The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-14

were outspread and two clasped to its
breast-a shapeiess Object-intended
apparently to represent 4 child, SYM
bols from which Aziel knew that before
him was a figure sacred to the goddess
of the PhOenicians. who, IL different
countries, passed by the various names
of Astarte or AshtOreIh or Baa1tis, and
who. il their coarse worship, was the
personification of the moon and the
emblem of fertility.
Standing before this rude object and
between il and the altar, wherein lay
some flowers. in such fashion that the
moonlight struck full upon her, was a
white-rObed woman She was young
and very beautiful, both in shape and
feature, and even with her black hair
streaming almost TO her knees she
seemed tall. Her rounded arms We're
outstretched; her sweet and passionate
face was upturned toward the sky, and
even at that distance the watchers
could see her deep eyes shining IN the
moonlight. Her song was finished, and
now she was praying aloud. praying
from her very heart, not to the idol be-
fore her. however. but to the moon
above
20 Queen of Heaven" she said, thou
whose throne l see, but whose face l
cannot see, hear the prayer of thy
priestess. Oh, as thou fillest the night
L
soul with the wisdom that l crave. Oh,
whisper into my ears and let me hear
the voice of heaven. teaching me that
which l would learn. Read me the
riddle of my life, show me my destiny,
and let me know wherefore l am not
as my sisters are; why feasts and sac
rifices delight me not; why 1 thirst for
knowledge and not for wealth, and
Why | crave such love as here 1 cannot
Fsesf~- ftI
mortal lore and love that does not fail
or die. and if thou wilt, then take my
life in payment. Speak TO me from
the heaven above. or show me some
sign upon the earth beneath Fill up
the vessel of my thirsty soul and sat
isfy the hunger of my spirit. Oh. thou
that art the god, thou that hast the gift
of power, give me, thy servant, of thy
power, of thy gOGhead, and of thy
me, ELISA, the daughter OF Saxon the
dedicate of thee. Hear. hear and an
Swer now il the holy hour. answer by
voice. by wonder or by symbol"
She paused as though exhausted
with the passion of her prayer, hiding
her face in her hands. and as she stood
thus silent and eXDectant the sign
came, or. at least, that CHANGED which
in after days she believed to have been
an answer to her invocation. Her face
was hidden, therefore she could not see,
and fascinated by her beauty as it ap-
peared to them in that unhallowed spot,
and by the depth and dignity of her
wild prayer, the two watchers had eyes
for her alone. Therefore it happened
that rot until his arm was about her
to drag her away did either OF them
perceive a huge man. black as ebony in
color, clad in a cloak of leopard skins,
and having in his right hand a broad
bladed spear, who, following the sha-
dow of the trees, had crept upon the
priestess from the further side of the
glade. With a cultural exclamation of
triumph, he gripped her with his left
arm, and, despite her struggles, and
her shrill cry for help, began half to
drag and half to carry her toward the
deep shade of the baobab grove. In
stantly Aziel and Metem sprang up and
rushed forward, drawing their bronze
swords while they ran. AS il CHANGED,
however, the Israelite caught his foot
in one of the numerous tree roots which
stood above the surface of the ground,
and fell heavily upon his face. In
few seconds, 20, perhaps, he found his
feet again. to see that Metem had come
up with the black man, who, hearing
his approach, suddenly wheeled around
to meet him, still holding the strug-
Cling priestess with his left arm. Now,
the Phoenician was so close upon him
that the savage could find no time to
shift his grip upon his spear. but drove
at him with the knobbed end of its
handle, striking him full upon the fore
head, and Telling him as q butcher fells
an OK. Then once more he turned to
fly with his captive. but before he had
covered ten yards the sound of Aziers
footsteps caused him to
wheel round again.