Evening star., 1898-03-26

Fer eyes ueVoured the lines her face feil
In and her lips grew pale with anguish.
BE brave murmured Metem. for his
heart was stirred to pity. 1T is best for
all that he should Eo.''
For him. perchahce, 1t is best she an
swered, but what of me? Oh, Metem,
what of mee'
Lady he said. sadly, 'T have no words
to soothe youf sorrow save that the gods
have willed it thus"
What gods2 she asked, fiercely. mot
those they bid me worship" She shud-
dered and then went on. "Metem, be pitt
ful oh, If ever you have loved a woman.
or have been loved of one. for her sake be
pififul must see him for the last time
IN farewell, and you can help me to it,
=! In the name of Baal, howe?
When do you leave the city. Metem?"
AT moonrise on the night after next.
Ihen an hour before moonrise will be
in the temple, whittier l can come by the
secret way that leads thither from this
palace, and he can enter there. for the lit
tie gate shall be left unbarred. Pray him
10 meet me then for the last time"
LADY he urged, this is but madness" :"
Madness. or no. it is my will, and be-
ware how you thwart me in 1t, Metem, for
at least / am the Lady Baaltis. and have
power, and l swear to you that If i see
him not you shall never leave this city
living
shrewd argument and to the point, -
SAID Metem. We'll, l have prepared my
self rock-hewn tomb at Tyre, and do not
wish that my craven sarcophagus of best
Egyptian alabaster should be wasted"
"As assuredly it will be if you do not
OBEY me in this matter, Metem. Remember,
an hour before moonrise at the foot of the
pillar of Ell in the inner court Of the
temple"
AS she spoke Metem started for his
quick ears had caught sound.
Lady, he said, in loud voice, as he
led the way to the front of the throne.
you are a hard bargainer. Were there
many such a poor trader could not make
living. All, here is one who knows the
value of such priceless work." and he
pointed to Mesa, who, with folded arms
and downcast eyes, stood within five PAGES
of the throne nearer than which she was
addressing her, you will have heard the
price asked. Say, now, is it too much?'
Il have heard nothing, sir. l stand here
waiting the return of my holy mistress
that l may remind her that the hour OF
sunset prayer is at hand.
Would that l, had SO fair mentor, ex-
claimed Metem, "for then 1 should lose
less time" But to himself he said, She
has heard something, though l think but
little. Well, judge between us. Is eighty
golden shekels too much for these images
that have been blessed and sprinkled with
the blood of children by the high priest
of Baal at Sidon?'
Mesa lifted her cold eyes and looked at
them. Il think it too much,'' she said.
but it is for the Lady Baaltis to judge;
who am 1 that l should open my lips in
the presence of the Lady Baaltis?'
Il have appealed to the oracle and it
has spoken against me- said Metem,
wringing his hands in affected dismay.
well, l abide the result. Lady, you Of
fered me 30 shekels, and for 80 you shall
take them, for the honor of the holy gods,
though in truth 1 lose 10 shekels by the
bargain. Give you order to the treasurer
and he will pay me tomorrow. And now,
farewell" and bowling till his forehead
touched the ground, he kissed the hem Of
her robe.
ELISA bent her head in acknowledgment
of the salute and as he rose her eyes met
his. In them was written a warning he
could not fail to understand, and, al
though she did not speak, her lips seemed
to shars the word. Remember
Ten minutes later Metem stood in the
chamber of Aziel.
Had she the letter, and what did she
say to it?" asked the prince, springing up
almost he passed the threshold.
I'm the name of all the gods of all the
nations, l pray you not to speak so loud"
answered Metem, when he had closed the
"Oh, If ever l find myself safe in Tyre
again 1 VOW gift, and no mean one, to
each Of them that has a temple there.
and they ara many for no single god Is
this trouble. Have 1 seen the Lady
ELISA? oh, yes have seen her, and what
think you that this innocent lamb, this
undefled dove OF yours, threatens me with
now OedIn. NOtnlnS less lndn Oeatn IL
/ will not carry out her foolish wishes.
More, she means the threat, and has the
strength to fulfill it, for to the Lady Baal-
It's is given power over the lives of men
or. at the least. If she takes life. none
question the authority Of the goddess. I'm
less 1 do her will I am a dead man. and
that IS the reward get for mixing myself
up in your mad love affairs.
Hold" broke in AZiel land tell me,
man, what Is her will.
"Hsr will is-what think you? To meet
you in farewell an hour before you leave
this city. and as my throat is at stake, by
means, though tell you that 1t is madness
and nothing else. But listen to the story
and he repeated all that had passed.
Now" he added ''are you ready to take
'I should be a coward. indeed. If did
not" answered Aziel, when she, woman,
dares heavier one"
"And am a coward. that Is why take
one. But what of 1Ssachar? This meeting
can scarcely be kept secret from him."
Aziel thought while and then said:
go, fetch him here" and Metem went,
to return presently with the Levite to
whom, without further ado. the prince told
all, hiding nothing.
1ssachar listened In silence. and when
both he and Metem had done speaking,
said:
"a. least, I thank you, prince, for being
open with me, and now without more
WOrQS pray you 10 dDdnQOn InlS TdSn
plan, which can end only in pain. and per-
haps in DEATH"
Abandon 1t not, prince" said Metem,
seeing that if you do it will certainly end
in my death. for the girl Is mad and will
have her way, or if she does not, than
must pay the price"
Have no fear" answered Aziel, smiling.
'Issachar, this must be done Or
''Or what, prince?"
'f will not leave the city. It is true that
Saxon may thrust me from 1t, but 1t shall
be as a dead man. Nay, waste no words.
Since she desires 1t 1 must and will meet
the Lady ELISA for the last time not as
lover meets lover, but as those meet who
part forever in the world"
You say So princs? Then have your
permission to accompany you?"
"Yes. If you wish it, 1ssachar, but there
Is danger"
Danger? What care I for danger? The
will of God be done to me. so be it, we
will go together, but the end Of 1t is not
with U.S."
CHAPTER XII.
The Tryst.
Two days had gone by. and at the ap-
pointed hour three figures, wrapped in
dark cloaks, might have been seen walking
swiftly toward the little entrance of the
temple fortress. Although it was near to