The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-07

to his own land on the morrow.
Let him be admitted" said Saxon,
! who looked weary and i'll at ease. Then
as the herald bowed and left he turned
and whispered something into the ear
/ of his daughter, ELISA, who stood be-
/ hind his chair, her face immovable as
! that of an Egyptian sphinx. but mag
nificently apparelled in cleaning robes
! and jewelled ornaments, which Metem,
! looking on them. reflected with salts
! faction We're now his property.
Presently, preceded by burst of saw
| age music, Ithobal entered. He was
: gorgeously arrayed in a purple Tyrian
/ robe decked with golden chains, while
on the brow, in token of his royalty,
he wore a golden circlet in which was
set q single blood-red stone. Before
| him walked a sword-bearer carrying a
I sword of state, magnificent ivory
| handled weapon incrusted with rough
I gems and inlaid with gold, while be-
| hind him, clad IN barbaric pomp, came
number of counsellors and attendants.
huge and half savage men, who slared
wonderingly at the splendor of the
! place and it's occupants. As he came
Saxon rose from his chair of state and,
advancing down the hall, took him by
the hand and led him to a similar chair
placed at a little distance.
Ithobal seated himself, and looked
round the hall. Presently his glance fell
upon Aziel and he scowled.
'Is it common, Sakon," he asked,
chat the seat of a prince thould be set
higher than that of an anointed king?"
and he pointed to the chair of Aziel,
which was placed a little above his own
: on the dais.
The governor was about to answer,
when Aziel interposed with spirit:
Where it is pointed out to me that
1 should sit, there 1 sat, though for
aught l care the King Ithobal may take
my place. The grandson of Pharaoh
and Solomon does not need to dispute
for precedence with the savage ruler
of savage tribes
IthobaI sprang to his feet and said,
grasping his sword:
by my fathers soul. you shall an
swer for this. princelet."
You should have sworn by your
mothers soul, King Ithobal," replied
Aziel, quietly, for doubtless it is the
black blood in your veins that causes
you to forget your courtesy. For the
rest, l answer to none save to my God
and my king
Yet there is one other who will make
you answer" replied Ithobal in a voice
thick with rage, land here he is and
he drew his sword and flashed il before
the princes eyes. "Or if you fear to
face him, then the wands of my slaves
shall cause you TO cry me pardon"
IF you desire to challenge me to COM
bat, King Ithobal. for this purpose only
1 am your servant, though the fashion
of your challenging is not that of any
nation that I know"
Before Ithobal could reply, Saxon
called in a loud voice:
Enough of this. Is this place for
brawling, King Ithobal: and would you
seek to fix a quarrel upon my guest,
the Prince A=;el, here in my council
chamber, and to bring upon me the
wrath of Israel, of Tyre and of Egypt?
Be sure of this. that the prince shall
cross no swords with you; no, not if
have to set him under guard to keep
him safe. To your business, King
Ithobal, or 1 break up this assembly
and send you under escort to our
gates"
Now his councillors pIucked IthobaI by
the sleeve and whispered to him advice
which he seemed at last to take with
an 1ll-grace, for, turning. he said: $50
be it. This is my business. Saxon.
For many years I and the countless
tribes whom / rule have suffered much
at the hands of you PhoenicianS. who
settled here in my country centuries
ago as traders. That you should trade
we are content, but not that you should
establish yourselves as a sovereign
power, pretending to be equal to me,
who are my servants. Therefore. in
the name of my nation, 1 demand that
the tribute which you pay to me for
the use of the mines of gold shall
henceforth be doubled; that the de-
lenses of this city be thrown down.
and that -rou cease to enslave the ma
tives of the land to labor in your serv-
ice. l have spoken"
Now, as these arrogant demands
reached their ears. the company assem-
bled in the hall murmured in anger and
establishment, then turned to wait for
Sakon's answer.
And if we refuse these small requests
of yours, oh king" asked the governor
sarcastically. what then? Will YOU
make war upon us?''
First tell me, Saxon, if you do re-
fuse them"
In the name of the cities of Tyre
and Sidon, whom I serve, and of Hi
ram, my master. 1 refuse them. one
and all,'' answered Saxon, with Dig
nifty.
Then, Saxon, I am minded to bring
up 100000 men against you. and to
sweep you and your city from the face
of the earth" said Ithobal yet. I re-
member that L also have Phoeniciau
blood in my veins. mixed with the no. /
bier and more ancient blood at which
yonder princelet jeers, and therefore /
would spare you. l remember also that /
Tor generations there has been peace /
and amity between my forefathers and I
the council of this city, and therefore !
would l spare you. Behold, then, build |
a bridge whereby you may escape. ask (
ing but one little thing of you in proof
that you are indeed my friend, and ii is
that you give me your daughter, tho I
Lady ELISA, whom I love, to be my
queen. Think we'll before you answer /
that upon your answer
may hang the lives of all who listen to
you, aye, and of many thousand
others"
For awhile there was silence in the /
assembly and every eye was fixed upon (
ELISA. who stood neither moving nor
speaking, her face still set like that of /
sphinx. and almost as unreadable Aziel F!
gaZed at her with the rest, and his
eyes she felt alone of all the hundreds
that were bent upon her. Indeed. 81,
strongly did they draw her that gainst
her own will she turned her head and
met them. Then, remembering what
had passed between herself and the
prince that very day, she colored faint
ly and looked down, neither the glance
nor the blush escaping the watching
Ithobal.
Presently Saxon spoke:
King Ithobal," he said Il am hon
ored that you should seek my daughter
as your queen, but she is my only child. !
whom / love, and this have sworn to /
her that ! will not force her to marry
against her will, whoever be the suitor. |
Therefore. king, take your answer from !