Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-10-04

tried against Phorenice have failed
You have returned from over seas for
the Anal duel. You are the strongest
man We have, and you ere our final
champion. II you fail, then only those
terrible powers which are locked
within the Ark Of Mysteries remain to
Us. and though 1t is not awful to speak
even in this hidden tongue of their
scope, you at least have full assurance
Of their potency"
I shrugged my shoulders. "It seems
that you would save time and pains If
you threw me to these wolves of reb-
els, and lot them end me here and
now"
The old man frowned on me angrily.
81 am bidding you do your duty. What
reason have you for wishing to evade
it?"
II have In my memory the words you
spoke in the pyramid, when you came
in among the banqueters. 'Phorenice,'
was your cry, while you are yet en-
press, you shall see this royal pyramid,
which you have polluted with your de-
baucheries, torn tier from tier, and
stone from stone, and scattered as
feathers before . wind It seems
that you foresee my defeat"
The old man shuddered. 81 cannot
| tell what she may force us to do. I
spoke then only what it was revealed
to me must happen. Perhaps when
matters have reached that pass she
will repent and submit. But in the
meanwhile before we use the most
desperate weapon OF the gods, it is
| fitting that we should expend all
human power remaining to us. And
80 you must go, my brother, and play
your part TO the utmost"
ut is an order. So obey"
eYou shall be at Phorenice's side
again by the next dawn. She has sent
for you from Yuoatan as husband,
and as one who ESQ she thinks, poor
human oonqueror) has the weight of
arm necessary to pfolong her tyran-
MES. You are a priest, brother, and
| you are man ofconyincing tongue. It
will be your part to make her stub
born mind see the invincible power
that can be loosed against her, to
! point out to her the utter hopelessness
of prevailing against it."
"If it 10 ordered, will do these
things. But there is little enough
chance Of success. I have seen Phore-
Moe, and can gauge her will. There
will DO no turning her once she has
made . Decision. Others have tried;
you have tried yourself; all have
failed"
Words that were wasted on maid.
en- may 60 home to wife. You have
been brought here to be her husband.
Well, take your place.
The order came to me with pang. I
had given little enough heed to women
through all of busy Nfe, though
when landed, the taking of Phorenice
to wife would not have been repug-
nant to me If policy had demanded It..
But the matters of the last two days
had put things in different shape.
| had seen two other women who had
strangely attracted me, and one of
these had stirred within me tumult
such as had never before felt among
my economies.
To lead Phorenice In marriage would
mean a severance from this other
woman eternaily, and I ached as /
thought of it. But though these
thoughts tloated through my system
and gave me harsh wrenches of pain,
] did not thrust my puny likings be-
tore the command of the council of
priests, bowed before Zaemon and
put his hand to my forehead. ut is an
order" said. "If our Lord the Sun
gives me life, will obey"
"Then let us begone from this
place" said Zaemon, and took me by
the arm and waved way for us with
the symbol. No further word did I
have with Nais, fearing to embroil her
with these rebels that clustered round,
but caught one glance from her eyes,
and that had to suffice for farewell.
The dense ranks of the crowd opened,
and We walked away between them
scathless. Fiercely though they lust.
ed for my life, trimming with hate
though they made their cries, no man