Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-09

| be So Though She had been long
| enough divorced from his care and
fostered by the empress, Ylga was n
daughter of Iaemon. and he was the
chiefest Of our Lord the Suns min
listers here on earth. She could not
forget her INFRINGING now at this
supreme moment when the highest
Of the old gods was to be formally
dcfcd. And perhaps also (having a
Kindness for Phorenicc) 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
hast been the duly appointed priest
for the sacrifice And after her came
a knot Of men. dressed IS priests. I'd
bearing the vintim. Some Of these
were creatures of her own. and il
was easy to forgive mere ignorant
laYmen, won over by the glamour Of
phorenicc's presence. But some. 70
their shame. were mon born in the
Priests clan, and brought up in the
groves and colleges Of the Sacred
Mountain. and for their apostasy
thore could ne 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
while those who followed did what
was ncrdfuI. A. they opened ont, I
saw tina, nc victim was one OF the
small. clovrn-hoofed horses that roam
the plains-a most acceptable "a =
riice. Thcy bound its feet with
metal gyvcs, and put it on the pyre,
where, for awhile, it lay ncighing.
Then they stepped aside. and lcf, it
living. Here was an innovation
The false priests went back TO tbs
farther side OF the circle. and Phor-
cnice stood alone before the altar.
She lifted up her voice, sweet. tune
full and carrying, and. though The din
Of the siege still came from over the
city no ear there lost a word Of
what was spoken.
She raised her glance alof., ard all
other eyes followed it. The heaven
was clear as the deep sea. COR
ceous blue Rut as the words came
from her, SO small mist was born
IN the sky, wheeling end circling like
ba, although the day was wind
less, and rapidly growing darker and
more compact So dense had it be
come that presently it threw
shadow on part Of the sacred circle
that soothed it into twilight, though
al without, where the people stood.
was still 9ariSh day. And in the bah
Of mist were little quick bs and
spIashes of noiseleSs fame.
She spoke not in the priests sacred
tongue though such was her wicked
cleverness that she may very well
have learned it~bGt in The common
speech Of the people, so that a who
heard might understand. and She told
of her woudrous birth (as she chose
70 name it,, and of tho direc, aid OF
the most high gods. which had en-
q oed her to work so many marvels.
And In the end she lifted both of
her fair white arms towards the
blackue,s above. and with her lovely
face set With the strain Of will, Ut
tered her final cry
80 my high father, the sun. pray
you now to acknowledge me as Your
Terry daughter. Give this people
sign that am indeed = child or th-
gods, and no frail mortal. Here IS
sacrifice unlit, where mortal priests
with their puny fires had weekly,
since the foundation of th> land, sent
sayory smoke towards the sav
.,4,1,I ha he 30
to burn this beast here offered in
token that though you stilI rule on
high, you have given me Atlantis to
&c my kingdom, and the people Of
fhc earth 10 be my worship2r>.'
She broke off and strained towards
the sky. Her face was contorted.
Her limbs shook. 80 mighty father"
she cried who hast made ne \ god
and an equal, hear me, hear me-"
ont Of the black cloud overhead
there came a binding fash of light
which spat downward on to the al'
tar The cloven-hoofed horse gave
one shril neigh. and one cOnvulsion
aud fell back dead. flames cracked
out from the Woodpile, and the air
became rich with the smell of burn-
ing fesh. Aud 10! in another mo-
ment the cloud above had melted inta
nothinenes>, and the daUes burned
pale, and the smoke went up IN a thin
blue spiral towards the deeper blue
ness of the sky.
Phorenice the empress stood there
before the great stone, and before
the snake and the outstretchef hand