Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-09-24

took him for one of those ascetics
of the Priests clan, who had for
sworn the steady nurtured life of the
Sacred Mountain, and who lived out
in the dangerous lands among the
burning hills, where there is daily
peril from falling rocks, from fire
streams, from evil vapors, from sud-
den assuring Of the ground and from
other movements of those unstable
territories, and from the greater liz
ards and other 1nonstrous beasts
which haunt them. These keep con-
slant in the memory the might of the
holy gods, and the insecurity OF this
frail earth on which we have our rest
ing place, and 30 the sojourners there
become chastened in the spirit and
gain power over mysteries which even
the most studious and learned of other
men can never hope to attain.
A silence filed the room when the
old man came to his halt, and
Phorenice was the first to break it.
"Those two guards" she said, in her
clear, carrying voice, "who held the
door are not equal to their work. I
cannot have imperfect servants; re-
move them"
The soldiers next in the rank lifted
their spears and drove them home, and
the two fellows who had admitted the
old man fell to the ground. One
shrieked once, the other gave no
sound; they were clever thrusts both.
The old man found his voice, thin
and high and broken. another crime
added to your tally, Phorenice. Not
half your army could have hindered
my entrance had I wished to come,
and let me tell you that I am here
to bring you your last warming The
gods have shown you much favor.
They gave you merit by which you
could rise above your fellows, till at
last only the throne stood above you.
1t was seen good by those on the Sa-
cred Mountain to let you have this last
ambition, and sit on this throne that
has so long and honorably been filed
by the ancient kings of Atlantis"
The empress sat back on the divan
smiling. II seemed to get these things
as chose, and in spite of your friends
teeth. may owe to you, old man, a
small parcel of thanks, though that I
offered to repay; but for my lords
the priests, their permission was of
small enough value when it came.
would have you remember that was
as firm on the throne of Atlantis as
this pyramid stands upon its base
when your worn-out priests came up
to give their tottering benediotion."
The old man waved aside her inter
ruption. Hear me out" he said. II
am here with no trivial message.
There is nothing paltry about the
threat can throw at you, Phorenice.
With your fire tubes, your handling
of troops and your other iendish clev-
erness, you may not be easy to over
throw by mere human means, though,
forsooth, these poor rebels who zap
against your city walls have contrived
to hold their ground for long enough
now. 1t may be that you are becom-
ing enervated; do not know. 1t may
be that you are too wrapped up in
your Hastings, your dressings, your
pomps and your debaucheries, to find
leisure to turn to the art of war. It
may be that the mans spirit has gone
out from your arm and brain, and you
are woman once more-weak and
pleasure-Ioving; again do not know.
But this must happen: You must
undo the evil you have done; you must
give bread to the people, who are starv-
Ing, even if you take it from these
gluttons in this hall; you must restore
Atlantis to the state in which it was
Entrusted to you; or else you must be
removed. 1t cannot be permitted that
the country should sink back into the
Rwlessness and barbarism from
which its ancient kings have digged it.
You hear, Phorenice. Now give me
true answer"
Speak him fair. Oh, for the sake
of your fortune, speak him fart"
came Ylga's voice in q hurried whis-
per from behind us. But the empress
took no notice of it. She leaned for
ward on the cushions of the divan with
knit brow.
do you dare to threaten me, old
man, knowing what amp"
II know your origin" he said, grave
ly, "as we'll as you know it yourself.
AS for my daring, that is a small mat
ter. He need be but timid man who
dares to say words that the high gods
put on his lips"
Il shall rule this kingdom as I
choose. / shall brook interference
from no creature on this earth, or be-
meath it, OF in the sky above. The gods
have chosen me to be their regent in
Atlantis, and they do not depose me
through such creatures as you. Go
away, old man, and play the fanatic in
another court. 1t is well that l have
an ancient kindness for you, or you
would not leave this place unframed"
Now, indeed. you are lost" heard
Ylga murmur from behind, and the
old man in front of us did not move a
step. Instead, he lifted up the symbol
of Our Lord the Sun, and launched his
curse. Your blasphemy gives the re-
ply I asked for. Hear me now make
declaration of war on behalf of those
against whom you have thrown insults.
You shall be oyerthrewn and sent to
the neither gods. AT whatever cost the
land shall be purged of you and yours,
and all the evil that has been done to
it while you have sullied the throne Of
its ancient kings. You will not amend,
neither will you yield tamely. You
vaunt that you sit as firm on your
throne as this pyramid reposes on its
base. See how little you know of what
the future carries. say to you that,
while Won are vet empress Won shall