Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-04-06
pIate tho lorcliness 4xaich ne now Icarnea

plate the loneliness witch he now learned
belonged TO the white stranger at her side
Have not said that my power is lit
tie, queens'' he answered somewhat SUI
lenly. Moreover, why should l help
those who came to the land to trick Us,
ard who have brought the anger of the
gods upon its children
Because we saved your life, Oifan, and
you swore TO be loyal to u.s.
Had it not been for you, queen, my
life would not have been in danger. More
over, l sworc fealty to gods, and now the
gods are mortals, upon whom the true
gods will be avenged Why, then, should
help your"
Because we have been friends, Olfan.
You shall help us for my sake. .
For your sake. queen, I" he said bitter
ly, for your sake, who tell me that you
are this man wife, and that you love him
to the death? Nay, this is much to ask
Had it been otherwise, had you been I'M
wed and willing to look upon me, the king
of this land, with favor, then doubtless
had died for your sake if there were need.
but now-I! Have you then, no better
reasons to show why should risk my life
for you and these menu
Il have two more reasons, king, and il
they are not enough then leave US to our
fate and let us waste no more breath in
words who must prepare to die. The first
is that we are your friends and have trust
ed you, saving your life at the danger of
our own and telling you this tale of our
own free will. Therefore, in the nalne Of
friendship, which you, who are no com
mon man, but King, should hold sacred,
We demand your help, we who have put
our lives III the hollow of your hand
knowing that you are of noble mind and
will not betray us. The second is that
our interest is your interest. We strive
against Nam and the priests, and so do
you. If Nam couquers us today, tomorrow
it will be your turn, and the snake, whose
fangs you must feel, shall in the time to
como feed upon you also. Now is the hour
of destiny for you and your descendants.
Cling to us and break the yoke of Mum
and the priests, or desert us and bind that
yoke upon your shoulders to your doom.
/ have spoken. Choose. "
Olfan Thought awhile and answered.
Truly your mind is great, queen, and
sees far into tho darkness of things such
as our women have no knowledge of. You
should have ruled this country and not /,
for then by now Nam, who is my master
would have begged bis daily bread at the
gates of your palace, and the priests, his
servants, had become the hewers of your
wood and the drawers of your water. But
l will not talk to you of policy, for time is
short. Nay, l will deal with your first
reason and that alone. You have conjured
Inc in the name of friendship and OF my
oath and by the memory of service done,
and not in vain. / am a man different
from that race of men of whom you are, q
wild chief of a wild tribe, having little
knowledge, yet have learned these things
Never TO break promise, never to desert
friend and never to forget a service.
Therefore, because l swore fealty to you,
because you are my friend and because
you saved my life, l will protect you to
the last, though it may well chance that
can do nothing except to die for you, for,
queen, although you can be naught to me
while yonder man lives, still am ready
to give my life for you. As for the others,
l will say this only-that will not harm
them or betray them. And now l go to
speak with certain of the great men who
are friends to me and hate the priests, SO
that when this matter comes ON for judg-
ment they may lift up their voices in your
favor, for nothing can be done except by
policy-that is, not now. Shortly l will
return to lead you to the temple. Till
then farewell And he bowed and was
gone