Connecticut western news., 1896-02-27
A LOCK OF HAIR.

A LOCk OE HAlR.
 The city of Niagara lay smiling in the summer sun. Its marble palaces, its tall 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 fra grant air. and looks of trouble were for the time cast aside.
 Could one conceive of 8 more peace ful and contented people? Yet sincere as their happiness was now, it was only as Q 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 clared that the people might celebrate their holy rites to the gods
 And so. grateful for the Hull 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. It 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, sw. Hing it louder and rolling it over the long ranks. When these had formed circle about l the altar, 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 intwined about rib bons and leading by them snow white | bull Its horns were like ivory and shone in the sunlight No flower or ornament was needed to add charm to the per l feet animal
 Walking beside it, her arms thrown | caressingly around it's neck, was the pride of the kingdom, Scyl lla, the king s 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 | glistened from her black hair. Other or ! 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 1 one lock, falling over his shoulder. shone purple, like the light from her amethysts.
 No wonder the daughter loved the purple 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- | ko ry1o fo Then, with low cry, she threw her arms about the creature's neck and pressed a kiss on it's white face. But her grief did not interrupt the ceremony, and the sacrifice was made.
 When Scylla reached hon 6, she wen, up into the high tower of the palace, from which she could look down over the whole city and beyond 1t. Outside the walls she saw, as she had seen fol the last six months, the camp of King Minos of Crete, and beyond the wide plain the ocean stretching out, out, tC liberty. For though she was princess Scylla felt like bird in a golden cage. As she looked down over the camI and watched the tents figure issued from one of then. During the who.s time of ths siege she had watched tht enemy from the tower, and had learned to distinguish the officers by name. Ano he who but now emerged from his tent
 was no other than King Minos himself
 It was easy to know him from ths others, for, tall as they were, he over topped them all, as great oak in tho midst of beech grove. Then, too. hi bearing was that of king That pobl'
 brow revealed character grand, goot
 and just. In fact, the king was what { king should be, and when, dressed in hi flowing purple, he rode his white horse 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 wa, was, yet she blessed this war thai , brought Minos 10 her sight. But how terrible if he should be killed. Oh, il only peace might be had, she would
 have offered herself as hostage. Then came the wild thought of deliv srtn9 tho oaty ID. Shs oonld easily as