Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-02


clined way which led us upward
again: and so by degrees we came
unto the chamber which had been
given for my use.
There is raiment in all these chests
which stand by the walls" said the
girl, land jewels and gauds in that
bronze Golfer. They are Phorenicc's
first presents, she bid me say, and but
a small earnest of what is to come.
My Lord Deucalion can drop his sim
plicity now. and fig himself out in
Emery to suit the fashion"
GIRL | said, sharply, "be more
decoroue with your tongue. npd spare
me such small advice"
IF my Lord Deucolon thinks this a
rudeness, he can give a word TO Phore-
nice, and | shall be whipped. If he
asks it, can be stripped and
scourgcd before him. The empress
will do much for Dcucalion just now"
"Girl," | said, you are nearer to
that whipping than you think for"
Il have got nan-." she retortcd.
looking at me sullenly from under
her black brows. They call me
1lga. You might have heard that as
We rode here on the mammoth had
you not been so wrapped up in Phore-
nice"
! Tazcd at her curiously. you have
never seen me before" said, "and
the first words you utter are those
tina might well bring trouble to your
self There is some object in all
thi "
she went and pushed TO the massive
stone that swung in the doorway Of
he chamber. Ihen she put her lit
tie leweled fingers on my garment
und drew me carefully away from the
air -haft Anto the farther corner. 81
I'm me daughter Of Zaemon." she
said whom you knew"
"N Oh bring me some message from
him?"
How could I? He lives in the
priests dwellings on the mountain
Won did obeiSancc to. I have not put
eyes on him these two years. But
when ! saw you first step out from
that red pavilion they had pitched at
he harbor SIDE, II felt q pity for
Won Dcucalon. I remembered you
were my fathers. Zaemon's. friend.
nd knew what Phorencc had in
tore. She has been plotting it all
thcsr two months"
"I cannot hear words against the
empress"
and vet"
"What?"
SAe stamped her sandal upon the
stone Of the 6oor. you must be
verY blind man, Dcucalion. or a very
laring one. But | shall not interfere
fur her; at least, not now. | shall
wa oh, and if at any time you seem
10 want a friend, | will try and serve
you
Il thank You for your friendship"
~ on seem to take il lightly
enough. Why. sir, even now DO not
believe YOU know my power. any more
than you guess my motive. on may
be first man in this kingdom. but let
me tell you. | rank as second lady.
And remember. women stand high in
Atlantis nov. Believe me, my friend
ship is a commodity that has been
sought with frcquence and industry"
And. as I say, am grateful for it.
on seem to think little enough of
y, gratitude, Ylga; but, credit me,
never have he slowed il on woman
before, and 50 you should treasure it
Tor its rarity"
Well" she said my lord, there is
an education before YOU" She left
me then, showing me how 10 call
slaves when ! wished for their help,
and for full minute | stood wonder
ing a the words | had spoken to her.
Who was this daughter OF Zaemon,
that she should induce me to change
the Ia bit of lifetime?
The slaves came al my bidding. and
showed themselves anxious to deck
ne with a thousand foolishnesSes in
the matter e robes and gauds. and
(what seemed TO be the modern fash
ion OF their class holding ont the vir-
tues Of a score Of perfumes and un-
guents. Their manner irritated me.
Clean was already, and shaved; my
hair was trim, and my rob" was IN
soiled; and, considering these press
ing attentions OF theirs something OF
an impertiucnce. ] set them to beat
one another as punishment, prom
iSinC that If they cid not do il with
thoroughness. J would hand them on
to the brandcr TO he marked with
stripes which would endure. 1t is
strange. but common menial can
often surpass even a rebellious gen
eral in power OF rutfiing one.
had seen many strange sights that
day, and undergone many new sen
sations; but Of all the things which
came TO my notice. Phorence'S man
ner of summoning the sue.ts to her
feast surprised me most, Nay, il did
more; it shocked me profoundly; and
| cannot say whether ama2ement at
her profanity, or wonder at her pow
er, was for the moment strongest in
my breast. ! sat in my chamber
awaiting the summons. when Gradu-
ally. growing out of nothing, sound
fell upon NV ear which increased in
volume with infinitely small grada
tions, till at last it became clang-
ing din which hurt the ear with its
fierceness; and then Il guessed what
was comng) the whole massive fab
rio of the pyramid trcmbled and
groancd and shook. as though it had
been merely child's wooden toy