Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-05-21

manded Telemachus to pay no more at
tention to him than he would to any
stranger seeking help. Then Telema-
chus went to the palace, and when he
hal seen the queen, he went to his
rooms and remained there. So no one
knew he had returned.
Then suddenly a loud shout was
heard. 1t was only the princes, greet
ing what the herald had just pro-
claimed:
81, Penelope, Queen of Ithaca, to the
lords within my domain:
This day l will give myself in mar
riage, with my crown and lands as
dowry to him who shall prove himself
worthy in the feat of strength that l
shall decide on"
That was all. But it filled the mobiles
with rejoicing, and when the time for
the banquet drew near all were gathered
in the great hall. Their JOY was to re-
ceive check, however. When Pene-
lope entered, radiant in all her jewels
and her robes Of finest spun materials,
murmur Of admiration ran through
the assembly. But the next moment 1t
was changed to one of chagrin, as they
saw Telemachus walking behind his
mother They had hoped that he was
dead, since it was so long since he had
been heard Of in the kingdom.
When all we're seated, Ulysses en-
tered, his tattered robe barely cover
ing his worn figure. AS he crossed the
threshold, his dog, now grown feeble
with age, lifted its head, and
giving a yelp Of Joy tried to
drag his old form to his be-
loved masters feet. And then
he fell dead his worn-out heart hav-
ing first been rewarded for his long
watching and waiting. No one noticed
the incident save the beggar, who, seat
ing himself by the hearth, drew his
hand before his moistened eyes.
In those days the poor were treated
differently from what they seem to be
now. Ulysses was received into the
banquet-room of the queen, and served
with portion from her table.
When the guests had been served
they grew even merrier than before
and 1t was not long before Ulysses be-
came the butt for their coarse jokes
One even went so far as to raise {
stool and strike Ulysses with 1t, ant
Telemachus could scarcely control his
anger and indignation at seeing hif
father so treated within his own hall
But look from Ulysses quieted hin
and things went on as before.
Then, at last, they called for the
feat of strength. Penelope smiled, ant
commanded first that all weapons
should be removed from the room
since in the excitement they might b,
put to a wrong use. When this wa
done, twelve rings were arranged, sew
eral feet apart, in long row dowI
the hall. Then large bow and ;
culver Of arrows, which Ulysses haC
won in one Of his heroic deeds, were
brought out.
"Whosoever can string this bow anC
shoot an arrow through the twelvt
rings, may have me for his bride,
said Penelope.
Telemachus first took the bow anC
tried to bend it to fit the arrow to thu
string. But struggle as he would, h,
could not 30 much as move it.
"He is only a STRIPPING" cried burl!
noble. "Give it to me!''
And so they tried, zone after another
They creased the string with tallow ant
with oil, but no one could bend tn
bow. When all had tried. Ulysse
stepped forward and begged permits
sion to try. How they jeered, and buf
feted him for his daring even to asl
so high favor. But Penelope criet
out:
LET him try. Though he is so CID
he says he was once soldier. Let hin
tryw
Then they made way, and Ulysses
taking the bow, bent it as easily as i
it had been a willow wand and sent tn,
arrow flying through the twelve rings
where, at the end of its course it strucl
into the wall, and then remained fast
And then Minerva took the disguise
from Ulysses, and he stood revealed.
Behold me-Ulyssesv he cried il
thunderous tones. Now see how
shall reward you all for daring to aft
front your queen; for daring to mak'
my house place Of revelry!"
Then, with unerring aim, he shot al
arrow at each intruder till all wer
dead. There was no chance for de
tense, for all their weapons had beef
taken away; there was no chance o
escape, for all the doors had been Sc
cured.
| And so persisted the men who hat
abused hospitality and failed to defenr
weakness. And so did Ulysses return t.
his kingdom and his queen after tn
toll, the hardships and privations o
war and the accomplishment Of heroi
deeds.
1