Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-03-19

touched. Phorenice knows by her arts
she has stolen nearly all the ancient
knowledg gle now that still you live, and
she keeps Nais unframed beneath the
granite throne in the hopes that some
time she may use her as a weapon
against you. Little she knows the
sternhess of our priests creed, my
BROTHER. Why, even !, that am the
girls father, would sacrifice her blithe-
~ if her death or ruin might do a little
of good to Atlantis"
"You go beyond me with your devo-
tion." ~ -
The old man leaned forward at me,
with glowering brow. 'What!"
"Or my old blind adherence to the
ancient dogma has been Slapped and
weakened by events. You must buy
my full obedience, Zaemon, if you want
it. Promise me Nais your arts,
know, can snatch her-and I will be
true servant to the high council of the
priests, and will die in the last ditch
if need be for the carrying out of their
order. But let me see Nais given over
to the fury of that wanton woman,
and I shall have no inwards left, ex-
cept to take my vengeance and to see
Atlantis piled up in ruins as her fu-
neral-stone."
Zaemon looked at me bitterly. "And
you are the man the high council
thought to trust as they would trust
one of themselves? Truly we are in an
age of weak men and faihtless now.
But, my lord-nay, must call you
our choosing to-day-you are the best
there is, and we must have you. We
little thought you would ask price
for your generalship, having once
taken oath on the walls of the Ark Of
the Mysteries itself, that always, come
what might, you would be servant of
the high council Of the clan without
fee and without hope~of advancement.
But this is the age of broken vows,
and you are doing no more than trim
with the fashion. Indeed, brother, per-
haps should thank you for being no
more greedy in your demands
"You may spare me your taunts.
You, by self-denial and profound
search into the highest of the highest
mysteries, have made yourself some.
thing wiser than human; I have pre-
served my humanity, and with it its
powers and frailties; and it seems
that each of us has his proper uses,
or you would not now come to me,
Rather you would have done the gen.
eraling yourself"
"You make a warm defense, my
brother. But have no leisure now TIC
stand before you with argument. Come
to the Sacred Mountain, fight me this
wanton upstart empress, and, by my
beard! you shall have your Nais as you
left her as a reward"
st is command of the high council
which shall be obeyed. I will come
with my brother now, as soon as he i:
rested"
"Nay," said the old man, II have ne
tiredness, and as for coming with me
there you will not be able. But follow
at what pace you may"
He turned and set off down tn
snowy slopes of the mountain, and
followed; but gradually he distanced
me; and so he kept on, with speed al
ways increasing, tile presently h
passed out of my sight round thu
spur of an ice-cliff, and I found my
self alone on the mountain side. Yes
truly alone. For his footmarks in tn,
snow, from being deep grew shallowe,
and less noticeable, so that had t.
stoop to see them. And presently the,
vanished entirely, and the great noun
tain's flank lay before me trackles
and untrodden by the foot of ma,
since time began.
was not shaken by any grea
amazement. Though it was beyone
my poor art to compass this thing my
self, having occupied my mind in exil
more with memories of Nais than il
study of those uppermost recesses O.
the higher mysteries in which Zae
mon was so prodigiously wise, still
had some inkling of his power.
Zaemon, I knew, would be bac1
again in his dwelling on the Sacre'
Mountain, shaken and breathless
even before I had found an end O
his tracks in the snow, and it be
hooved ME to join him there in tn
quickest possible time. I had hi
promise now for my reward, and
knew that he would carry it into eff
feet. Beforetime had made an error
had valued Atlantis most, and Na1s
my private love, as only second. Bu
now it was in my mind to be homes
with others even as with myself
Though all the world were hanging OF
my choice, 1 could but love my Mai
most, and serve her first and foremos
Of all.
Y ITO Be Continued
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