Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-26

Doom 10 upon you. Azrael angel of death.
writes his name upon your foreheads, every
one OF you, giving your city to the owls,
your bodies to the jackals and your souls
to Satan
Thus far the priests land the spectators
had listened to Issachars denunciations In
6ewildered amazementB not unmixed with
fear. But now with a roar of wrath they
awoke, and suddenly he was dragged from
the platform by score of hands and
STRUCK senseiess WIN MANY blows. Indeed.
pieces had not a guard Of soldiers know
Ing that he was Sakofl's guest and in the
train OF the Prince Aziel. snatched him
from the maddened hulsitude and borne him
closure. While the ~tumult was at Its
height Phoenician. who had arrived in
the temple GREATNESS with haste might
nave neen seen ITO pluck Metem by the
What is it:'' Metem asked, for the man
was his servant
This. the Lady Baaltis Is dead watch
eo as you bade me. and. she had prom
iseu 10 do, her woman waved the napkin
lies
DO any know Of thise'
Then say no word of IT" and Netem hur-
Red on in search of AzieI
| PRESENTLY he found him in company with
MS guards seeking for Issachar.
rave no fear. prince" he said. ''he is
Iooi away. Pardon me that should speak
| thus OF holy man, but he has put ali our
hives in danger
DO not pardon you answered Aziel.
hcty, and l honor Issachar for his act
ana words. Let Us begore from this ac-
| cursed place whittier you eEtrapped me-
Before Metem could answer a voice cried.
lose the doors of this sanctuary, so that
| mere can pass in or go out, and let the
sacrifice be offered
listen, prince" said Metem. "You must
stay ..: here until the ceremony is DONE.
Ihen l tell you, Phoencian," answered
Aziel. that rather than suffer that inno-
cent child to be butchered before my eyes
l VIII cut my way to it with my guards
ard rescue 1t alive
To leave yourself dead in place Of it,"
answered Metem sarcastically. But see.
woman desires to speak with you" and
ne pointed to girl in the robe of priest
| ess; whose face was hidden with a veil.
| and who. in the tumult and confusion, had
worked her way to Aziel.
Prince. whispered the yelled FORM "I
am am E i, For your life's sake keep still
ana silent. or you will be slain, for your
words nave been overheard"
Away with you, woman" answered
Aziel. What have to do with a girl of
the groves and murderess of children?"
swered quietly:
Then on your own head be your blood
prince which 1 have risked much to keep
nnshed. But before you die learn that |
that gladly would l give my own life to
save that of yonder child
save 1T ard l will believe you," answer
ed the prince turning from her.
Eiissa slipped away, for she saw that the
pr.estesses we're reforming their ranks, and
that she must not tarry. When she hal
gone few yards a hand caught her by
the sleeve, and the voice of Metem, who
had overheard all this talk. whispered in
her ear:
Lady, what will you give me If show
you way to save the life of the child, and
with 1t that q the prince. and at the same
time to make him think we'll of you
again?"
"All my jewels and ornaments of gold,
and they are many" she answered eagerly.
Good: it is bargain. Now listen. The
Lady Baaltis is dead; a'few minutes since
she died. and none here know it save my
self, nor can they learn it. for the gates
are shut. Do you be. therefore, inspired
OF the gods-and say So for then the sacri-
nee must cease. seeing that she for whom
1t was to be offered is dead. Do you I'M
derstand?"
Il understand she answered, "and
though the blasphemy bring on me the
vengeance of Baaltis, yet l will dare it.
Fear not, your pay shall be good and
she pressed forward to her place, keeping
the veil wrapped about her head till she
reached 1t unobserved for in the general
confusion none had noticed her move
Eients.
So soon as the noise of shouting AMI
angry voices had died away, and the spec
tators were driven back, outside the sacred
circle. the priest upon the platform cried:
Now that the Jew blaSphemer Is gone
let the sacrifice be offered, as is decreed"
Yea, let the sacrifice be offered" an
swered the multitude, and once more the
woman with the sleeping child stepped
forward. But before the priest could take
1t another figure approached him, that of
the Lady ELISA, with arms outstretched
and eyes upturned.
sbo Soid
| dess inspires me and l have a message
from the goddess"
Draw near, daughter, and speak 1t in
the ears of men,"
So ELISA climbed upon the platform and
standing upon it, still with outstretched
hands and upturned face, she said in
clear voice:
THE goddess refuses the sacrifice, for
she has taken to herself her for whom it
| was to have been offered-the Lady Baal-
it's Is dead"
At this tidings groan went up from the
people, partly of grief for the loss of a
spiritual dignity who was popular and
partly of disappointment because now the
sacrifice could not be offered, for the Phoe-
| nicians loved these horrible and public
spectacles. which were not, however, of
common occurrence among them.
1T is lie.'' cried voice, but now the
Lady Baaltis was living.
Let the gates be opened and send to see
| whether or no lie,'' said ELISA, quietly.
| priest went upon the errand. AT length
he was seen returning. Pushing his way
through the crowd he climbed upon the
platform and said:
1.-The daughter of Saxon speaks truth;
| but now is the Lady Baaltis dead
ELISA sighed in relief, for had her It'd
ings been false she could scarcely have
hoped to escape the fury of the crowd.
Aye" she cried, "she is dead, as l told
you, and because of your sin is she dead,
who would have offered human sacrifice in
public against the custom of the city and
without the command Of the goddess"
Then in sullen silence the priests and
priestesses reformed their procession and
departed from the sanctuary, whence they
were followed by the spectators. the most
CT them in no good mood. for they had been
baked of the promised spectacle.
CTo be continued.)
IN THE CHI u re HE S