Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-19
CHAPTER IN.
Greeting to the I3aaltiS.

Aziel ana EilSSa Impossible. ne had al
ready thought out scheme which. if sue
cessful, would attain that end and, as he
considered. promote the true welfare Of the
lovers who were to be separated.
1t will be remembered that ELISA had al
ready explained to the prince how. on the
Death of the Lady BaaItis, another woman
elected by the colleges of the priests
and p-iestesses to I'LL her place. This la L.
could marry, indeed, she was expected to
do SO. but her husband must take the title
of Shadid and for her lifetime act as high
priest of FL. Therefore, thought Metem. it
was obvious. if it could be brought about
that ELISA should be chosen as the new
Lady Baaltis, there would be an end of the
possibility of her marriage to Aziel, since
IL order to wed her ne must renounce his
own religion, thing which no Jew would
do, and pose as the earthly incarnation of
one whom he considered false divinity
a Gevil Indeed, not only marriage, but any
further intimacy between the pair would
be rendered inpracticab!e, for upon this
point the religious law, lax enough in many
particulars. was very strict. In fact so
strict was it that the Lady Baaltis of the
Gay to be found alone with any man meant
death TO her and him; the reason of it's
severity being that she was supposed 10
represent the goddess and her husband the
Siddld. a god wherefore any questionable
b havlor On her part was an insult to the
n.ENSl powerful QiNlnltleS OF heaven, winch
could only be atoned by the death of their
unworthy incarnations.- That these laws
were actual and not formal only was
proved by the fact that within the last
hundred years. before the birth of ELISA, a
Lady Baaltis had been executed for some
such offense. having been hurled from the
tcpTost pinnacle of the fortress above the
tempe 20 the foot of the precpice beneath.
III these sacerdotal customs were famil-
lar 10 Nstem, who argued from them that
to procure the nomination of ELISA the
Lazy Baaltis would be to build an impasSa-
he wall between her and the Prince Aziel.
Also. by way of compensation, the Office
Wcull confer upon her the highest dignity
and honor that could be attained by any
woman in the city: moreover. her election
would place her beyond the reach of the
prosecutions of Ithobal, since. Lady
Baaltis. she was entitled to choose her own
husband without niiidrance or appeal, pre-
vi6ed only that he was of pure white blood,
which IthObal not.
Having thought the matter out. and con-
WINGED himself that such a course would
not only benefit his own pocket, but prove
TO the lasting advantage of all concerned,
Metem set about his task with the prompti-
tude and cunning of his race and filled with
a glow of righteous zeal. Ii was not an
easy one. for. although she had enemies
and rivals the daughter of the dead Lady
Baaltis. Mesa by name. was considered to
be certain of election at the poll of the
priests and priestesses. which took place
within two days. Nothing discouraged.
however, "llHCul kHO"iSCSe OF tuat OIL
her father. Metem began his canvass on
Elissa's behalf.
First. with great sum of gold he bought
over the ex-shadid. the husband of the late
Lady Baaltis. who had quarreled with his
daughter. ard would prefer to see some
stranger chosen in her place on the chance
that. Notwithstanding his years, by choos-
ing him in marriage she might confirm him
In his position of spouse to the goddess.
All Meten's negotiations need not be fol-
lowed-money played part in most of
them. jealousy and dislike in some. A few
there were also whom he won over by .urg-
ing the beauty and wisdom of ELISA, and
her extraordinary fitness for the post. He
found his most powerful allies, however,
among the members of the council of the
city To these grandees he pointed out
that ELISA was a woman of great strength
of character. who would certainly never
consent to be forced into a marriage with
1thobal. although her refusal should mean
a desperate war. and that her father was
SO much under her influence that he could
not be brought to put pressure upon her.
Therefore the only way out of the difficulty
was her election as Baaltis. which would
prove perfect answer to the suit of the
savage king, since the goddess could not
be compelled and even Ithobal would shrink
from offering her violence
Their support gained having first sworn
him to secrecy. he attacked Saxon himself
using similar arguments with him. and
pointing out. in addition, that If he ioped
10 see his daughter married to Prince ARIEL
however dazzling might be the prospects of
such match, IL would certainly bring
upon him the present wrath of HhobaI
and. in all probability. future trouble with
the courts of Egypt, and. through them of
i Iaye. Ihus working in many ways, Metem
labored necessarily to attain his end so
that when the hour of election came he
awaited its issue fairly confident of suc-
cess.
IL was on the same afternoon that for the
first time since she had received the arrovv
that was meant for his heart Aziel was adj
United 10 see ELISA, whose recovery was
now certain: although she had not yet
shaken on her weakness, and her right
hard and wrist were still stiff and swo len
Except for two or three of her women woo
Were seated at their work behind a screen
near the far end Of the great chamber she
vas alone lying upon a couch in the recess
OF tire window place. Advancing to he- he
bent down to kiss her wounded hand.
Nay: she said. hiding it beneath the
lolds OF her robe. eft is still black and nm
slightly with the poison
he more reason that I should XII il
Seeing now the stain came there" he an
Her eyes met his. and she whispered:
Not my hand, but my brow prince. for so
shall be crowned"
replied: "i anu
Queen Of my heart you are already and
though the throne be humble it is sure
Inc lie you saved is yours, ard no
II did but repay a debt - she arsuered
nut speak no more of il. Gladly would I
nave cied To save you: should such choice
arise. would you do so for me, wonderp''
There is little he ed to ask such a oues-
ticn lady: for your sake would not oniy
die, L would even endure shame-that Is
worse than DEATH
sweet words, ARIEL" she answered
smiling. of which shall learn the value
when the hour or trial comes, as come /
think IL will You told me but now that
you were mine and no others but is 1t
SO? / have heard story of a certain
Princess of knem with whom your name
was mingled Tel me. II you will. what
was IL that set you journeying to this far
city of ours?''
The desire to find you" ne answered
smiling. Then. seeing that she still look
ed AT him with questioning eyes, he added:
Nay. this Is the truth. IL you seek it.
Indeed. 1t Is best that I should tell you,
since IT seems that already you have heard
something of the story. A while ago I
was sent to the court of the Pharaoh of
Egypt by the will of Solomon NV grand
sire. upon an embassy of friendship and
TO escort thence a certain beautiful prin-
Cess my cousin. who was affiapced nv
treaty to an uncle of mine, a great prince
OF Israel. This / did. showing to the lady
courtesy and no more. but the end of the