The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-11
would have chosen, persisted Issachar

would have chosen, perished Issachar
the Levite.
Unarmed though he was. Aziel had
sprung TO his aid, but Metem and Sa-
/ kon, knowing that he would but bring
about his own destruction, flung them
selves upon him and held him back,
Whilst he was still struggling with
them the end came, and Issachar grew
stin forever. Then Aziels strength left
him, and presently he slipped to the
ground senseless.
Thereafter il seemed to Aziel that he
was plunged in an endless and dread
full dream, and that through its tur-
MOL and shifting visions he could con-
tinually see the dreadful death of Is
sachaF ard hear his stern accents
prophesying woe to him who renounces
the God of his forefathers to bow the
knee to Baal. At length he awoke from
that horror haunted sleep to find him
self lying in a strange chamber. 1t was
night and lamps burned in the chamber
and by their light he saw man whose
face he knew mixing a draught in a
glass vial. So weak was he at first he
could not remember the mans name;
then, by slow degrees, ii came to him.
''Metem." he said. where am I?''
The Phoanician looked up from his
task. smiled, and answered:
Where you should be, Prince, in
did. But you must not speak for you
have been i'll. Drink this and Sleep"
Aziel swallowed the draugnJ, and
was instantly overcome by slumber.
When. he awoke the sun was shining
brightly through the window place, and
it's rays fell upon the shrewd, kindly
face of Metem, Who was seated on a
stool watching him, his chin resting on
his hand.
Tell me all that has befallen, friend"
said Aziel, "since -" and he shUd
dered.
Since you were married after new
fashion. and that bigoted but most hon
orable fool. Issachar, went to his re-
ward. Well. 1 will when you have
eaten" answered Metem, as he gave
him food. First" ne said presently,
you have lain here for three days.
raving in fever, nursed by myself and
visited by your wife, the Lady Baaltis,
whenever she could escape from her
religious duties"
ELISA. Has she been here?"
Calm yourself. Prince. Certainly she
soon. Secondly, Ithobal has been as
good as his word, and invests the city
with a vast army, cutting off all sup
plies and possibilities of escape. 1t is
believed that he will try an assault
within the next week. which many
think will be successful. Thirdly, to
avoid that risk it is rumored that the
priests and priestesses, at the instance
of the council, are discussing the wis
dom of giving over to him the person
of the daughter of Saxon. on the plea
that her election as the Lady Baaltis
was brought about by bribery, and is
therefore void, as she was not chosen
by the unaided will of the goddess
But" AZiel, she is my wife. ac-
cording to their religious law How,
then, can she be given in marriage to
another" -
Nay, Prince, if she is not the Lady
Baaltis, your husbandship falls to the
ground with the rest, for you are not
the Sh6did, an Office which perchanee
you can dispense with. But all this
priestly juggling means little, the truth
being that the city in it's terror will
throw her as sop to Ithobal. hoping
thereby to appease his rage. The Lady
ELISA knows her danger-but here she
comes TO speak for herself"
As he spoke the curtains at the end
of the chamber were drawn and
through them came ELISA. clad in her