Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-10-17

he had all the charms that knight
could wish to win fair lady's heart.
And Scylla looked till he passed from
her view, as 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 if he should be killed. Oh, if
only peace might be had, she would
have offered herself as a hostage.
Then came the wild thought Of deliv-
ering the city up. She could easily do
it, but one obstacle was in her way.
The fates had decreed that so long as
the purple look remained on her fathers
head the city should stand. 1t needed
but that she should remove it and all
would be we'll, for surely Minos would
be grateful to her and she would be
happy.
And then came the thought of that IA
theirs shame and degradation, but only
for moment, as one thought after an
other coursed through her mind. She
felt that she could pass through fire and
water to serve Minos, yet that was not
needed. Another woman would dare as
much, and could any one dare more than
she!
Then the victory was won, but not on
the side Of duty. And only then, when
she had fully determined on her plan
did she find 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 welcome to his daughter as she
entered the banqueting hail. All traces
of her grief at the sacrifice had disap-
peared, 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 many Of us have stood in like
position, with all the seasons for and
against our actions crushing us down,
our life and death in the balance, which
breath could give or take!
It 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 cor
ridor to the kings apartments At the
door challenge rung out, but mo-
ment 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 fed
down the corridors as it had come, but
CLEAN Of triumph shone from the eyes
and love and victory struggled for mas
terry in the countenanoe. 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 the passed the
wall through secret gate Swiftly she
entered the camp Of the enemy and de-
manded to see King Minos.
When the king beheld her, he thought
SO lovely 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, he polluted by this
monster? Infamous woman, BECOME and
may neither land nor sea afford thee a
resting placed"
"Alas!' cried Scylla. "For thee have
I given up everythingl Aye, 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, giving
orders that equitable terms should be
allowed to the vanquished city, he sail
ed away with his feet.
As the ships were departing Scylla
jumped into the sea, and grasping the
rudder Of the vessel that conveyed
Minos was carried along with 1t 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 bird.
And to this day the eagle pounces
upon the gull, ever seeking vengeance
for the old crime. Virginia Horton in
Philadelphia Times.