Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-10-15

= 80 & 49, ia y i &. 4
jectsd IL. You were foolish. But IL
IL . day now when I am inclined to
clsmency. Presently, seated on that
carved throne Of granite which he has
built me yonder, shall take my Lord
Deucalion to husband. Give me a plain
word that you are sorry, girl, and
name . man whom you would choose,
and I Will remember the brightness of
the occasions you shall be pardoned
sad we'd before We rise from these
cushions"
II will not wed" she said, quietly.
think for the last time, Nais, Of
what 10 the other choice. You will be
taken, warm and quick and beautiful
90 you stand there this minute, and lain
In the hollow place that is made be-
meath the throne-stone. Deucalion,
that Is 70 be my husband, will lay you
In that awful bed, as symbol that 50
shall perish all Phorsnice's enemies,
and then he will release the rams and
lower the upper stone into place, and
the world shall see your face no more.
Look at the bright sky, Nais, All your
chest with the sweet, warm air, and
then think of what this death will
mean. Believe me, girl, do not want
70 make you an example unless you
force me-"
Il will not We'd" said the prisoner,
quietly.
The empress loosed her fingers from
my arm and lay back against the cush-
ions. IF the girl prssumes on our old
familiarity. or thinks that Jest, show
her now. Deucalion, that do not"
The empress is far from jesting,"
! said: Il will do this thing because
+ 10 the wish Of the empress that It
should be done, and because IL is the
command Of the empress that sym
boil Of IL shall remain forever as an
example for others. Lead your pris-
oner to the place"
The soldiers wheeled, and the two
guards with the chains Of the collar
which was on the neck Of Nais pre-
pared to put out force to drag her up
the steps. But she walked with them
willingly. and with color unchanged,
and rose from my seat and made
obeisance to the empress and followed
them.
Before all those ten thousand eyes
We two made no display Of emotion
then. not only for Atlantis sake, but
also because both Nais and I had
nicely and a pride in our natures. We
were not as Phorenice to daunt en-
dearments before others.
Yet, when had hidden the guards
unhasp the collar which held the pris-
oner's neck. and clapped my arms
round her, showing all the rouehness
OF ono who has no mind that his captive
shall escape or even unduly struggle,
thrill gushed through me SO potent
that was like to have tainted, and 1t
was only by supreme strain Of Will
that I held unbrokenly on with the
ceremonial. I, who had never EN-.
braced woman with aught but tho
arm Of roughness before, now held
pressed to me one whom I loved with
An infinite tenderness, and the revela-
ton OF how love can come out and link
with love was almost my undoing. Yet,
ouwardly, Nais made no sign, but Law
half-strangled in my arms, as any
woman does that is being borne away
by spoiler.
Itrod with her to the uppermost step,
the vast throne-stone overhanging us,
and then, so that all Of those who were
gazing from the sides Of the pyramids
and the roofs OF tho buildings might
see, though we were beyond Pho
renice's view, used force that was
brutal In dragging her across the level
and putting her down into the hollow.