Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-09-20

new temples. new pyramids, new pal.
aces, and statuary everywhere. IT'S
greatness and magnificence inn
pressed me more strongly even than
usual, returning to it as I did from
such distance of time and space,
for, though the many cities of Yu-
catan might each OF them be prince
ly, this great capital was a place not
to be compared with any of them.
It was imperial and gorgeous beyond
descriptive words.
Yet most of all was l struck by
the poverty and squalor which stood
In such close touch with all this mag
ntfeenoe- In the throngs that lined
the streets there were gaunt bodies
and hungry faces everywhere. Here
and there stood one, a man OF a
woman, as naked as savage h Eu.
rope. and yet dull to shame. Even
the trader, with trumpery gauds on
bis coat. aping the prevailing fashion
for display, had scared, uneasy
look on his face, as though he had
forgotten the mere name of safety,
and hid his frantic heart with his
tawdry outward vauntings of pros.
perity.
Phorenice read the direction of my
looks.
1.-THE season." she said, "has been
unhealthy of recent months. These
lower people will not build fine
houses to adorn my city, and because
they choose to live on in their
squalid, unsightly kennels, there have
been calentures and other sicknesses
among them, which make them disin-
clined for work. And then, too, for
the moment, earning is not easy. In
deed, you may say trade is nearly
stopped this last half-year since the
rebels have been hammering SO lust
lily at my city gates"
/; I fairly startled out of my de-
corum.
"Rebels!" l cried, "who are ham
mering at the gates of Atlantis? Is
the city in state Of siege?"
OF their condescension," said Phor-
enice. lightly, they are giving us
holiday to-day, and SO, happily, my
welcome to you comes undisturbed.
II they were fighting. your ears
would have told you Of 1t. To give
them their due, they are noisy
enough in all their efforts. My spies
say they are making ready new en-
gines for use against the walls. which
you may sally out tomorrow and
break If it gives you amusement. But
for to-day, Deucalion, have you,
and you have me, and there is peace
round US. and some prettiness st
display. If you ask for more will
give it you"
II did not know Of this rebellion -
said, "but as your majesty has
made me your minister, it is we'll
that should know all about its scope
at once. This is a matter we should
be serious upon"
"And do you think cannot take IL
seriously also7" she retorted. "Ylga,"
she said to the girl that stood be-
hind. "set loose my dress at the
shoulder"
And when the attendant had I'M
linked the jeweled clasp Gas it
seemed to me with a very i'll grace),
abe herself stripped down the fab
ric, barring the pure skin beneath,
and showing me just below the curve
Of her left breast bandage of blood
stained linen.
'Thete is guarantee of my Sc
riousness yesterday, at any rate, y
she said, looking at me sfdelong.
'eQhe arrow struck on rib, and that
saved me- # it had struck below,
Dencalipn would have been standing
beside my f1lne1al-pgre to-day, instead
OF riding ON this pretty steed of mine
which he admires so much. Your eye
Seems to feast itself most ON the
laautno<h Deaealion% All, ponr me.
] ana not one Of your shaggy eTea-
elxes. aud so It seems SHAH never
be able 10 catch your regard. Ylga, -
she said to the girl behind, "you may
Link my dress up again with it's clasp.
My Lord Deucalion has seen wounds
before, and there is nothing else here