Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-12

hesitatins. but savages such as he haunt
the outskirts Of the city, seeking to steal
white woman to be their wives. Doubtless
ne watched my steps, following me into
the holy place"
why, then, did you venture thsre alone.
iadyg'
Car Cannot B b.. protect the prtestess.
prince, and did she not protect herr"
L thought. lady. that 1 had something
to do with the matter" he answered.
Aye. prince, 1t was your hand that
Struck the blow which killed him, but Baal-
tbs. and no other, led you to the grove to
rescue me-"
Il understand lady. To save you. Baai-
u.s. laying aside her power. led a mortal
man to the grove, which it is death that
mortal man should violate"
Who can fathom the ways of the gods 30
she replied, with passion, then added as
though reasoning with newborn doubt.
answer it?'
In truth, lady, 1 cannot say Let me
think; You prayed for heavenly wisdom,
put whether or not you have gained it with
IN thls last hour 1 do not know. And then
you prayed for love, an immortal love- Oh
maiden, has 1t come to you since yonder
moon appeared upon the sky? And you
Peace" she broke in, peace. and mock
me not, or, prince that you are I will make
known your crime in hearkening to the
prayer of priestess of Baaltis. 1 tell you
prayed for symbol and a sign and the
giant spring upon me to bear me away to
be his slave? And Is he not symbol of
the evil ard the ignorance which are ION
the earth, and that would drag down the
beauty and the wisdom of the earth to
their own level? Then the Phoenician ran
to rescue me and was defeated, since the
spirit Of Mammon cannot overcome the
black powers of ill. Next you came and
fought hard and long till in the end you
slew the mighty foe you, the prince born
OF the royal blood of the world and she
ceased.
You have pretty gift of parable lady,
as it should be with one who interprets the
oracles Of a goddess. But you have not
told me of what ], your servant, am the
symbol"
She stopped in her walk and looked him
full in the face.
81 never heard' she said that either
the Jews or the Egyptians being instruc-
ted. were blind to the reading of an ale
gerry. But, prince il you cannot read this
one. it is not for me, who am but a wo-
man, to set it out to you"
Just then their glances met, and in the
clear moonlight he saw wave of trouble
sweep over her dark and beautiful eyes,
ard faint flush appear upon her brow.
He saw, and something stirred at his heart
that till this hour he had never felt, and
OF which even now he knew he could never
more be rid.
almost to whisper. lin this fable of yours
I am even for an hour deemed worthy to
play the part of that immortal love en-
bodied which you sought so earnestly
while ago."
Immortal love, PRINCE" she answered
in a new voice, a voice low and deep, lis
not for one hour, but for all hours that
are and are to be. You. and you alone
can know If YOU would dare to play such
a part as this
'Percha-ce. lady, there lives woman for
whom ] might dare it"
Prince, no such woman lives, since i'm
oil low ST IpoI pnf -itt no fash
but with the spirit. If a spirit worthy to
be thus loved and worshiped now wanders
In earthly shape upon the world. seeking
its counterpart and its completion, 1 can
not tell. Yet happy would 1t be for such
spirits were it so. and should they chance to
meet, for then the answer to the great rid
Gle would be theirs"
Drawn by an overmastering impulse.
Azicl bent over her to make reply, when
suddenly round bend in the path, but
few PAGES from them. came a body of SOL
diers and attendants. headed by man clad
in white robe and walking with staff.
He was gray bearded and keen-eyed thin in
face and ascetic in appearance, with
brow of power and bearing of great dig
nifty. At the sight of the pair he halted,
looking at them wonderingly, and with dis
approval.
Our search Is ended he said in Hebrew,
''for here is he we seek and alone with him
heather woman
what do you here, Issachar?" asked
AEiel So!neWIdt COTluSeusy, Tor the sudden
appearance of the Levite disturbed him.
What do !, prince? Surely you can
guess that your absence has been noted
We feared lest harm should have come to
You, or that YOU had lost your path, but it
seems that you have found guide" and he
looked at his companion sternly
THAT guide, Issachar," answered Aziel
lis none other than the Lady Eiissa daugh-
ter of Saxon, the governor of this city
and our host, whom it has been my good
fortune to rescue from a woman stealer
yonder In the grove of the goddess Baaltis."
And whom it was my bad fortune to try
to rescue in the said grove, my broken
head bears witness" added Metem, who by