Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1895-10-24

knight couil wish to win fair lady S
| heart
And 5cy,la BOXED till he passed from
ner view. Is she had done every time
she had seen him.
Then Wild thoughts coursed through
her excited brain. How cruel war
WAS. yet she blessed this war that
brought Minos to her sight. But how
! terrible II he should be killed. Oh, if
only peace might be had, she would
| nave offered herself as Il hostage.
linen came the wild thought of de-
liverins the city up. She could easily
90 1t. but one obstacle was in her way
The Fate6 had decreed that so long as
the purple lock remained On her faith
eF $ mead, the city should stand. 1t
needed but thai she should remove it
ana all would be we'll; for surely Minos
would be grateful to her aud she would
be happy
And then came the thought of that
fathers shame and degradation, but
only FOR moment, as one thought
aIter another coursed through her
mind She felt that she could could
pass through fire and water to serve
Mlnos, yet that was not needed. An
other woman would dare as much. and
| could any ore dare more than she?
Then the victory was won. but not
on the side of duty. And only then,
when she had fully determined en- her
plan. did she fnd peace or rest.
That night she arrayed herself in her
richest robes. Never had she looked
more beautiful. The Graces themselves
might have envied her. And Nisus
smiled a welcome to his daughter, as
she entered the banqueting hall. All
traces of her grief at the sacrifice had
disappeared and the king was glad.
Scylla suffered all his attention and
endearments, but hurried to her apart
ments as soon as she could. She feared
lest her resolution might weaken and
so her happiness be forever lost.
How may of us have stood in like
position, with all the reasons for and
against our actions crushing us down,
our life and death in the balance, which
breath could give or take!
1t was after the midnight watch had
been called, and the palace was sunk in
slumber. that figure, enveloped in
dark cloak. glided through the wide
corridor to the kings apartments. At
the door challenge rung out but a
moment later the sentinel knelt and
the princess passed in to her father.
Nisus slept, and the daughter slowly
approached his couch. How noble he
looked, but the girl steeled her heart
against him!
A moment later the dark figure fled
a CLEAN of triumph shone from the
eyes, and love and victory struggled
for mastery in the countenance. And
the king slept on, but the purple lock
had left his head forever!
So Scylla went through the dark city
and left it behind her as she passed
the wall through secret gate.
Swiftly she entered the camp Of the
enemy and demanded to see King
Minos.
When the king beheld her he
thought so lovely a woman had never
before walked the earth. but when,
holding out the purple lock, she said
that she gave up her city, her father
herself, he spurned her from him.
''Shall Crete" he cried, where Jove
himself was Graded, be polluted by
this monster? Infamous woman, be-
gone. and may neither land nor sea
afford thee resting placer
"Alas!' cried Scylla. for thee have
given up everything! Ay, I am de-
serving Of death, but thy hand should
not be the one to deal the blow!
But Minos would have nothing to do
with her. and, the next morning, CIV
ing orders that suitable terms should
be allowed to the vanquished city, he
sailed away with his fleet
AS the ships were departing Scylla
jumped into the sea. and, grasping the
rudder of the vessel that conveyed
Minos. was carried along with it till
an eagle. into which her father had
been changed. darted down and pecked
at her with its beak and claws. Scylla
cried for mercy, and some plying
deity changed her into a bird.
And to this day the eagle pounces
upon the gull. ever seeking vengeance
for the old crime.