Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-12-28
SH E.:
A History Of Adventure.
TBy H. RIDER HACGARD. |
CHAP XIII CONTINUED.

Presently we came TO An enormous pile
which we rightly took TO he temple, GOV.
ering at least -four acres of ground, appar-
emily arranged IN "A series of courts each
one iaclosng another of smaller size, on
the principle of "a Chinese nest of boxes,
and separated one from the other by rows
OF columns And while think Of il | may
as well state "A remarkable thing about thu
shape of these columns, which resembled
none that | have ever seen or heard of.
being made with a kind of waist in the
center, and swelling out above and below.
At first we thought that the shape was
meant To symbolic or suggest the female
form. as was "A common habit among the
ancient religious architects of all creeds.
On the following day. however, as we went
up the slopes of the mountain, we discov
cred large quantity of the most stately
looking palms, of which the trunks grew
exactly in this shape, and have now no
doubt that the first designer of these col
umns drew his inspiration from the grace
full bends of those very palms, or their an
cestors, which centuries ago beautiied the
slopes of the mountains that once formed
the shores of the volcanic lake.
At the facade of this huge temple, Aye
sha descended from her litter. There
used to be spot here, Kallikrates, where
one might sleep Two thousand years ago
\ Il fi,aY, liz,
rest therein, but since then have not set
foot here. nor any man. and perhaps it has
fallen. 1t is here" she said and beckoned
to two mutes one Of whom came forward.
and produced lamp and lighted it from
his brazer AS soon as the lamp was lighted
we entered the place before which Ayesha
stood. Here we stopped, and partook Of
of food
"Wot We why | have brought We here
tonight my Holly?' said Ayesha. 81
brought ye-nay it is strange, but know
est thou Kalhkrates, that thou lest at this
moment upon the very spot where thy dead
body lay when | bore thee back to those
caves of Kor so many years ago? 1t all
returns to my mind now. can see ii, and
horrible is II TO my sight
Il brought ye," Ayesha continued, that
We might look upon the most wonderful
sight that ever the eye of man beheld-the
full moon shining over ruined Kor When
ye have done your eating will show you
this great temple and the God that men
once worshipped therein "
Of course we got up al once and started.
And here again my pen fails me. What
saw. magnificent as it was even in its ruin,
is beyond the power of description.
Come" said Ayesha, land | will show
you the stony flower of LONELINESS and
Wonders very crown, if yet II stands to
mock time with its beauty and fill the heart
OF man with longing for that which is be
hind the veil" and she led us info the inner
shrine of the old fame.
There in the center of the Utmost court,
we stood face To face with what is perhaps
the grandest allegorlcal work Of Art that
the genius of her children has ever given TO
the world In the exact center OF the court
was huge round ball of dark stone, some
forty feet in diameter, and standing on the
ball was colossal winged figure of a
beauty. The statue was hewn from mar
BILE so pure and white that it shown as the
moonbeams danced upon it, and its height
was trhe under twenty feet. 1t was the
winged figure of woman of such marvel
Gus lovellness and delicacy of form that
the size seemed rather to add to than de-
tract from It's beauty.
What is she?" | asked.
"Canst thou not guess, oh Holly an
swered Ayesha Where, then, is thy
Imagination? 1t is Truth standing on the
World and calling on her children to un
veil her face
CHAP. XNIV.
When we arose she next morning we
found She ready to start, while old Billali
and the two mutcs were collecting the bag
gage Ayesha greeted us, and Leo asked
her bow she had slept.
"Il. my Kallikrates,' she answered.
Gill. This night have strange ana hideous
dreams come creeping through my brain,
and know not what they portend. Al
most do feel as though some evil oyer.
Swallowed me And yet how can evil
touch me? ! wonder if, should aught hap
pen to me, 50 that ! slept and left thee
waking. wouldst thou think gently of me2
wouder, my Kallikrates. if thou woudst
tarry till came again, as for so many cen
turics have tarred forthy coming? Come,
let us be setting forth, for we have far to
20: and before another day is born in yon-
der blue should we stand in the place Of
Life"
AS the fun rose so did Ayesha's spirits.
and she laughingiy set down her previous
depression to the associations OF the spot
where she had slept