Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-11-04

columns, it's towers and turrets were
gay with flowing plume and flag; for
it was feast-day. The sun had been up
only an hour, but already the, streets
were swarming with children, who had
risen early TO gather flowers to decorate
the temples. Soft laughter rose on the
fragrant air, and looks of trouble were
for the time cast aside.
Could one peceive a more peaceful
and contented people? Yet sincere as
their happiness was now, It was only
as ray of broken light streaming
through rift in the dark clouds.
For Megara was besieged. and the
camp of the enemy lay just outside the
declared that the people might celebrate
their holy rites to the gods.
And so, grateful for the lull in the
strife which for six months had borne
heavily upon them, the people threw care
to the winds and put all their hearts and
souls into the pure pleasure of this one
blessed day. They needed not that this
reprieve was but the false hope sent by
a cruel fate, and that the darkest hour
of their trial was coming swiftly on ST.
lent wings.
The people now passed in throngs, all
gaily attired i'll their holiday clothes
which for months had been put aside.
1t was time for the ceremony of sacrifice,
and the young maidens, dressed IN spot
less white, with white flowers entwined
flowing robes, looked like seraphs, with
their young faces all aglow with holy
enthusiasm.
On a smooth, rolling PAIN covered
with it's natural carpet of green, and
dotted with flowers, which seemed like
a spirnklink of sunbeams, the altar
had been erected. The maidens coming
first, chanting, and swaying slightly to
an easy dancing step. Then followed
the youths of the kingdom, their boyish
voices taking up the strain of the maid
ems, swelling it louder and rolling it
over the long ranks.
When these had formed a circle about
the altar, a long avenue was left clear,
and then the glory of the procession
came into view. Six tiny maidens, clad
in rainbow hue, held in their hands
masses of flowers entWlned about rib
bons, and leading by them a snow-white
bull. Its horns were like ivory and
shone in the sunlight. No flower or
ornament was needed to add a charm to
the perfect animal.
Walking beside it, her arms thrown
caressingly around it's neck, was the
pride of the kingdom. Scylla, the kings
daughter She was tall and slight, and
as graceful as reed. Her dark hair
hung about her in lustrous coils, and
swept over the back of the bull. Her
robe was of cloth of gold, and deep pur-
pie amethysts fastened it's folds and
naments she had none.
Closely following her was Nisus, the
king, surrounded by his guards. He,
like his daughter, was tall and dark,
with the same kind of hair, except that
one lock- falling over his shoulder, shone
purple, like the light from her amethysts.
No wonder the daughter loved the pur-
pie stone, even as NiSuS treasured the
purple lock; for it reflected the light
from that lock on which depended the
safety of the country.
The children led the bull to the altar.
Scylla stood beside it, till the King ap-
preached with the cleaning knife. Then,
with a low cry, she threw her arms
about the creatures neck, and pressed
kiss on it's white face. But her grief
did not interrupt the ceremony and the
sacrifice was made.
When Scylla reached home she went
up into the high tower of the palace,
from which she could look down over
the whole city and beyond it. Outside
the walls she saw, as she had seen for
the last six months, the camp of King
MinOs of Crete, and beyond the wide
plain the ocean stretching out, out, to
liberty For though she was princess,
Scylla felt like bird in a golden cage.
AS she looked down over the camp
and watched the tents a figure issued
from one. of them, During the whole
time of the siege she had watched the
enemy from the tower, and had learned
to distinguish the officers by name. And
he, who but now emerged from his tent,
was no other than King Mlnos himself.
It was easy to know him from the
others, for, tall as they were. he over
topped them all, as great oak in the
midst of a beech grove. Then. too. his
bearing was that of a King. That
noble brow revealed character grand,
good and just In fact the King was
what King should be, and when,
Il Ia hO 10
his white horse, he had all the charms
that a 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.
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 bad, she would have offered
herself as hostage.
Then came the wild thought of deliver
ing the city up. She could easily do it,
but one obstacle was in her way. The
fates had declared that SO long as the
purple lock remained on her fathers
head the city should stand. 1t needed
but that she should remove 1t and all
would be well; for surely Minos would
be grateful to her and she would be
happy.
And then came the thought of that
fathers shame and degradation, but only
for a monument, 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 anyone 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 enyied her. And Nisus smiled
a welcome to his daughter, as she en-
tered the banqueting hall. All traces
of her grief at the sacrifice had dis
appeared 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