Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-03-12

stones of our great pyramids. But
to uprear the stones of that great
circle would be beyond all our art.
and much more would it be impos-
/ sible to-day to transport them from
their distant quarries across the rug
ged mountains.
There were nine-and-forty of the
stones, alternating with spaces, and
set in an accurate circle, and across
the tops of them other stones were
set, equally huge. The stones were
undressed and rugged; but the huge
massiveness of them impressed the
eye more than all the temples and
daintily fooled pyramids of our won
drous city. And in the center of the
circle was that still greater stone
which formed the altar, and round
which was carved, in the rude chisel-
ing of the ancients, the snake and
the outstretched hand.
The crowd which bore me on came
to standstill before the circle of
stones. To trespass beyond this is
death for the common people; and
for myself, although 1 had the right
of entrance, L chose to stay where L
was for the present, unnoticed among
the mob, and wait upon events.
Nearer and nearer drew the drums
and the braying of the other music. and
presently the head of a glittering
procession began to arrive and dis
pose itself in the space which had
been set apart. Many a thousand
poor, starving wretches sighed when
they saw the wanton splendor of it.
But these lords and these courtiers
of this new Atlantis had no concern
beyond their own bellies and their
own backs, except for their one
alien regard-their simpering affec-
ton for Phorenice.
1 think, though, their loyalty for
the empress was real enough; and it
was not to be wondered at, since
everything they had came from her
lavish hands. Indeed, the woman had
charm that cannot be denied; for
when she appeared riding in the
golden castle (where / also had rid
den) on the back of her monstrous
shaggy mammoth, the starved, sui
len faces of the crowd frightened as
though meal and sudden prosperity
had been bestowed upon them; and
without word of command, with
out trace of compulsion, thew
burst into spontaneous shouts of well
come.
She acknowledged it with a smile
of thanks. Her cheeks were a little
flushed, her movements quick, her
manner high-strung, as all well
might be, seeing the horrible sac
rilege she had in mind. But she
was undeniably lovely; yes, more
adorably beautiful than ever with
her present thrill of excitement; and
when the stair was brought, and she
walked down from the mammoth's
back to the ground, those near fell
to their knees and gave her worship,
out of sheer fascination for her
beauty and charm.
1lga, the fan-girl, alone of all that
vast multitude round the sun tenn
pie, contained herself within her
formal PAGES and duties. She looked
panied and troubled. 1t was plain
to see, even from the distance where
| stood, that she carried a heavy
heart under the jewels of her robe
1t was fitting, too, that this should
be so. Though she had been long
enough divorced from his care and
fostered by the empress, Ylga was
daughter of Zaemon, and he was the
chiefest of our Lord the Suns min
listers here on earth. She could not
forget her upbringing now at this
supreme moment when the highest
of the old gods was to be formally
defied. And perhaps also (having
kindness for Phorenice) she was not
little dreadful of the consequences.
But the empress had no eye for one
sad look among all the sea of glowing
faces. Boldly and proudly she strobe
out into the circle, as though she
had been the duly appointed priest
for the sacrifice. And after her came
a knot of men, dressed as priests, and
bearing the victim. Some OF these
were creatures of her own, and it
was easy to forgive mere ignorant
laymen. won over by the glamour of
Phorenice's presence. But some, to
their shame, were men born in the
Priests elan, and brought up in the
groves and colleges of the Sacred
Mountain, and for their apostasy
there could be no palliation
The wood had already been
stacked on the altar-stone in the due
form required by the ancient symbol
ism, and the empress stood aside
II L. 4 Il