Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-10-11

$50
BACK WITH you, OUTSIDE THIS
CIRCLE"
stood there tamely In waiting, and the
smell OF the sacrifice came after US
as we walked. She mounted the stair
to the golden castle on tho shaggy
beasts back, and babe me mount also
and take seat beside her. But the
place OF the fan-girl behind her was
empty, and what we aadd as we rode
back through the streets there was
none to overhear.
She was eager 10 know what had
befallen me after the attack on the
gate, and told the tale. laying stress
on the worthiness OF Nais, and utter
Ing an opinion that with oare tbs girl
might be won back to allegiance aSain.
Only the commands that Zaemon laid
upon me, when he and / spoke TO-
gethsr In the sacred tongue, did I
withhold, as it is oct lawful to repeat
these matters save only in the Aigh
council of the Prieats itself Is they
sit before the Ark of Mysteries.
You seem to have an unusual kind
liness for this rebel Nais," said
Phorenice.
She showed herself to me a. more
clever and thoughtful than the oom-
mon herd"
Aye" she answered, with . sigh
that l think was real enough In its
way, ian empress loses much that
meaner woman gets as her common
due"
I'm what particularly"
"She misses the honest wooing Of her
equals"
IF you set up for a goddess
said.
"Pah! wish to be no goddess to
you, Deucalion. That was for the
common people; it gives me more pow
er with them; it helps my schemes.
All you seven higher priests know
that trick OF calling down the Are, and
it pleases me to fitch it. Can you not
be generous, and admit that woman
may be as clever in finding out these
natural laws as your musty elder
priests?'
Remains that you are empress"
Nor empress either. Just think
that there is a woman seated beside
you on this cushion, Deucalion, and
Look upon her, and say what words
come first to your Lips. Have done
with ceremonies, and have done with
statecraft. Do you wish to wait on
IS yeu are till all your manhood with
srs? 1t is we'll not to hurry unduly
IN these matters; am with you there.
Yet who but fool watches fruit
grow ripe, and then leaves 1t till 1t 10
past it's primer"
I looked on her glorious beauty, but
as live it left me cold. But re-
membered the command that had been
laid upon me, and forced smile. II
may have been fastidious," said, ':but
do not regret waiting this long"
Nor L But have played my life
as maid time enough. I am wom-
an, ripe and full-bloeded, and the day
has come whom I should be more than
what have been"
Ilet my hand eleach on hers. 'Take
nae to husband then, and I will BE- 4
good man to you. But, as am hidden
speak to Pherenice the woman now,
and not to the empress. offer her
fainwarning that will be no puppet."
She looked at me sidelong. II have
been master so long that think 1t
will come as enjeymentto be mastered
sometimes. No, Deucalion, promise
that-you shall be no puppet. In
deed, it would take lusty lung to
do the piping if you were to dance
against your will"
"Then as man and wife we will live
together In the royal pyramid, and we
will rule this country with all the wit
that IT has pleased the high gods to
bestow on us. These miserable diff
ferences shall be swept aside; the reb-
els shall go back to their homes, and
hunt, and fight the beasts in the prov
inces, and the Priests clan shall be
pacified. Phorenice, you and will
throw ourselves brain and soul into
the government, and we will make
Atlantis rise as nation that shall
once more surpass all the world for
peace and prosperity"
i Petulantly she drew her hand away
from mine. "Ch, your conditions, and
your Atlantis! You carry crudeness
in these colonial manners of yours,
Deucalion, that pals on one after the
first blunt flavor has worn away. Am
! to do all the wooing? Is there no
little thrill of love under all your ice 2"
"In truth, do not know what love
may be-, / have had little enough
speech with women all these busy
years"
1--WE were pair, then, when you
handed, though have heard signs and
prostrations from every man that car
ries a beard in all Atlantis. Some Of
them ticktsd my fancy for the day,
but none of them have moved ME
deeper. No, ] also haveinot learned
what this love may be from my own
personal feelings. But, sir. / think
that you will teach me soon, if you go
on with your coldness.''
From what I.haye seen, love is for
the poor and the weak, and for those of
Eighty emotions"
sThsp ] would. thatanatAer woman
tfySSs s@s-,a,ss