Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1896-02-18
A LOCK OF HAIR.

The city Of Megara lay smiling in the
summer sun. It's marble palaces, It's tall
columns, its towers and turrets were gay
with flowing plume and flag, for IL 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 fra
grant air, and looks Of trouble were for
the time cast aside.
Gould one conceive Of q more peace
full and contented people7 Yet sincere as
their happiness was now, it was only as
ray of broken light streaming through
q rift in the dark clouds.
For Megara was besieged and the
camp Of the enemy lay just outside the
walls of the city. A truce had been de-
clared that the people might celebrate
their holy rites to the gods
And 80, 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 cruel fate and that the
darkest hour of their trial was coming
swiftly on silent wings.
The people now passed in throngs, all
gayly attired in their holiday clothes,
which for months had been put aside.
Il was time for the ceremony Of sacri-
fee, and the Young maidens, dressed in
spotless white, with white flowers en-
twined in their locks and trailing over
their flowing robes, looked like seraphs,
with their young faces all aglow with
holy enthusiasm.
On a smooth, rolling plain, covered
with its natural carpet Of green and
dotted with flowers which seemed like
a sprinkling Of sunbeams, the altar had
been erected. The procession formed
slowly, the white robed 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 IL
over the long ranks.
When these had formed circle about
the altar, long avenue was left clear,
and then the glory of she procession
came into view. Six tiny maidens, clad
In rainbow hue, held in their hands
masses Of flowers intwined about RIB
bons and leading by thom a snow white
bull. It's horns were like ivory and shone
in the sunlight. No flower or ornament
was needed to add a charm to the per-
feet animal
walking beside it. her arms thrown
caressingiy around les neck, was the
pride OF the kingdoms scylla, the king s
daughter. She was tall and slight and
as graceful as reed. Her dark hair
hung about her in lustrous coils aud
swept over the back Of the bull Her
robe was OF cloth Of gold, and deep pur-
ple amethysts fastened its folds and
Qlistened from her black hair. Other or
naments she had none
Closely following her was Nisua, 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.
) ahone purple, like the Light from her
!. amethysts
{ No wonder the daughter loved the
purple stone, even rs Nisua treasured
|, the purple lock, for It reflected the light
from that lock On which depanded the
I safety Of the country.
The children led the bull 10 the altar
scyila stood beside Il, till the king ap
preached with the cleaning knife
& Then, with q low cry, she threw hel
:. arms about the creatures neck ant
Q pressed q kiss ON its white face. But hel
i grief did not interrupt the ceremony
: and the sacrifice was made.
. When scylla reached home. she wen
; up into the high tower Of the palace
Z from which ahe could look down Owe
4 the whole city and beyond it OutSid
4 the walls sho saw, as she had seen 70
q the last six months, the camp Of Kin
b Minos Of Crete, and beyond the wild
y plain the ocean stretching out, ont, .
9 liberty. For though sho was a princess
u soylla felt like a bird IN q golden cage
. AS she looked down over the cam
v and watched the tents q figure issue
= from one Of then. During the Who'll
n time Of the siege she had watched "a
y enemy from the tower, and had loarne
D. 10 distinguish the officers BY name. Az
ID he who but now emerged from his ter
% was 20 other than King Minos himself
y, Il was easy to know him from ID
y y others, for, tall as they were, he oyel
y y topped them All, as O great oak 10 th
Y midst ol q beech grove Then, too, b.
2 bearing was that Of 4 king That pobI
brow revealed character grand goo
aud just. In fact, Tho king was what
king shonld bo. and when, dressed Ia b
aoWlpg purple he rode hia white horp