Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-09
it's march upon the wall gate of

directing it's march upon the wall gate of
| which he was in command
1t was wondrous and a fearful sight,
| that Of these hordes of plumed savages,
| their broad spears flashing in the sunrise
| and their fierce faces alight with hereditary
hate and the lust OF slaughter. Never had
| ne seen such spectacle, nor could he look
upon it without dreading the issue of the
| war, Tor II they were savages, these foes
| were brave the lions of their own plains
and had sworn by the head OF their king
| to drag down the sheitering walls Of Zim-
| Doe with their naked hands or die to the
| last man. Turning his head with a sigh of
! doubt, AZiel found Metem standing at his
side.
No, prince. How could 1 see her at
night when she sits in a tomb like a fox in
his burrow? But have heard her."
What did she say? Quick, man tell
me-"
| But little. prince. for the tomb is watch
| ed, and 1 dared not stay there long. She
sent you her greetings. and would have
you know that her heart will be with you
| throne of heaven for your safety. Also she
| said that she Is well, though it is lonesome
there in the grave among the bodies of the
dead priestesses Of Baaltis. whose spirits.
as she vows. haunt her dreams. revilng her
| because she desecrates their sepulcher and
has renowned their god"
Lonesome. indeed" said Aziel with a
| shudder. But tell me, Metem, had she no
other word?"
Eyes, prince, but not of good omen, for
now. as always, she Is sure that her doom
| is at hand. and that you two will meet no
| more. Still. she babe me tell you that all
your life long her spirit shall companion
| you. though 1t be unseen, to receive you
| at the last on the threshold of the under
| world"
Aziel turned his head away, and said
presently:
! IF that he so. may it receive me Soon"
Have no fear. prince" answered Metem.
| with u grim laugh: look yonder," and he
| pointed to the advancing hosts.
These walls are strong. and we shall
beat them back" answered Aziel.
Nay, prince, for strong walls do not
avail without strong hearts to guard them.
and those of the womanish citizens Of Zim-
Zoe and their hired soldiers are white with
fear tell you that the prophecies of Is
sachar the Levite, made yonder in the
temple On the day of sacrifice. and in the
hour OF his death. have taken hold of the
people. and by eating out their valor fulfill
themselves. Men hint at them, the women
whisper them in closets and the very chill
Gren cry them in the streets. More-one
| man last night pointed to the skies and
shr1eked that In them he saw that fiery
sword Of doom of which the prophet spoke.
hanging point downward above the city,
whereon all present vowed they saw it. too.
Another tells how he met the very spirit of
lssachar stalking through the market place,
and that. peering into the eye Of the wrath.
as in mirror. he saw great flame wrap
ring the temple walls, and by the light of
1t his own dead body.
This was the priest who struck down the
holy man yonder in the place of Judgment
Again, when the Lady Mesa did sacrifice
last night on behalf of the Baaltis who las
fled, the child they offered. an infant of six
months, rose from the altar after 1t was
dead and cried with the voice of a man
mat before three suns had set its blood
should be required at their hands That is
the story. and if do not believe it. this at
least IL true, that the priestesses fed fast
from the secret chamber Of death: for
met them as they ran shrieking In their
terror and tearing their robes But what
need IS there to dwell on omens true or
false, when towards man the walls and the
spears Of Ithobal shine yonder like all the
stars Of heaven? Prince, I tell YOU tina t
this ancient city Is doomed, and in it, as
lear. We must end our wanderings upon
EARTH
so be It, II It must be-" answered ARIEL.
at the least 1 will die fighting"
And l also will die fighting prince not
because L love 1t, but because it is better
than being butchered in cold blood by a
savage with spear. Oh why did YOU e, er
! chance to stumble upon the Lady ELISA
making prayer to Baaltis and lose your
the trouble, which. but for those eyes OF
hers, would have held off long enolxh to
see US safe in Tyre though doubtless soon
or late 1t must have come. But see yon-
Ger masches 1thobal at the head of his
guard Give me a bow; the flight is long.
out perchance l can reach his black heart
with an arrow"
the range is too great, and presently v.u
WIZ nave enough of shooting" and he turn
| ed TO talk to the officers of the zilarl
| Go be concluded next week.