Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-03-26

ropeans on the scarlet awning, and /
handed her to the ground. She seat
led herself on the cushions and beck
oned me to her side, entwining her
fingers with mine, as has always been
the custom with rulers of Atlantis and
their consorts. And there before US
as we sat body of soldiery marched
up, and, opening out, showed Nais in
their midst. She had collar of metal
round her neck, with chains depending
from it firmly held by a brace of
guards, so that she could not run in
| upon the spears of the escort, and thus
get quick and easy death, which is
often the custom of those condemned
to the more lingering punishments..
But it was pleasant to see that she
| still wore her clothing. Raiment,
whether of fabric or skin, has it's value,
and custom has always given the gar
| ments of the condemned to the soldiers
guarding them. So, as Nais was: not
stripped, I could not but see that some
one had given money to the guards as
recompense, and in this i thought
saw the hand of Ylga, and felt graft
tude towards her.
| The soldiers brought her forward to
the edge of the pavilion's shade, and
she was hidden PROSTATE herself be-
fore the empress; and this she wisely
did, and so avoided rough handling
and force. Her face was pale, but
showed neither fear nor defiance, and
her eyes were calm and natural. She
was remembering what was due to At
lantis, and was thrilled with love and
pride as I watched her.
But outwardly, 1, too, was impressive
as man of stone; and though l knew
that Phorenice's eye was on my face,
there was never anything on it from
first to last that would not have had
her see.
'Nais," said the empress, you have
eaten from my platter when you were
| fan-girl, and drank from my cup, and
what was yours gave you. You should
have had more gratitude, you should
have had knowledge also that the arm
of the empress was long and her hand
consummately heavy. But it seems
that you have neither of these things.
And, moreover, you have tried to take
a certain matter that the empress has
set apart for herself. You were Of
fered pardon on terms, and you re-
jected it. You were foolish. But it
is a day now when l am inclined to
clemency. Presently, seated on that
Icarved throne of granite which he has
built me yonder, shall take my Lord
Deucalion to husband. Give me plain
word that you are sorry, girl, and
name man whom you would choose,
and I will remember the brightness of
the occasion; you shall be pardoned
and wed before we rise from these
cushions
81 will not we'd she said, quietly.
"Think for the last time, Nais, of
what is the other choice. You will be
taken, warm and quick and beautiful
as you stand there this minute, and lain
in the hollow place that is made be-
meath the throne-stone. Deucalion
that is to be my husband, will lay you
in that awful bed, as a symbol that so
shall perish all Phorenice'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, fill your
chest with the sweet, warm air, and
then think of what this death will
mean. Believe me, girl, 1 do not want
to make you an example unless you
force me- -
81 will not wed,'' said the prisoner,
quietly.
The empress loosed her fingers from
my arm and lay back against the cush-
ions. eff the girl presumes on our old
familiarity, OF thinks that jest, show
her now, Deucalion, that / 10 not
"The empress is far from jesting,'
said. 81 will do this thing because
it is the wish of the empress that it
should be done, and because it is the
command of the empress that sym
Dol of it 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 the I'M
willingly, and with color unchanged.
and I rose from my seat and made
obeisance to the empress and followed
them.
ITO Be Continued