Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-02

found with any man who was not her hus-
band meant death to- her and to him,
doom from which there was little chance
of escape To his own fate he was indif-
ferent, but for ELISA and 1ssachar he
mourned bitterly. Truly the Levite and
Metem had been wise when they cautioned
him. for her sake and for his own, to have
nothing to do with priestess OF Baai.
But he hid not listened his heart would
not let him listen. and now in the fullness
o. their youth and love the lives of both OF
them were forfeited.
Worn out with sore and vain regrets,
Aziel fell at length into heavy sleep, from
/ which he was awakened by the opening OF
the door of his dungeon and the entry of
priests grim and silent men, who seized
and blindfolded him. Then they led him
away up many stairs ard along paths 50
steep that from time to time they paused
to rsst, till at length he knew, by the sound
of voices, that he had reached some place
where people were assembled. Here the
bendage was removed from his eyes and he
stepped backward. recoiled involuntarily
from the glare of light, whereon, utterins
an exclamation, those who stood near
seized and held him. Presently he saw
why they had done so, for he was standing
on the brink of a great precipice at the
back of and dominating the city, while far
beneath him was rocky rift along which
ran the trade road to the coast. Here upon
this dizzy spot was wide space of rock.
walled in upon three sides, the precipice
which, seated upon stones that seemed to
have been set there in semicircles. to
serve as judgment chairs, We're gathered
the head priests and priestesseS of Ell and
Baaltis. clad in their sacerdotal robes To
the right and left of these were knots of
spectators, among whom he recognized
Metem and Saxon, while at his side, but
separated from him by armed priests,
were ELISA herself, wrapped in a dark
veil, and Issachar. Lastly. in front of him
a fire burned upon a little altar, and be-
hind the altar stood shrine containing a
symbolical effigy of Baaltis fashioned of
gold and ivory and wood in the shape of
a woman with hundred breasts. Seeing all
this Aziel understo that they three had
been brought here for trial and that the
priests and priestesses before him were
their judges. Indeed, he remembered that
the place had been pointed out to him as
that where those who had offended against
the gods were carried for Judgment. to be
hurled, If found guilty, down the face of
the precipice and left, shapeless mass of
broken bones, to crumble on the roadway
at its foot
After long and solemn pause, at sign
from the Shadid, he who had been tn, hus-
band of the dead Baaltis, the veil was re-
moved from ELISA, who looked at Aziel
and smiled sadly.
do you know the fate that awaits us?''
the prince asked of Issachar in Hebrew.
Il know. and ] am ready" answered the
old Levite, for since my soul Is safe
.
but. oh. my son, I weep for you, and
cursed be the hour when first you saw that
woman's face"
Spare to reproach me in my misfor-
tune" murmured ELISA. Have l not
enough to bear. knowing that 1 have
brought death upon him 1 love? Oh. curse
me not. but pray that my sins may be for
given me-"
THAT / will do gladly, daughter" re,
Piled Issachar, more gently, seeing that,
although you seem to be the cause of them,
these things can have happened only by
the will Of God, and therefore was wrong
to revile you"
Before she could answer the Shadid COM
manded silence. and at the same moment
the woman Mesa stepped from behind the
eff1gy of the goddess.
who are you and what do you herey'
asked the Shadid. as though he did not
know her.
II am Mesa, the daughter of her who
was the Lady Baaltis." she answered, land
my rank is that Of mother Of the priest
esses Of Baal. / appear to give true evil
dence against her who Is the Lady Baaitis.
Aziel and the priest OF the God OF the
Jews"
Speak on and beware what You speak.
said the Shadid
Mesa bowed her head and began.
From the time that she was anointed /
have been Suspicious OF the Lady Baaltis. %
Why were you suspiciousT' asked the
Shadid. $500
The witness let her eyes wander toward
Metem. then hesitated. Evidently. for
some reason Of her own, she did not wish
| to implicate him.
II was suspicious. she answered .be-
Cause of certain. words that came from the
lips OF the Lady Baaltis when sho had
been thrown into the holy trance before
the altar OF sacrifice. Az 10 my duty.