The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-25
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

white-haired man, thou must choose be- I tween thy lover and thy people. If thou | choosest seifishly, the blood of the help- | less shall be upon thy head" ''When the gates of the city are open- ed to Tyra. Leodesia, 1t shall become thy duty. according to custom. to offer 6 goblet of wine to thy betrotned as an affectionate greeting upon his return from a far country. Thou shall be provided l with two vessels, Leodesia Both shall be ! filled with the best of vintage. but In one of them, and which one thou shall be made aware, shall have been placed | the most deadly of poisons. If thou choosest for myself alone, Leodesia, thou l shall hand to him the one without the poison. Then he will wed thee and take thee away with him, but first he will slay all thy friends. Leodesia-all thy people. If thou choosest for the safety of Syria. thou shall hand to him the other, and thou will go thy days without a husband.'
 Thus spake the sage and went his way, and the maiden dropped upon the sand and wept.
 Deep was her love for the Syrians. They were her people. And now 1t was within her power to return their love and kindness She had but to perform sim pie act to preserve their lives and fill the city with songs of giadness and re- jo!cfng instead of moans and anguish. But if she chose for herself alone, the streets would run with blood,
 And yet-Tyra! How she loved him! All her half-barbaric nature cried out with joy at the mention of his name. To and devoted. His dash and his nerve ap- peaIed to her. His handsome face and figure had been her hearts delight since the days of early childhood when they had played together in the streets. And he loved her. And now that he was come was 1t for her to choose to place to his lips under the guise of greeting. the beverage that should still his heart, should freeze his smiles; should drive the iove-light from his eyes?
 When, finally. she arose, the light determination was on her face Already there was b1are of trumoets outside the wall Tyra. the conqueror, the lover, was come and was hurling defiance at the city.
 Dazed. yet calmly. Leodesia gazed out upon the frightened multitude and saw the venerable sage advancing toward her. hand fin his. 'SThy lover awaits thee
 She glanced intq his eyes and saw gleam of pathetic entreaty.
 By his side she walked. her head erect, her eyes shining. smile upon her race. maidens feet and kissed her sandals; mothers held their babes entreatingly to- ward her. old men bowed their silvery locks In silent salntation. d. And S cry the blasts of Tyra's horns: "Leodesia, Leodesia; save us. Leodesa!
 Then the gates were thrown ajar and the maiden beheld her lover, Tyra, and his eyes were looking into hers. A smile was upon his face; his hands were out stretched to her and around his head halo of sunlight lowered.
 With a cry of delight she watced him advance over the flowers the maidens threw in his pathway. A wave of pas sionate affection swept over her and her cheeks blushed like the roses under his feet
 Then she turned slightly and saw, at her right hand, youth bearing two gob- lets of wine. Barely shade paler grew her face as she bent low in salutation to her lord.
 She saw the lovelight on her lover face; ste heard the moaning and the pleading of her people So steadily that not drop was spilled she raised to Ty- ra's lips one of the goblets in her hands: calmly: drink this token of my greeting unto thee, my noble one.
 He took the goblet from her hand, and with a smile upon her face she watched him drink it's contents. Then she quiv- cred a moment like a leaf and fell for ward lifeless. in his arms.
 Now this questions have the Syrtans debated even unto this day: Did Leo desa hand to Tyra the poisoned wine ana die of grief or. did she seek to save her lovers life and herself expire through fear of the curse called down upon her by the sage?
 But no man knoweth to certainty, how In her heart. Leodesia did decide that day, for the treacherous sage placed poison in both the goblets.