Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-04-23
HELENE OF MYCENAE.
BY W. H. coMsToCK.

At last, Scott, we're on Homerc
ground. I suppose Ciytemnestra
superintendent the family washing
for the lordIy house OF Agamemnon
down yonder at that brook"
Thus spoke one OF the two stall
wart and sun-browned young men
who we're seated bener til an olive
tree on the hillside just north of the
site Of ancient Myeenae, in the Pei
opponesus.
They were American students,
who had finished their studies in
Berlin, and were now making a ped
estrian tour through Greece, and
had arrived on a hot Septemb, T af-
ternoon at this famous place.
This elevated position gave them
an extended view Of the beautiful
Argolic Gulf, with a tall man Of
war riding at anchor in the offing
from the mast of which the Ameri-
can flag hoated, brilliant in the slant
ing sunshine.
At the foot Of the hill on which
they were seated, across the little
fields and orchards where the peas
ants were busy with the harvest,
they saw group of women at the
brook in the valley below.
The young man who had apohen
put his field-glass to his eyes.
by Jove, Scott he exclaimed,
& / tell you these Greek women are
the handsomest in the world Well
might one of their great-great-grand-
mothers have kept two Nations in
connection for ten years Do you
see that talest girl in the group?
Look at her, say--a form like
goddess An ideal Helen of Troy 7"
Scott slowly took his pipe from
his mouth.
Come now, Lyle, you're raving
again, he replied. "Your new-dis-
covered Helen is doubtless goat.
herder from that miserable village
down there, with a breath rank of
garlic, and a soul as ignorant of
sentiment as her garments are of
SOAP
"Well, Scott" replied Lyle, with
severity, II thank the Lord for one
thing at least, and that is that my
soul isn't yet quite dried up within
me, till it has lost all power to see
the beautiful, as yours has. Come
let's go down to the village and get
something to eat"
There is a good hotel in the vii
lage of Kharyati, where visitors to
the neighboring ruins are entertain
ed. Here the Americans made
hearty supper OF rye bread, mutton
and tea.
The harvest moon rose early and
flooded the country with her beams.
The two students sat long time be-
fore the open window OF their room,
which overlooked the whole vii
lsge.
They had smoked in silence for
an hour, when suddenly Lyle point
ed down the road, and exclaimed in
an excited whisper TO the doing
Scott:
"There she is again, as / live
Now look at her and take back your
vile insinuation about garlic and
soap"
A young man and woman were
strolling slowly up the street. He
was swarthy, dark eyed fellow, in
the uniform of Greek soldier.
The young girl at his side chanc-
ed to raise her face to the searching
moonlight, ard both the students
were struck with her remarkable
beauty. Her head was uncovered
and her luxuriant hair was combed
low over her brow, and fastened in
a simple coil at tic back of her
shapely head. Her face was purely
classic in outline-snch face as the
old sculptors loved to cut in marble
full OF intellect and of passion.
The couple wa ked leisurely up
the street, evidently talking 10 the
melodious Greek those light moth
ings that youth and moonlight in
spire in all languages.
They paused before the door
the inn, and the two strangers we're
familiar enouei' with their speech to
understand their parting, Good
night, stephaao, and "Falewell
HELENE"
There, Scott, what do you think
Of her ON See vnst q srperl