The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-28


as though to speak. and her eyes.
frightened with pigments, turned up to
heaven. BY degrees her movements
grew more rapid, till at length, as she
whirled around, her long black hair
streamed out straight upon the air. and
the crown of flowers looked like a
scarlet ring. Suddenly the bronze knife
in her right hand mashed, and a spot
of red appeared over her left breast;
then the knife in the left hand flashed
and another spot appeared over the
right breast, and at each stroke the
multitude cried "Ahi'' as with one
voice. and then were silent
Now the maiden dancer, ceasing her
WRITINGS. leaped high into the air.
clashing the knives above her head and
crying, Hear me, hear me, Baaltisr'
Again she leaped. and this time the
answer that came from her lips was
spoken in another voice. which said, Il
am here. What seek thou?"
A third time she leaped, replying in
her own voice, Health for thy servant
VINO is sick Then came the answer
in the second voice, ! hear you, but 1
see no sacrifice
What sacrifice wouldst thou, Oh,
queen? A dove?'
Nay
What then, queen?"
only one. The first-born child of a
woman"
AS this command. which they sup
posed to be divine and from above,
issued from the lips of the gashed and
bleeding oracle, the multitude shouted
aloud. while the girl herself, utterly
exhausted, fell to the earth. senseless.
Now priest of El, who was named
the Shadid. none other, indeed, than
the husband of her who lay sick,
sprang upon the platform and cried:
The goddess has spoken by the
mouth of her oracle. She who is the
mother of all demands one life out of
the many she has given, that the Lady
Baaltis, who is her priestess upon
earth. may be recovered of her sick
ness. Say, who will lay down life
for the honor of the goddess and that
her regent in this land may be saved
alive?"
Now-for all this scene had been care
fully prepared-a woman stepped for
ward, wearing the robe of a priestess,
who bore in her arms a drugged and
sleeping child.
Il, father, rshe cried, in a shrill, hard
voice, though her lips trembled as she
spoke. Let the goddess take this child
the first fruit of my body, that our
mother, Baaltis, may be cured of her
sickness and that /. her daughter, may
be blessed by the goddess, and, through
me. all we who worship her" And she
held out the little victim toward him.
The Shadid stretched out his arms TO
take it, but he never did take it, for at
that moment appeared upon the plat
form the tall white bearded figure of
Issachar who was clad in his priestly
robes.
'Holdi" he cried, in voice of thun-
der. and with flashing eyes, and touch
not the innocent child. Spawn of satan.
would ye do murder to appease the dew
lis whom We worship. Well shall they
repay We. OH mine eyes are open and
l see,'' he went on, shaking his thin
arms above his head in a prophetic
frenzy. Il see the sword of the true
God, and 1t flames above this city of
idolators and denominations. / see this
place of sacrifice, and 1 tell you that be-
fore the moon is young again it shall
run red with the blood of idol worship
ers and of you, women of the groves.
The heather is at your gates, We follow
of demons, and my God send them as
sends the locusts or the north wind to
devour you like grass, to sweep you
away like the dust of the desert. Cry
then upon Ell and Baaltis, and let FL
and Baaltis save you if they can. Doom
is upon you; Azrael. angel of DEATH
writes his name upon your foreheads,
every one of you, giving your city to the
owls. your bodies to the jackals, and
your souls to satan"
nus 1ctl TIC pllSSlS anu Tie SltCtdl-
ors had listened to Isaachar's denun-
Citations in bewildered amazement, not
unmiXed with fear. But now, with a
roar of wrath, they awoke, and sud
denly he was dragged from the plat
form by a score of hands and struck
senseless with many blows. Indeed,
he would then and there have been torn
to pieces had not a guard of soldiers,
knowing that he was Sakon's guest,
and in the train of the Prince Aziel,
snatched him from the maddened null
titude and bore him swiftly to place
of safety without the Enclosure. While
the tumult was at it's height a Phoeni-
clan, who had arrived in the temple
breathless with haste, might have been
seen to pluck Metem by the sleeve
What is it?" Metem asked, for the
man was his servant.
This, the Lady BaaltiS is dead.
watched as you babe me- and, as she
had promised to do. her woman waved
the napkin from the easement of the
tower where she lies"
DO any know of this?"
None"
"Then say no word of it," and Metem
hurried off in search of Aziel.
Presently he found him in company
with his guards. seeking for Isaachar
Have no fear, prince" he said, ''he
is safe enough, fo- the soldiers have
borne the fool away. Pardon me that
1 should speak thus of holy man,
but he has put all our lives in dan
ger"
Il do not pardon you" answered Aziel
hotly, "and 1 honor Issachar for his act
and words. Let US begone from this ac-
cursed place whittier you entrapped
me-"
Before Metem could answer voice
cried, CLOSE the doors of this sane
tuary, so that none can pass in or go
out, and let the sacrifice be offered
Listen. prince said Metem. You
must stay here until the ceremony is
done
Then I tell you. Phoenician." an
swered Aziel. that rather than suffer
that innocent child to be butchered be-
fore my eyes. will cut my way TO it
with my guards and rescue it alive"
ITO leave yourself dead in place of
it answered Metem, sarcastically
But see, u woman desires to speak
with you" and he pointed to a girl in
the robe of a priestess whose face was
hidden with veil. and who, in the tu-
multi and confusion, had worked her
way to AZiel.
Prince" whispered the yelled form,
II am ELISA. For your lifes sake keep
still and silent or you will be slain, for
your words have been overheard"
Away with you. woman" answered
Aziel. What have 1 to do with a girl
of the groves and a murderess of chill
dren?"
She WINGED at his bitter words, but
answered quietly:
Then on your own head be your
blood prince. which have risked much
to keep unshed. But before you die
learn that | knew nothing of this foul