The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-11
CHAPTER XIV.
ELISA TAKES SANCTUARY.

vancing slowly toward the holy tomb
along the narrow road of rock cut in
! the mountain face. In front of the pro
ceSsion, wearing a black veil over heI
! broidered robes, walked ELISA with
/ downcast eyes and hair unbound in
| token of grief, while behind her came
Mesa and other priestesses bearing the
! offerings to the dead in bowls of ala
I baster food and wine. and lamps of oil
and vases filled with perfumes. Behind
| these again marched the mourners
women who sang a funeral dirge and
/ from time to time broke into a wall OF
simulated grief. Nor. indeed, was theil
woe as hollow as might be thought,
since from that mountain path they
could see the outposts Of the army OF
Ithobal upon the plain, and note with
a shudder of fear the spear heads of
his countless thousands shining in the
gorges of the opposing heights. 1t was
not for the dead Baaltis that they
mourned that day. but for the fate that
overshadowed them and their city of
gold.
May the curse of all the gods fall
on heri" muttered one of the priest
esses as she toiled forward beneath the
load of offerings: because she is beau
tiful and pettish we must be put to
the spear or become the wives of saw
ages" and she pointed with her chin
to ELISA, who walked in front, lost in
her own thoughts.
Have patience" answered Mesa at
her side: you know the plan-tonight
that proud girl and false priestess shall
sleep in the camp OF Ithobal.'
viii he be satisfied with that?"
asked the woman, land leave the city
in peace?"
1T seems So" answered Mesa. with
a laugh, though it is strange that a
king should exchange spoil and glory
for a round-eyed, thin-limbed girl who
loves his rival. Well. let us thank the
gods that made man foolish and gave
US women wit to profit by their folly.
If he wants her. let him take her. for
few will be the poorer by her loss
You at least will be richer" said
the other woman, "by the crown of
Baaltis Well, do not grudse it you,
and as for the daughter of Saxon, she
shall be IthobaPs if 1 take her to him
limb by limb.
May, friend, that is not the bargain.
Remember. she must be delivered to
him without hurt or blemish, otherwise
we shall do sael-ilege in vain. Be silent,
here is the cave"
Having reached the platform in front
of the tomb, the procession or mourn
ers ranged themselves about 1t in
semi-circle, with their backs to the
edge of the cliff that rose sheer 90 feet
or more from the plain beneath, across
which, but at little distance from its
foot, ran the road followed by the cara
vans of merchants in their journeys to
and from the coast. Then, hymn hay
ing been sung invoking the blessing of
the gods on the dead priestess, ELISA,
as the Lady Baaltis, unlocked the gates
of bronze with a golden key that hung
at hey girdle, and the bearers of the
bowls of offerings pushed them into the
mouth of the tomb. whose threshold
they were not allowed to pass. Next,
with bowed head and hands crossed
upon her breast, ELISA entered the
tomb and, locking the bronze gate be-
hind her. took up two of the bowls and
vanished with them into its gloomy
depths.
"Why did she lock the gate?" asked
a priestess of Mesa. 1T is not Gus
toma-y."
Doubtless because it was her pleas
ure to do So" answered Mesa, sharply,
though she also wondered why ELISA
had locked the gate.
When an hour had gone by and ELISA
had not returned, her wonder turned to
fear and doubt.
Call to the Lady Baaltis.'' she said,
"for her prayers are long, and I fear
she should have come to harm"
So they called. setting their lips
against the bars of the gate, until pres
emily ELISA came and stood before
fore them.
why do you disturb me in the holy
placer" she asked.
Lady, because they set the night
watch upon the walls answered
Mesa. land it is time to return to the
tercple."
Return. then" said ELISA, ''and
leave me in peace. What, you cancot.
Mesa? Nay, and shall l tell you why?
Because you have plotted TO deliver me
this night to those who should lead me
as a peace Offering to Ithobal, and
when you come to them empty-handed,
they will greet you with hard words.
Nay, trouble not to deny it. Mesa.
have taken sanctuary in this holy
place"
Now Mesa pressed her thin lips to-
gether and answered:
Those who dare to lay hands upon
the person of the living BaSitis will
not shrink from seeking her in the COM
pany of her dead sisters"
II know it, Mesa, but the gates are
barred, and here have food and drink
in plenty"
'Gates, however strong. can be
broken" answered the priestess. so. !
lady, do not wait till you are dragged !
"Ay," replied ELISA. with a little |
laugh, but what if, rather than be thus |
dishonored. l should choose to break |
another gate. that of my own life? /
Look, traitress, here is poison and here /
is steel, and / swear to you that, should |
any lay a hand upon me, by one or |
other of them / will die before their /
eyes. Then. if you will. bear these
bones to Ithobal, and take his thanks /
for them. Now, begone and give this |
message to my father and all those 1
who have plotted with him, that since |
they oanrot bride Ithobal with my |
beauty. they will do well to be men |
and to fight him with their swords"
and she turned and left them, vanish
ing into the darkness of the tomb.
Great, indeed, was the dismay of the /
of Zimboe and the priests |
who had plotted with them, when. an /
hour later, Mesa came not to deliver /
ELISA into their hands, but to repeat /
to them her threats and message. In |
vain did they appeal to Saxon, who I
1nly shook his head and answered.
''Of this l am sure. that what my
daughter has threatened, that she will |
do if you force her to the |
choice. But If you will not believe me. |
go ask her and satisfy yourselves. |
know well what she will answer YOU,
and hold that this is judgment upon |
Us. who first made her Baaltis against |
her will, and now would do sacrilege to |
her office and violence to herself"
So the leaders of them visited the .
holy tomb and reasoned with ELISA
through the bars, but got no comfort