The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-12-15


known thing that dread"
"No, lady, there must be no blood
shed in the house of the MOON"
"Then, dear father and king. might
not / die strangled with my own hair,
as did my cousin Babba of Urukh? And
her slave told me that because the
women she babe kill her were timid,
she kneeled down to die and made little
moan. but covered her face and died
quickly; and surely there are enough
of my women here so to strangle me.
See," and she lifted in her hand long
black tress, my hair is long enough for
the task, and thick enough; and if one
of the guard held me on my knees with
his hands on my shoulders, surely /
should not struggle at all. See you now,
if the priest held my hands two women
might easily strangle me-Namma and
Urion, you are strong enough. Since /
come here only to die, priest, may not
nv women do for me this thing?"
mo, since that would annul your
great gift, lady; since his wife must go
living into the moons arms. Ills but
few steps now-room for the moons
Princess lila. Other maids have gone
mad with the waiting, or died of it;
and some weak ones have gone Shrek
ing to death; but this bride is of the
blood royal of Chaldea, and will feel no
fear" said the high priest, smoothly.
STAND back, all, that the princess may
look upon her sleeping-place."
The princess came forward and stood
beside the bed, looking at it with wide
ewes into which there slowly crept a
shadow of great fear. 1t was all of ash
likeness of lacework, dimly lighted by
four swinging silver lamps; but of
silken and wooden covers, there were
none. And at the head of the bed
crouched sculptured dragon, from
whose yawning jaws flowed stream of
icy water.
sam to lie there, priest?" The prin-
cess shivered.
''As other women have lain, lady,
sleeping or waking, till death found
them
'At least, am not to die alone?" said
the princess, family.
THE moon is only one in the sky.
princess; and when he loves and when
he Stays he is alone"
eff it must be, it husband the gods
will be my help. Priest, We have leave
to go"
Barefoot and bareheaded must they
be who mount those steps," said the
high priest, not moving.
st is a hard saying bids me die bare
foot like slave; but to do the moons
will came hither, and will do it," said
the princess.
"There is band of blue jewels round
your throat, lady; and the moons wife
wears no jewels"
''Do you take off the string of tur-
quoises about my neck, my golden arm
lets, and my anklets, women. What
more?"
please you, put off the crown of your
degree, princess. Sacrifices know no
rank when one comes to lie on the
moons bed"
What more, priest?"
you must put off your scarlet cloak.
Blood is red-and your blood is not to
flow, princess. Had you elected to die
at the altar of the Sun, the sacred
knives would drink deep of your blood;
so, you might come to the sacrifice in
scarlet robes indeed, but being chosen
to be wife of the Moon, it is by water
that you must lay down your life
Now the cloak was of royal scarlet,
and the king himself took this from his
daughters shoulders; and because her
sacrifice was voluntary one and not
one of force, the princess took off her
crown with her own hands and laid it,
signing gently, at her fathers feet.
Now waiting-woman united her girdle
and unbound her hair, and slave undid
her sandals; and her naked feet and
slightly-veiled bosom shrank from the
keen cold of all the winds blowing
through the pierced pillars and the
clinging chill of the wet, white floor.
"Brother!" cried the princess, Sob
bling.
Thou art no more my sister. but
bride of the moon, and sister of
the moon," cried her brother.
He held her hand fast, in cruel kindness,
and led her up the dripping steps, has
tening her reluctant feet. and lifted
her upon the bed.
LAY thyself down here, sister, and
take thy courage about thee. Hasten
thy farewells and keep us here no long
er; for thy kindred must not wait, and
thy bridegroom will not wait. Why
sbOuldst thou be afraid ?''
The princess obeyed him and lay
down, trembling much, and covered her
eyes with her hands. "Father!" she
cried.
Seeing that thou art no virgin going
unwedded to sorry death, but prin-
cess dying for people, not one but