The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-21

here repeated, Greeting to the Baal-
4 tisw
Il did not seek this honor" she muir
INJURED in the silence that followed,
/ and I refuse it. The throne of the
goddess is Mesa's right; let her take
it. or if she will not, then some other
who is more worthy"
Lady" said the Shadid, these
words become you well, but it has
| pleased the gods to choose you. and
not my daughter, the Lady Mesa, or
any other woman, and the choice of
the gods may not be set aside. Till
death shall take you you and you
alone are the Lady Baaltis whom we
obey
Must I then be made divine against
my WILLY" she pleaded, and turned to
Aziel as though for counsel.
/ BE pleased to stand back, Prince
AZiel." said the stern voice of the Sha-
did, interposing. "and remember that
henceforth no man may speak to the
Baaltis save she whom she names with
the name of Shadid to be her husband.
Heneaferward We are parted, since to
seek her company would be to cause
her death"
Now, understanding that the doom
of lifelong separation had fallen upon
them, Aziel ard ELISA gazed at each
other in despair. Then, before they
could speak a word, at a sign from
Shadid, the priestesses closed round
ELISA, and throwing a white veil over
her head, they broke into a joyful
paean of song, and half led, half carried
her from he chamber to enthrone her
in the palace of the goddess, which was
to be her residence.
Presently the chamber was empty,
with the exception of Aziel, and with
him Metem and 1saachar, who, drawn
l.. ~. e i
unnoticed, all the rest of the company
including the waiting women. having
Joined the procession.
Take comfort, Prince" said the
Phoenician in a half-bantering tone; IF
you and the Lady Baaltis are truly
fond of each other she may still be
yours, for you have but 10 bow the knee
to Ell. and she will name you Shaoid
and husband"
''Blaspheme not" said Isaachar
sternly. Shall a worshiper of the God
of Israel do sacrifice to a demon to win
a womans smile?"
That time will prove answered
Metem. struggling his shoulders but
at least it is certain that he will win it
in no other way Prince" he added.
changing his tone, ''if you have any
such thoughts abandon them, / pray
of you. for on this matter the law may
not be broken, and the man spoke truth
when he told you that should you be
found with the Lady Baaltis. not be-
ing her husband, you would cause her
death"
Aziel took no notice of his words, but
turning to the Levite he asked in
quiet voice;
Did you plot this to separate us,
Isaachar? If SO, you shall live to mourn
the deed
Listen, Prince" broke in Metem, sit
was not Isaachar who plotted that the
Lady ELISA should be chosen Baaltis.
but l. or at least helped the plot Shall
l tell you. why / did this? II was to
save you and her. and, If possible to
prevent a great war, also. You could
not wed this, woman who is not of
your race or rank or religion, and If
you could it would bring about a strug-
gle that must cost thousands their lives
and this city its wealth. Nor could you
make of her less than a wife, seeing
that she is well born and that you are
her fathers guest. Therefore, for your
own sake 1t is best that she should be
placed beyond your reach. For her sake
also it is best. since she is ambitious
and born to rule, and now will be