandonment.
"Well, suppose she does, " he said, I'm
not obliged to return it, am 70"
Matilda shrank back. "Oh, Lean.
der!" she cried with a piteons little
moan.
you've brought it on YOURSELF" he
said; "you will come here interfering!'
"lnterfering!" she repeated wildly
Gy0u call it that! How can / help my
self? Am to, stand by and see you
giving yourself up to-nobody can tell
what? AS long as / have strength to
move and breath to speak | shall stay
here and beg and pray of yon not to be
so foolish and wicked as ito go away
with her! How do you know where she
will take you TOP"
cease this railing!" said the statue
alexander loves you not! Away, then
before | lay you dead at my feet"
"Leander," cried the poor girl, "tell
me: it isn't true what she says? You
didn't mean it! you do love me! You
don't really want me to go away?"
For her own sake he must be cruel
but he could scarcely speak the words
that were to drive her from his side for.
ever. "This-this lady, " he said, speaks
quite correct. I'D very much rather
you went!"
She drew a sobbing breath. II don't
care for anything morei" she said, and
faced the statue deiantly. "You say
you can strike me dead" she said; al
am sure l hope you can! And the
sooner the better-for / will not leave
this room!"
The dreamy smile still curved the
statues lips, in terrible contrast to the
infexible purpose of her next words.
"You have called down your own de.
struction," she said, land death shall
be yours"
"Stop a Bit" cried Leander, @mind
what you're doing! Do you think I'll
go with you if you touch single hail
of my poor Titles head? Why, I'd
sooner stay in prison all my life! See
here" and he put his arm round Ma,
tilda's slight form, "if you crush hel
you crush me-so now!"
"And if so" said the goddess, with
cruel contempt, "are you of such value
| in my sight that / should stay my
hand2 You, whom / have sought but
to manifest my power, for no softer
feelings have You ever inspiredl And
| now, having withstood me for SO long
| you turn, even at the moment of yield
| ing, to yonder creature! And it i;
| enough. / will contend no longer fol-
30 mean a prizel Slave and fool thai
you have shown yourself, Aphrodite re
| jects you in disdain!"
Leander made no secret of his salts
faction at this. Now you talk sense!'
he cried; II always told you we weren't
suited. Tillie, do you hear? She give.
me up! She gives me up!"
| aye" she continued, "I need yor
not. Upon you and the maiden by YOU
side invoke speedy and terrible de
| struction, which, ere you can attempt
to flee, shall surely overtake you!"
Leander was so overcome by thi!
highly unexpected sentence that he los
all control over his limbs; he could only
stand where he was, supporting NJ la
and stare at tho goddess in fascl.--.oeC
dismay.
The goddess was raising both hands
palm upward, to the ceiling, and pres
emily she began to chant in a thrillin.
monotone: Hear, o Zeus, that sites
on high, delighting in the thunder
hear the prayer of thy daughter, Aphro
dite the Peerless, as she calleth upol
thee, nor suffer her to be set at naugh
with impunity! Rise now, 1 beseecl
thee, land hurl with thine unerring han,
blazing bolt that shall consume thes
presumptuous insects, to smoking
cinder! Blast them, Sire, with the fire
wreaths of thy lightning! blast, an
spare not!n .....
kiss me, Tillie, and shut your eyes,
said Leander, ats coming!"
She was nesting close against him
and could not repress faint shiverin
moan. al don't mind, now we're to
gether," she whispered, "if only
won't hurt much!"
The PRAYER uttered with sGsh dead