The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-14
CHAPTER VIII.


| knew that she did but swoon. To leaV
/ her to seek water or assistance wa
impossible, since he dared not loose hi
hold of the bandage about her wrist
] so he knelt at her side awaiting tn,
return of Metem.
/ How beautiful her pale face seemed
there in the moonlight, set in its fran,
, of dusky hair. And how strange wa:
this tale of hers, of a dream that shi
had dreamed, dream which, to save
his own, had led her to offer her life
to the murderer's arrow. Many woulc
not believe it, but he felt that it was
true; he felt that even if she wished il
Sho could not lie to him, for, as he haC
known since first they met, their souls
were naked TO each other. Yes, hav-
ing thus been warned of his anger she
had offered her life for him, for him
who that morning had called her, un-
justly, as Metem said. "a girl of the
groves and a murderess." How came
II that she had done this, unless, indeed
she loved him as-he loved her? He
could no longer palter with himself; II
was the truth. Last night when lssa-
char accused him, he had felt this, al
though then he would not admit it al
together, and now tonight he knew that
his fate had found him. They would
say that, after the common fashion of
man, he had been conquered by a love
ly face and form and a brave deed of
devotion. But it was not so. Some
thing beyond the flesh and its works
and attributes drew him toward this
woman, something he could neither IN
derstand nor define, unless, indeed, the
vision of Issachar defined it, but of
which he had been conscious since first
he set his eyes upon her face.
1t was possible, it was even probable,
that before another hour had gone by
she would have passed beyond his reach
into the deeps of death, whittier for
awhile he could not follow her Yet he
knew that the knowledge that she never
could be his would not affect the love
of her that turned in him for his de-
sire toward here was not the desire of
earth. He bent down over her, gazing
into her pale face till his lips almost
touched her own, and his breath beat
ing on her seemed TO give her life
again. She opened her eyes and gaZed
at him awhile. deeply, and with mean
ing, even as he gazed at her.
He spoke no words. for his lips SEEM
ed to be smitten with silence, but his
heart said, 81 love you, l love you' and
her heart heard it, for she answered
with her voice:
"Bethink you who and what 1 am"
1T matters not, for we are One," he
replied.
"Bethink you" she said again. that
soon / may be dead and lost to you"
1t cannot be, for we are one" he re-
piled. One we have been in the past,
one we are today, and one we shall be
through all the length of life and
death
Prince" she said again, "once more,
ands for the last time, I say bethiak
you well, for it comes upon me that
your words are true, and that if take
that which tonight you offer it will be
forever and for aye"
Forever and aye let it be- he said,
leaning toward her.
Forever and aye let it be- she re-
peated, holding up her lips to his.
And thus they plighted their strange
troth.
Lady" said voice in their ears, the
voice of Metem, Il pray you, let me
attend TO your hand, for there is no
time 20 Lose
Aziel looked up to see the Phoenician
bending over them with a sardonic
smile, and behind him the tall form of
Issachar. who stood regarding them, his
arms folded on his breast
Holy 1ssachar," went on Metem.
with malice, ''be pleased to hold this
lady's hand, since it seems that the
prince here can only tend her lips''
nave to do with this daughter of BaaI- |
It's? Cure her if you can. or if you can |
not let her die, for so shall a stone of |
stumbling be removed from the feet of |
he foolish, and he glanced Indignantly |
1t Aziel
Had it not been for this same stone |
II Least the feet of the foolish by now |
would have pointed skyward. The gods |
send me such a stone if ever black
draN n
answered Metem, as he busted himself !
With his drugs Then he added: Now,
prince, Go not answer him, but hold
he lady's hand to the light"
Azlel obeyed, and after having wash
ID out the wound with water. Metem
ubbed ointment into it which burned
1lissa so sorely that she groaned aloud.
BE patient beneath the pain, lady"
lie said, for if it has not already
'assed into your blood this salve will
at away the poison of the arrow"
Then, half leading and half CARRYING
er, they brought her back to the pal
ce, where Metem gave her over into
he care of her father. telling him as
luch Of the story as he thought wise
M cautioning him to keep silent con-
erning it.
At the door of the palace Issachar
poke to Aziel.
ID my ears indeed hear you tell that
lolatress that you loved her forever.
nd did my eyes see you kiss her on the
PSF"
1T seems that you saw and heard
lese things, Issachar," said Aziel. set
ng his face sternly. Now hear this
lrther and then, pray you, give me
eace on this matter of the Lady Ellis
L. II in any way it is possible, I shall
lake her my wife. and If ii be not
ossible then for so long as I may live.
least. / viii look upon no other
oman
Then that is good news. prince to D
lie, who am charged with your welfare.
N be sure that. if in any way 1 can
revent you, You shall never mix your
ood with that of this heather sor-
eress.'
"Issachar," the prince replied, Il have
0rne much from you because 1 know
eli that you love me, and have stood
} me in the place of a father But
DIV. in my turn, l warn you, seek not
} work harm to the Lady ELISA, for in
riking her you strike NE. and such
ows may bring my vengeance after
lem"
Vengeance" Knocked the Levite. II
ar but one vengeance, that of him on
gh, nor do listen TO the whisperings |
love when duty points the path.
ather would l see you dead, Prince
ziel. than lured down to hell by the 5
lies of yonder WITCH"
Then before AzieI could answer he {
rned and left him.
AS Issachar went to his own cham |