Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-01-18

have put a hand to this matter. We
shall carry it through, even though
the cost be a universal burning and
destruction. For know this, daugh-
ter of the swineherd, it is agreed
among the most high gods that you
are too full of sin to continue un-
checked"
Speak him fairly" Ylga urged from
behind. "He has a power at which
you cannot even guess"
The empress made to rise, but Ylga
chung to her skirt. "For the sake of
your fame" she urged, "for the sake
of your life, do not defy him" But
Phorenice struck her fiercely aside and
faced the old man in a tumult of pas
sion. "You dare call me blasphemer,
who blaspheme yourself? You dare
cast slurs upon my birth, who am come
direct from the most high Heaven?
Old man, your greatness protects you
in part, but not in all. You shall be
whipped. Do you hear me? 1 say,
whipped. The lean flesh shall be
scourged from your scraggy bones,
and you shall totter away from this
place as red and bleeding example
for those who would dare traduce
their empress. Here, some of you, l
say, take that man and let him be
whipped where he stands"
Her cry went out clearly enough.
But not a soul among those glittering
feasters stirred in his place. Not a
soldier among the guards stepped
from his rank. The place was hung in
terrible silence. It seemed as though
no one within the hall dared so much
as to draw a breath. All felt that the
very air was big with fate.
Phorenice, with her head crouched
forward, looked from one group to an
other. Her face was working. HHave
I no true servants" she asked, "among
all you pretty lip-servers?
Still no one moved. They stood, or
sat, or crouched like people fascina-
ted. For myself, with the first words
he had uttered, I had recognized the
old man by his voice. 1t was Zaemon,
the weak governor who had given the
empress her first step towards power;
that earnest searcher into the mys-
teries, who knew more of their pow
ers, and more about the hidden
forces, than any other dweller on the
Sacred Mountain, even at that time
when I left for my colony. And now,
during his strange hermit life, how
much more might he not have learned
I was torn by warning duties. owed
much to the Priests clan by reason
of my oath and membership; it
seemed / owed no less to Phorenice.
And, again, was Zaemon the truly &C
credited envoy of the high council of
the priests of the Sacred Mountain
posed by the high gods above, or was
she still empress, and still commander
of my duty? I could not tell, and so
I sat in my seat awaiting what the
event would show.
Phorenice's fury was growing. "Do
I stand alone here?" she cried. 'Have
1 pampered you creatures out of all
touch with gratitude? 1t seems that
at least I want a new chief to my
guards. Ho! who will be the chief of
the guards of the empress?"
There was a shifting of eyes, hest
tation. Then great burly form strobe
up from the farther end of the hall,
and perceptible shudder' went up
from all the others as they watched
him.
$50, Tarca, you prefer to take the
risks, and remain chief of the guard
yourself?" she said, with an angry
scott. 'Truly there did not seem to
be many thrusting forward to strip
you of the office. l shall have fine
sorting up of places in payment for
this nights work. But for the pres
ent, Tarca, do your duty"
The man came up, obviously tim
orous. He was a solidly made fellow,
but not altogether unmartial; and,