Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-12-26

| 1 MS IatDO Stcllltu ~ Ut Ul1Itfenl
from the Tatho l had known at home
-Tatho my workmate, Tatho who
had read with me in the college of
priests. who had run with me in many
a furious charge. who had labored
with me so heavily that the peoples
, under MS might prosper. But he was
quick enough to soc my change of
tone.
you force me back to my old
self" he said, with half-smile,
though il is hard enough to forget
the caution one has learned during
this last 90 years, even when speak
ing with you. Still, whatever may
have happened to The rest of us, it
is clear to see that you at least have
not changed. and, old friend, | am
ready to trust you with my life if
Nou ask it. In fact, you do ask me
that very thing when YOU tell me to
speak all 7 know of Phorcnice."
| nodded. This was more like the
old times. when there was full con
tidcnce between us. "'rhe gods will
it now that I return to Atlantis"
said, land what happens after that
the gods alone know. But it would
be of service to me if | could land on
her shores with some knowledge of
this Phorenice, for at present / am
as ignorant concerning her as some
savage from Europe or nid!Africa.'
What would you have me tcll?'
"rcll all. ] know only that she.
a woman, reignS. where, by the an
cient law of the land, man should
rule: that she is not even of the
priestlv clan from which the law
SAYS all rulers must be drawn; and
that. from what you say. she has
caused the throne 10 totter. The
throne was as firm as the everlast-
ing hills in the old kings day, Ia
tho"
History has moved with pace since
then, and phorcnice has spurned it.
You know her origin"
II know only the exact little
have told you"
"She was swinehcrd's daughter
from the mountains. though his is
never even whispered now, as she
has declared herself to be a daugh-
ter Of the gods, with n miraculous
birth and upbringng. AS she has
decrced it sacrilege to question
this parentage, and has ordered to
be burned all those that seem to rec.
ollcct her more earthly origin, the
fable passes current for truth. You
see the faith | put in you, Deucal.
ion, by telling you what you wish to
learn"
There has always been trust be.
TWEEN us
IL know; but this habit of sus.
picion is hard to cast off. even with
you. However. let me put your good
faith between me and the torture
further. Iaemon. you remember, was
governor of the swine herds prov.
ince. and Xaemon's wife saw Phor.
enice and took her away to adopt
and bring mp as her own. 1t is said
that the swinchcrd and his women
object ed; perhaps they did; anyway
know they died; and Phorenice was
taught the arts and graces, and
brought up as daughter of the
Priestly clan"
But still she was an adopted
daughter only" ! objected.
"The omission of the 'ad opted was
her will at an early age said Ia.
tho, dryly, land she learned early &c
have her wishes carried into fact
1t was notorious that before she had
grown to 10 years she ruleI not only
Of he ~ httt
Zaemon also, and the province tina,
was beyond Zaemon."
'Xaemon was learned" | said. land
n devout follower of the gods, ano
searcher into the higher mysteries
but. as a ruler, he was always q
tiabby fellow"
Il do not say that opportunitie.
have not come usefully in Phoren
ices way, but she had genius rs
well. For her to have raised her
self at all from what she was. wa;
remarkable. Not one woman out oil
a thousand. placed as she was, woulo
have grown to be aught higher thar
"A mere wife of some sturdy country
man. who was sufficiently simple tC
care nothing for pedigree. But lool
at phorenice: it was her whim &c
take exercise as a man-at-arms anC
practice with all the utensils of war;
and then. before anyone quite know,
how or why it happened, IA rebellion
had broken out in the province, ant
here was she, a slip of girl, leading
Xaemon's troops"
"Xacmon, when I knew him, was Q
mere dersion in the field
Hear me on. Phorenice put dowr
the rebellion in mastery fashion, anc
gave the conquered choice between
sword and service. They fell into
her ranks at once, and were faithful
10 her from that moment. I tell you
Dcucalion, there is marvellous fas
cination about the woman.
at is one long story Of success. She
deposed Zaemon from his govern
ment in name as well as in fact, and
the news was spread, and the Priest.
ly clan rose in its wrath. The two
neigh borinR governors were hidden
to Join forces, take her captive, and
bring her for execution. Poor men!
they tried to obey their orders; they
attacked her surely enough, but in
battle she could laugh at them. She
killed both, and made some slaughter
among their troops; and TO those