The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-28

began to dance; her painted lips parted
as though to speak, and her eyes.
frightened with pigments, turned up to
heaven. By degrees her movements
grew more rapid, till at length, as she
whirled around, her long black hair
streamed out straight upon the air, and
the crown of flowers looked like a
scarlet ring. Suddenly the bronze knife
in her right hand mashed, and a spot
of red appeared over her left breast;
then the knife in the left hand flashed.
and another spot appeared over the
right breast, and at each stroke the
multitude cried "Ahi' as with one
voice, and then were silent.
Now the maiden dancer, ceasing her
WRITINGS. leaped high into the air,
clashing the knives above her head and
crying, Hear me, hear me, Baaltisr'
Again she leaped, and this time the
answer that came from her lips was
spoken in another voice. which said, L
am here. What seek thou?"
A third time she leaped, replying in
her own voice, Health for thy servant
who is sick Then came the answer
in the second voice, 7 hear you, but
see no sacrifice"
queen? A dove2s
Nay
~ hat then, queen?"
Only one, The first-born child Of a
woman"
As this command. which they sup
posed to be divine and from above,
issued from the lips of the gashed and
bleeding oracle, the multitude shouted
aloud, while the girl herself, utterly
exhausted. fell to the earth, senseless.
Now a priest of e. who was named
the Shadid, none other, indeed, than
the husband of her who lay sick,
sprang upon the platform and cried:
The goddess has spoken by the
mouth of her oracle. She who is the
the many she has given, that the Lady
Baaltis, who is her priestess upon
earth, may be recovered of her sick
ness. Say, who will lay down a life
for the honor of the goddess and that
her regent in this land may be saved
alive?"
Now-for all this scene had been care
fully prepared-a woman stepped for
ward, wearing the robe of priestess,
who bore in her arms a drugged and
sleeping child.
Il, tather,'rshe cried, in a shrill, hard
voice, though; her lips trembled as she
spoke. Let the goddess take this child
the first fruit of my body, that our
mother, Baaltis, may be cured of her
sickness and that l. her daughter, may
be blessed by the goddess, and. through
held out the little victim toward him.
The Shadid stretched out his arms to
take it, but he never did take it, for at
that moment appeared upon the plat
form the tall white bearded figure of
Issachar who was clad in his priestly
robes.
Hold" he cried, in voice of thun-
der, and with flashing eyes, "and touch
not the innocent child. Spawn of satan,
KEnl1l6 We n n q tI.21 pW
lis whom We worship. Well shall they
repay We. OH mine eyes are open and
see," he went on, shaking his thin
arms above his head in a prophetic
frenzy. Il see the sword of the true
God, and it flames above this city of
idolatorS and denominations. / see this
place of sacrifice, and L tell you that be-
fore the moon is young again it shall
run red with the blood of idol worship
ers and of you, women of the groves.
The heather is at your gates, we follow
of demons, and my God send them as
sends the locustS or the north wind to
devour you like grass, to sweep you
away like the dust of the desert. Cry
then upon Ell and Baaltis, and let Ell
and Baaltis save you if they can. Doom
is 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 and the spectat-
Ors had listened to Isaachars denun-
Citations in bewildered amazement, not
with fear. But now, with a
roar of wrath, they awoke, and sud
denly he was dragged from the plat
form by q. score of hands and struck I
senseless, with many blows. Indeed, (
he would then and there have been torn
to pieces had not a. guard of soldiers,
knowing that he was Sakon's guest,
and in the train of the Prince Aziel, |
him from the maddened null !
-itude and bore him swiftly to place
Of safety without the incIosure While |
The tumult was at it's height a Phoeni- |
oian, who had arrived in the temple |
Oreathless with haste, might have been |
seen to pluck Metem by the sleeve.
What is it?" SIetem asked, for the |
nan was his servant
This, the Lady Baaltis is dead 1 |
as you babe me, and, as she |
had promised to do, her woman waved |
he napkin from the easement of the |
over where she lies"
DO any know of this?"
None"
Then say no word of it," and Metem |
hurried off in search of Aziel
Presently he found him in company
With his guards, seeking for Isaachar.
Have no fear, prince" he said, che |
S safe enough, fo- the soldiers have
)orne the fool away. Pardon me that /
should speak thus of holy man,
)ut he has put all our lives in dan
ger"
u do not pardon you" answered AzieI
lotly, land honor Issachar for his act
md words. Let us begone from this ac-
.ursed place whittier you entrapped
ne"
Before Metem could answer voice
ried, CLOSE the doors of this sane
uary, so that none can pass in or go
nut, and let the sacrifice be offered"
Listen. prince" said Metem. You
must stay here until the ceremony is
lone"
Then 1 tell you. Phoenician." an
wered Aziel. that rather than suffer
hat innocent child to be butchered be-
ore my eyes, l will cut my way to it
With my guards and rescue it alive"
ITO leave yourself dead in place of
{, answered Metem, sarcastically
But see, Il woman desires to speak
Nth you" and he pointed to a girl in
he robe of priestess, whose face was
idden with a veil, and who, in the tu-
1ult and confusion, had worked her
yay to Aziel
Prince" whispered the yelled form,
l am ELISA. For your life's sake keep
till and silent or you will be slain, for
our words have been overheard
Away with you, woman answered
Aziel. What have 1 to do with girl
f the groves and a murderess of chill
ren?''
She WINGED at his bitter words. but
answered quietly:
Then on your own head be your
lood, prince which have risked much
, keep unshed. But before you die
earn that l knew nothing of this foul