Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-04-06

heaven that the sun may shine, and tell
ing them that strange talk has come to
your ears by the mouth of Saga and tho
other women of words that have been
spoken by the god Jal, which would seem
to show that he is no god, but that of this
you believe nothing as yet. Then tell them
that if the face of the heavens remain I'M
changed on the morrow you will know
that this talk is true. and that they will
be brought to tho temple there to be
judged and dealt with according to the
finding of the people, who have heard
these things also"
And what If the weather should
change, daughter?"
1t will not change yet awhile. but If
that should chance we must make another
plan.'
Just now swore to you that would
not harm her whom you love, and yet,
daughter, If she is proved to be false
goddess in the face of all the multitude,
how shall she escape harm, for then her
end must he quick and terriblef'
she shall escape because she shall not
be there, father. You have seen tho white
man with her-not the deliyerer, the
other. Were that man dressed in the
robes of AGA and sat on high upon the
head Of the statue when the light is low,
who shall say that it was not Aca?''
Then you would give all the others to
death, daughters"
Nay, would save the deliverer alive,
for awhile, at least
"And wherefore? You are too subtle
for me-
For this reason, father. He loves her
who is named AGA and trusts to marry her,
to marry her fully according to the Gus
tom of his people. Therefore would that
he should SEQ her given to another"
To anothcrl To whom, them"
TO Olfan, the king, who also loves
her"
Now Nam held up his hands in perplex-
ity, saying;
"Oh, my daughter, be plain, pray of
you, for | cannot understand your coun-
sells. Were>it not better to give to these
people the red stones that they desire and
send them secretly from the land, saying
that they had vanished into the earth
again, for SO it seems to me We should be
rid of much shame and troube?"
Listen, my father, and l will tell you.
Were she whom love to leave this land
should see her face no more, and this mad
ness has come upon me that cannot live
without the sight Of her. Also how can
these people escape the dangers of the road?
But four of them are left alive, and even
were they without our borders they must
| journey for three months before they come
/ to any place where white men live, pass
ing through swamps and deserts and tribes
of wild men, which they could hardly do
with arms such as those whereby the deliv
erer slew the priests, and now their arms
are gone, you alone know where, my
father"
THE Instruments of which you speak
| lie in the deep waters of tho temple pool,
my daughter for there l caused them to
be cast. +"
Their arms are gone. They are alone.
Here they must live or die. Three of them
l would give to death, and the fourth
would make the wife of the king, seeing
that nothing better can be done for her
Let her be hidden for awhile, and then let
Olfan take her. AS for the tale that we
shall tell of the matter to the ears of the
people, doubtless time will show it. l say
that Olfan loves her and will buy her with
a great price, and the price that you must
ask shall be that henceforth he obeys you
in everything"
The scheme is good, daughter-at least,
bearing my oath in mind, l have none
better, though were it not for my oath
either / would kill them all or set them
free. Yet who can say that it shall sue
ceedy 1t is in the hands of fate. Let it
go as fate wills And now follow me, that
l may place you where you shall dwell in
comfort, and then when we have eaten
will speak with these gods whom you have
let loose upon u.s."
That morning passed heavily enough
for the four wretched prisoners in the pal
ace. For some hours they sat together in
the throneroom almost silent, for they
were crushed by misfortune and fear The
tolls were closing on them and they knew
it, nor could they lift finger to save them
selves. Francisco knelt and prayed, Leon
ard and Juanna sat hand in hand listen
ing to him, while Otter wandered to and
fro like an unquiet spirit, cursing Soa,
Saga and all women in many languages
and with resource and vigor that struck
his hearers as unparalleled. At length he
vanished through the curtains to get drunk
probably, Leonard reflected
However, the dwarf sought not drink,
but vengeance. A few minutes later, hear
ing screams in the courtyard, Leonard ran
out to find himself a witness of a curious
scene. There on the ground, surrounded
| by group of other women, her compan-
ions, who were laughing at her discomfi-
ture, lay the stately Saga, bride of the
snake, and over her stood her lord and
master, the god jail, his left hand twisted
in her long hair, while with his right, in
which he grasped leather thong, despite
her screams and entreaties he admins
tered to her one of the soundest and, be it
/ ,Jn1 h.. 81, A..
fell to the lot OF erring women.
"What are you doing, you foolf" saiL
| leonard.
Il am teaching this wife of mine that it
Is not well to drug god, baas," replied
Otter, then added, with final and most
ferocious cut, There, get you gone, witch,
and let me see your ugly face no more. T"
The woman rose and went, cursing and
weeping, while the dwarf followed Leon
ard back into the throncroom.
You have done it now, Otter, said
Leonard. well, it does not much mat
ter. l fancy she is gone for good any
way"
Eyes, baas, she has gone, and she has
gone sore," replied Otter, with a faint
grin.
At that moment messenger arrived
! announcing that Nam was without wait
ing for an audience.
LET him be admitted" said Juanna.
with sigh, and seated herself on one .
the thrones, Otter clambering into the
other.
They had scarcely taken their places
when the curtains We're thrown back and
| the ancient priest entered, attended by
about score of his fellows. He bowed
| himself humbly before Juanna and the
dwarf and then spoke.
"Oh, ye gods" he said, 81 come in the
name of the People of the Mist to take
counsel with you. Why it is we do not
know, but things have gone amiss in the
land. Tho sun does not shine as in past
years before you came to bless us; neither
does the grain spring. Therefore your peo-
pie are threatened with famine, and
they pray that you may comfort them out
of the store of your wisdom"
And If we have no comfort to give,
Mani"
.'Then, queen, the people ask that you
will be pleased to meet them tomorrow in
the temple at the moonrise, when the
night is one hour old, that they may talk
with you there through the mouth of me,
your servant
And IL we weary of your temple and
will not come. Mann" asked Juanna.
"Then this is the command of the peo-
pie, o AGA, that we bring you thither, and
it is a command that may not be disobey-
ed, ;" answered the high priest slowly.
Beware, Man, replied Juanna.
Strange things happen here that call for