Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-08-20
the GIANTS CHAIR.
By Harriet Monroe.

Copyright, 1903, by w. II. liearst)
Once upon tine, in the ages of long
age, there was man of great stature
who made himself chief of all the desert
tribes. From the snow-topped mountains
to the Hidden river he hanied the lands
and conquered men to his will, SO that
there was no hero of them all who did
not fear him. Also he married many
wives and these gave him many children,
who carried far and wide the power of
his name.
And all the rivers and little springs he
knew, both those that perish In the dry
season and those that we'll up forever
through the sand. Save always and only
the Hidden river. which tears its mighty
way through the bowels of the earth. OF
its dark. deep waters he had never drunk ;
in its roaring torrent he had never bathed
And exceeding wroth was he to wander
along its leagues of purple walls and find
no pathway TO the invisible flood
AT last, during a season of great heat
as he skirted the burning precip!ce, he
came upon a tribe of men more fair than
he had ever met before In his wandcrings
And he asked their chief, who rose In awe
before him, to show him the way to the
river And when the chief refused. say
ing it was not permitted to reveal the Sc
crets of the great spirit--lo, then he fell
upon the tribe with his warriors and
beat out their brains and chased them
over the precipice until neither man nor
woman of them all was left alive
And when all was done he thought he
heard singing afar off and went along to
meet 1t. Through cleft in the rock he
passed. and down a steep pathway on the
narrow ledge against the unfathomable
abyss below him. Suddenly. around a
corner beyond him. girl came running
lightly with no fear-a girl more beauti-
e, IL f.tr <x,ft ,t,,Ac Ay<fh nc
drew back his immense stature before her
and said: who art thou?"
II am of them who guard the river"
she answered. looking up at him; and
what great hero art thou?"
II am thy husband and have slair
thy people to clear thy path to me, and
thou shalt love and serve me, and lead
| me to the river. and thou shalt be deareI
to me than all my wives.
She stood straight and strong before
him, and had no fear, saying: Thou arc
my lord and husband, and | will love and
serve thee for year and day; but will
not lead thee to the river whose sacred
guardians thy hand has slain"
Thou wilt not" he cried, advancing
threateningly
And be lifted her ON his shoulder and
bore her thence with his warriors, and he
made her hts wife and forgot all his 9TH
er wives. And he forgot his wars and
his mighty deeds, and all his sons and
daughters and his people; that there
was much murmuring against her, and
many rose against her to kill her. But
still he guarded her and she had no fear.
For year and day they lived togeth.
er in peace and JOY. the while he knew
she loved him and was content. But
when tho last night fell and sleep lay
heavy on him, she clasped her babe to her
breast and rose and went out into the
desert. For the time was accomplished
and the river roared In her ears and the
longing led her forth.
And when the sun was risen he woke
and saw her not beside him. And he rose
with loud sorrow and waiting. and strobe
out into the desert All day he followed
her, and the second day. and the third
For a year, and Il second and a third he
sought her over sands that burned and
stones that cut him. through all the un.
Travelled ways of moon and SUN
And at last, when he knew the ouost
was vain. he hewed out mountain fol-
his seat in place where never rain had
fallen. where never beast nor bird had
passed, nor man had stood before Anu
then sat himself in majesty to watch
for his beloved. And there even now ne
keeps his mighty state under the unk nix.
ing sun And they who journey toaay
across the Painted desert in Arizona ma,
see the lnaa OF mighty stature guarding
the country which he conquered anc
watching for the woman whom he loved