Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-12-04

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 us might prosper. But he was
quick enough to see my change of
tone.
'You force me back to my old
SELF" he said, with a half-smile,
though it is hard enough to forget
the caution one has learned during
this last 20 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, I am
ready to trust you with my life if
you ask it. In fact, you do ask me
that very thing when you tell me to
speak all I know of Phorenice.'
I nodded. This was more like the
old times, when there was full con-
fdence between us. ''The gods will
it now that return to Atlantis" I
said, "and what happens after that
the gods alone know. But it would
be of service to me if 1 could land on
her shores with some knowledge of
this Phorenice, for at present I am
as ignorant concerning her as some
savage from Europe or mid-Africa."
"What would you have me tell?"
'Tell all. I know only that she,
woman, reigns, where, by the an
cient law of the land, a man should
rule; that she is not even of the
priestly clan from which the law
says all rulers must be drawn; and
that, from what you say, she has
caused the throne to 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 Phorenice has spurned it.
You know her origin?"
II know only the exact little I
have told YOU"
"She was a swineherd's daughter
from the mountains, though this is
never even whispered now, as she
has declared herself to be a daugh-
ter of the gods, with miraculous
birth and upbringing. AS she has
decreed it a sacrilege to question
this parentage, and has ordered to
be burned all those that seem to rec
ollect her more earthly origin, the
fable passes current for truth. You
see the faith I put in you, Deucal-
ion' by telling you what you wish to
learn.''
There has always been trust be-
TWEEN u.s."
II 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. Zaemon, you remember, was
governor of the swineherd's prov
ince, and Zaemon's wife saw Phor-
enice and took her away to adopt
and bring up as her own. It is said
that the swineherd and his women
objected; 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" I objected.
'The omission of the adopted was
her will at an early age" said Ia
tho, dryly, "and she learned early to
have her wishes carried into fact.
It was notorious that before she had
grown to Is years she ruled not only
the women of the household, but
Zaemon also, and the province that
| 1ox,o-1 7oo-,o~,
'Zaemon was learned" said, land
a devout follower of the gods, and
searcher into the higher mysteries;
but, as a ruler, he was always a
fabby fellow"
II do not say that opportunities
have not come usefully in Phoren-
ices way, but she had genius as
we'll. For her to have raised her.
self at all from what she was, was
remarkable. Not one woman out of
a thousand, placed as she was, would
have grown to be aught higher than
a mere wife Of some sturdy country
man, who was sufficiently simple to
care nothing for pedigree. But look
at Phorenice: it was her within to
take exercise as a man-at-arms and
practice with all the utensils of war;
and then, before anyone quite knows
how or why it happened, rebellion
had broken out in the province, and
here was she, slip Of a girl, leading
Zaemon's troops
'Zaemon, when knew him, was a
mere derision in the feld.''
'Hear me on. Phorenice put dow
the rebellion in mastery fashion, an
gave the conquered a choice betwee,
sword and service. They fell int
her ranks at once, and were faithfl
to her from that moment. I tell you,
Deucalion, there is a marvellous fas.
cination about the woman.
ITO Be Continued