Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-01-27
AT least. I am not TO die alone o. said

1HG IuOUH Is ONiy one III the Sky3
princess; and when he loves and when
he Stays he is alone"
off it must be, it must-and the gods
will be my help. Priest, ye have leave
to GO"
Barefoot and bareheaded must they
be who mount those steps," said the
high priest, not moving.
at is a hard saying bids me die bare
foot like q slave; but to do the moons
will came hither, and will do it," said
the princess.
There is band of blue jewels round
Your throat, lady; and the moons wife
wears no jewels"
''Do you take off the string of tur-
quoises about my neck, my golden ann
lets, and my 0nllets, women. What
more?"
please You, put Off the crown of your
degree, princess. Sacrifices know no
rank when one comes to lie on the
moons bed"
what more, priest ?''
you must put of your scarlet cloak.
Blood is red-and your blood is not to
flow, princess. Had you elected to die
at the altar of the Sun, the sacred
knives would drink deep OF your blood;
so, YOU might come to the sacrifice in
scarlet robes indeed, but being chosen
to be wife OF the Noon, it is by water
that you must lay down your life"
Now the cloak was of royal scarlet,
and the king himself took this from his
daughters shoulders; and because her
sacrifice was a voluntary one and not
one of force, the princess took off her
crown with her own hands and laid it,
signing gently, at her fathers feet.
Now waiting-woman united her girdle
and unbound her hair and q slave undid
her sandals; and her naked feet and
s.ightly-yeiled bosom shrank from the
keen cold of all the winds blowing
&rough the pierced pillars and the
cliAgiAg chill Of the wet, white floor.
'Brother!" cried the princess, sob
bling
Chou art no more my sister, but
bride Of the moon, and sister of
the NOON" cried her brother.
He held her handfaSt, in cruel kindness,
and led her up the dripping steps, has
tening her reluctant feet, and lifted
her upon the bed.
Lay myself down here, sister, and
take Thy courage about thee. Hasten
thy farewens and keep Us here no long
err; for thy kindred must not wait, and
thy bridegroom will not wait. Why
shouldst thou be afraid?"
The princess obeyed him and lay
Down, trembling much, uncovered her
eyes with her hands. "Father!" she
cried
Seeing that thou art no virgin going
unwedded to q sorry death, bat prin-
cess dying for people. not one but
thousand deaths is this that chou diest;
and how shouldst thou be afraid?' said
the king. And he held her in his arms
as She shrank for the last time. from
the coverlct Of flowing water and the
cold marble couch. Surely death shall
come not urgently TO thee, sweet, and
thy pangs be few, seeing thy death shall
save from fire and food Thy country,
and make pitiful 1or US the gods that
were angry; and have thou no fear lest
I forget thee, flesh of my flesh and
blood of my blood" Then: "Be of
good cheer, bride" said he, softly.
"Loose thine hands, daughter, and pa
ticnce while put on thee thy wedding
bracelets" He unclasped her clinging
hands himself. and lifted them high
above her head until they touched the
silver rings en- either side of the
dragons crested head. These snapped
round her wrists, holding her arms
fast. As she lay, shrinking, her head
lust below the dragons head, the Wa
Ter avoided her face and flowed regular
ly and smoothly down from her bosom
to her feet, whence it escaped down to
the marble floor below.
Farewell, my women, one and ALL"
said the princess. cone last service only
may ye do me, Pray only that Imay be
silent"
She neither felt her brothers kiss nor
heard the Kings farewell. Tor the sound
Of his withdrawing; but shut her lips
and her eyes, and there lay. elothedwith
terror as a garment, covered TO the
heart with flowing water, filled to the
lins with fear Of the unknown thing
that would come with the coming of the
first rloonbeam. She saw. dimly,
shapes come and go beside her, hands
wruag together in sorrow, hands held
over her in blessing, hands flung up in
passionate farewell; heard dimly the
voices OF the high priest and his servi-
tcrs.and the distant familiar singing Of
her own women mirgle and mix and
fade away: and as the darkness grew,
the water.How that enyeloped her grew
in volume until Il felt as though all the
waters of lake were bursting over her
shrinking breast. Presently a silver
fute-noic stole softly out from the
shadows near her head. and then the
sonorous tones OF great Egyptian
harp:
THE Moons way
| Over the flowing waters which obey
The Moons white VIII; and all the goblin
things
That dip and dive nidmost the water
springs;
The Wilderness of the waters and the
| white
Breath Of those flowers that only bloom at
night;
All these be with the Moons bride to up
hold,
TO keep her love warm while her breast
grows cold;
| Her heart alive to keep
When Night and Death, and cbbing and
flowing tide,
Call the Moons bride"
And with the song there came
strength to lila, and she tried TO drag
herself free IRON the silver shacliles
that held her, crying: 81 will not be
bound. I came to lie here of my own
i