Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-30

leaned in childhood, turning IN this
hour of their dreadful need 80 those
old gods which. through so many dis
honorable years, they had spurncd
and deserted. II was a curious criti-
cism o. the balance of their real re-
/ ligion, II ono had cared TO make it.
still heavier grew the surging Of
the earth, and the pavement of the
great square gapcd and upheayed,
and the people who thronged it
screamed stll more shriiy as their
feet were crushed by the grinding
blocks. And now too the great
pyramid itself was commencing to
split and sapc and topple. The roofs
of its splendid chambers gave way,
aud the ponderous masonry above
shattered down and filed them. In
part, too. one could see the destruc-
ton now, and not g7iess at it merely
from the fearful hearings of the
darkness. Thunders had begun TO
roar through the black night above
and add their bellowings to this
devils orchestration Of uproar. and
vivid lightning splashes lit the flying
/ dust-clouds.
II was perhaps natural that she
should he there. but IL came as -
shock when "A fare of the light ming
showed me Phorenice safe out in the
square. and indeed standing not far
from myself.
She had aiken her place in The mid
die Of a great hagsiope. and stood
l.. " =.
shocks. Her face was calm, and its
loneliness was untouched by the
years. From time TO time she
brushed away the dust as it settled
on the short red hair which curled
about her neck. There was no trace
of fear written upon her face. There
was some WEAKNESS, some contempt,
and | think a tinge Of amusement.
Yes. il took more than the cru1n OH n !,
OF her royal pyramid to impress
Phorenice with the infinite powers OF
those She warred against
Gods. how the sight OF her cool in
difference maddened me then. ! had
it in me TO have straneied her with
my hands if she had come within my
reach. But as it was she stood in
her place, swayinE easily 10 the
earth-WaVes as a sailor sways on a
ships deck. and beside her, crouched
on the same great fiagstone and over
come with p3Usea, was Ylga, that
again was raised to be her fan-girl.
IT. came to my mind that Ylga was
twin sister tn Nais, and that | owed
her for an ancient kindness. but
had leisure to do nothing for her
then. and indeed it was little enough
| could have done. With each shock
the great capstonc Of the throne 10
which | chung Jared farther and
farther from it's bed-place. and my
love was coming nearer to me. II
was she who claimed all my service
then.
Farther and fart her the great
stone that made the top Of the
throne slid out from it's bed. but its
slowrcSS of movement maddencd me-
\ life's education left me in that no.
Ment. and ! had no trace of stately
patience left. la MY puny fury I
thrust at the great block with my
shoulder and head, and clawcd at IL
With my hands till the muscles rose
on me in great ropes and knots. and
the high gods must have laughed at
my helplessness as they looked. All
was being ordered by The Three.
who were their trlIsie ed servants in
their good time. The work of the
gods may be done slowly, but il is
done exceeding sure.
hut q last when all the people OF
the city were numb with terror and
incapable OF further emotion (snyc
only for Ph0reuicc, who ,ti,l had
nerve enough to show no tonc"rn),
what had been Threatened came 70
pass The capstope OF the throne slid
out till it reached the balance, and
the next shock threw il with a roar
and clatter 10 The ground. And then
n strange trrmor seized me.
ittcr all tn" schcmirG and effort,
what had so ardcutly prayed for
had come anout; but yet my inward,
sank A. the thought of mounting on
the stone Nhere | had mounted before.
and taking my dear from the hollow
where my hands had laid her. l knew
Phorcnicc's venGefulncs2. and had
high value for her clevernrSs. Had
She left Nais 10 lie in peace, or had
She stolen her away 10 suffer indiG
mites elsewhere? Or had She ended
her sleep with death, and Gas a grisly
ie>O left the corpse for my finding?
could not tell: I dared not guess.
Never during vho!" hari-fighting
life have my emotions been SO
L