Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-02-06

has gathered dignity from Tire ages
and by no one sentence did they ciir.
tail it. burning mountain burst
Wild believing roar as the iucotn-
ing waters met its fires. but gravelv
they went on, in turn reciting their
sentences. Pborenice's troops broke
down the last resistance. and poured
in frcnlicd stream among the
groves and temples. but stiu they
quavered never in the ritual
II had been said that this cere.
mony is the grandest aud the most
impressive Of all those connected
with our holy religion; and certain
~ found it SO: and ] speak as one
intimate with all the others. Evoo
| the tremendous circumstances Which,
hemmed them in could do nothing To
make these frai old men forget the
Difference which was due to the high
est order OF the Clan.
For myself, I will freely own I wa-
less rapt. | stood there harehcadcd
in the heat, man trying to conccn-
trate himself, and yet torn the while
by thousand foreign emotions. The
awful thing that was happe ming all
around compelled some Of nv atten-
ton. a continent was in the very
act and article of meeting With COM
plete destruction, and II Zaemon and
the other priest were strong enough
to give their minds wholly ND to 4,
matter parochial to the priesthood.
J was not so s,oical. And, moreover,
] was filed with other snxieties and
thoughts concerning Nsis. Yet
m8naget,Io preserve a decent show
OF attention to the ceremony. max
ing all those responses which were
required of ne, and trying a. we'll as
might be to preserve in nv mind
those sentences which were the keys
to power and learning. and not mere
rtrasings Of grandeur and devotion.
But it became clear that il tn.
ceremony Of my raising did not soon
arrive at its natural eud. il would
he cut short presently with some
thing Of suddenness. Pkorenicss
copquering lesions rwsrsned out on
the crest Of the mountain, and now
carried full knowledge OF the dread
fui thing that was come upon tho
country. Tney were out Of An con-
troll. and ran about like men div
tracted; but knowing full well that
the priests would have brought this
terrible wreck to pass by virtue Of
the powers which were stored with
In the Ark Of the Mysteries. il would
/ be their natural impulse TO pour out
final vengeance upon any Of these
same priests they could come across
before il was too late.
1t began TO come TO my mind TIA,
ii tho ceremony did not very short
ly terminate, the further part Of the
plan would stand very small chance
Of compile ion, and I should come by
my death after all by lighting TO u
finish, as | had pictured to myself be-
lore. Ny Pickering attention saw
che soldiers coming always nearer in
their frantic wanderings, and saw
also the sea below rolling deeper and
deeper in upon the land.
! The fires, too. which ringed in half
the mountain, spurted up to double
their old height and burned with am
nnceaSing roar. But for all distrac-
tion these things gave TO the two oil
priests who We're raising me, we
might have been in the 9uictness of
some ancient temple, with not 81
much as ay to buzz an interrupt
ton.
But a last au end came 70 The
! ceremony. "kneel." cried Zaemon.
land make oDeisance TO your mother
the earth. and swear by thr hgt
gods that you will never make in,-
proper use Of the powers over he-
which this day you have been
granted"
/ When had done that he hade ne
rise as a fully installed and duly
Initiated member OF the three, "N-ou
Will have no opportunity TO practice
/ he workings of This degree with
either Of US, my brother" said hc.
for presently our other brother and
I go to stand before the gods TO de-
liver 10 them an account of our
trust. and of how We have carried 10
! out. Bur what items yoH RENE moer
here and there may turn OF use 30
you hereafter. And now we two give
you our fareweLs, and promise 10
commend you highly 10 the gods
/ when soon we meet them in their
! place behind the stars. Climb nov,
into the ark. and be ready TO shut
the door which guards It ~ there -
any attempt by these raging people
TO invade that also. Remember. my
brother, il is the gods direct vii
that you and the woman Mas 60
/ from this place living and sound, ara
you are expressly forbidden 20 49,
cept cha llen9c or proyocat.on TO tigh.
on any prrtcNt whatever. Bat rs
long As may be done IN safety, ynu
may look out upon Atlantic in he~
death throes. II is very fitting that
one OF the only two who are sent
hence alive should carry ths suU ts,c
OF what has bcfallen."
went 10 the top OF the ARK OF
Mysteries thea. climbing there hY
the battens " hieh are fastened ~
the sides. and then descended b., ths
stair which is inside and found Nais
in a little chamber waiting for me.
II was bidder stay here bv
Taemon." she said, who forced mo
10 this place by threats and also by
promises that my lord would follow.
He Is very ungentle. that father %
mine. but 7 think he has q Kindness