The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-17
XANTIPPE.

threshold of her door. The sun was
shining with an intolerable glare on the
white marble walls of the houses
around and Oh tho white lime dust of
the pavement, causing Daphne bright,
laughing eyes to wink and blink inyol-
UNFAIRLY. She drew thin, eauzy veil
over her head and face and slipped,
keeping carefully within the sparse
shadow cast by the walls of tho houses.
to a dwelling near by. Raising heavy
curtain hanging before the entrance
door, she tripped softly inside Tho
room, however, was quito empty. 1t
was small, square room, the walls col
orcd dark red; it's only furniture a tri
pod. Oh which We're burning dimly two
chased silver lamps.
She will be in tho Gynakeion, said
Daphne to herself softly, and raising
another curtain, which hung exactly
opposite, she passed through into sec
ond room. There, under portico which
led out into courtyard, upon a circu-
lar marble bench, sat the ono whom she
was secking-a young and beautiful
woman. long white garment, with
a border embroidered in crimson, Law
IN heavy, graceful folds about her small
outstretched feet; an upper garment
the chlton) of the same color as the
robc was gathered closely up about her
neck. but left her slender arms quite
bare, one of which rested languidIy
upon the carved back of the seat. The
woman's small head was bound with
three narrow scarlet silllen fillets, her
wavy hair caught up in loose knot at
the back of her neck. Hearing the cur
tain rustic. sho turned her head and
smiled as her dark eyes caught sight of
Daphne's smiling face peeping from
among its folds. kissing her hand. she
pointed toward the court and shook her
head as warning TO the newcomer not
20 speak too loud. In the court, regard
less OF the suns hot rays, by the side of
a fonntaln-a lions head, from whose
open mouth slender stream of water
fell into shallow basin-two men were
seated in earnest conversation.
Daphne glided noiselessly ND to her
friends side. and seating herself upon
tho ground laid her head upon the
other knees. She sat there some mo-
mentS i'll silence, endeavoring to catch
what it was the men were discussing.
In vain. She could hear only the sound
of their voices. That of the principal
speakcr-a dark, swarthy man, of mid
die age, with Il flat nose and thick, pro-
trudlng lips-was sonorous and mellow:
his companion's, high pitched and
squeaklng. After few minutes ST.
lence, Daphne Whispercd.
'Iow ugly he is-thy Socrates.''
But so learned, so wise, so great. 8"
murmured tho other in answer but she
sighed as she spoke.
Thou slightest. Hast wearicd OH the
first day OF thy welded life with thv
Philosophers inquired Daphne, With a
bright, sidclong glance.
No" answered Xantippo proudly.
" Is he not the most learned, the wisest
man in all Athens? And am happv to
think he considered me worthy to be his
wife. Thou shouldst have heard the
speech with which he welcomed me to
his roof yesterday. Among other things
he told me that there were evil demons
who lurked Ill corners and cupboards to
tempt young wives to be neglectful of
their duties. But there was also n deity
who, living under our roof, would take
me under his protection, guard INC from
evil and help me to resist temptation.
whom must propitiate by humility and
wifely obedience. But how can l do
this when Socrates himself prevents
mep"
Socrates-prevent thee! Speak, and
tell me how this can be. Thou knowcst
was welded against my will to Antis-
themes, preferring Glaucus, to whom
my parents refused me. Should I learn
from thee, however, that the wife of
philosopher has reason to complain of
her lot, shall no longer reproach nv
parents in my heart for bestowing me
on the merchant and denying me to the
scholar. ~
Thou knowest," answered Xantip-
pc, that it is my duty to SEQ that nv
lords table is well supplied with suita
BILE food. But how can | do this when
he gives me no money? Three times |
went this morning to him, asking him
gently, Give me, pray thee, a tctro-
boion, that may buy fish ana vcgeta-
bles for the midday meal" Twice he
gave me no answer; the third he spoke
not to me, but to Euclid. who arrived
here this morning from Niagara, "Eu-
cid, why does tins woman trouble us
and disturb lis Mt our discoursc:"
Before Daphne could open her mouth
to speak the words of sympathy trem
Hing on her l;pc Socrotos Io,,.; /.