Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-01-27

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merry time they had, knocking at
the doors of tottering empires and rob-
bling princes and potentates. Before
his advancing columns armies fled.
Like a mighty avalanche he swept
triumphantly from the Tigris toward
the Dead Sea-pillaging, robbing,
slaughtering.
And finally he was come near unto
the land of Syria. Already the city
of his birth was visible in the misty
distance. Upon the face of Tyra a
smile was cleaning, and in his heart
a wild exultation ran riot. Vengeance
was marked upon his brow; vengeance
glistened in his eyes; vengeance pull
stated in his veins.
But his fame and the news of his
approach had preceded him, and loud
were the lamentations in the city from
which he had been banished.
ooh! woe unto SYRIA" the women
cried; ooh, woe unto us this day."
The male inhabitants gathered in
frightened groups upon the streets
and discussed the advisability Of re-
sistance, and many were the unfor-
tunate first-born who were laid upon
the arms of the red-hot idol, Moloch.
Then spake a sage.
"Ho!" he CRIED "why all this weep
ing and lamentation? The great, the
mighty Tyra but comes to claim his
bride, the beautiful Leodosia. Come,
let us arise and go and meet him; let
us send our most lovely maidens to
strew flowers in his path; let us give
to Tyra royal welcome upon his re-
turn to us"
But the venerable sage spake not
according to his own mind, for well
he knew the heart Of Tyra, who had
slain his own father through revenge.
But the populace was pacified and be-
gan preparations for receiving the
conqueror. ~
Hastily the sage summoned Leode-
STA to his side, and, taking her by the
hand, led her to a place of secret con-
fidence.
''Leodesia, my daughter" he began,
edo you love this youth, this Tyra?"
eyes, dear father" she made reply,
with all my heart I love him."
''Leodesia, within thy hands this day
are the lives of thy people. Tyra hath
returned to Syria to seek bloody re-
venge for his Punishment. For us to
resist is fruitless, for he hath mighty
army, Leodesia, and we must all
perish"
For moment he paused, looking
Then he continued:
"Thou dost love thy neighbors and
thy friends, Leodesia?"
yea, father" she said, quietly; 81
love them ALL"
'This day, Leodesia," resumed the
between thy lover and thy people. If
thou choosest selfishly, the blood of
the helpless shall be upon thy head"
The maiden bowed her head, but
made no reply.
when the gates of the city are
opened to Tyra, Leodesia, it shall be-
come thy duty, according to custom;
to offer a goblet of wine to thy be-
trothed as an affectionate greeting
upon his return from far country.
Thou shalt be provided with two YES
sells, Leodesia. Both shall be filled
with the best of vintage, but in one of
them, and which one thou shalt be
made aware, shall have been placed
the most deadly of poisons. If thou
choose for thyself alone, Leodesia,
thou shalt hand to him the one with
out the poison. Then he will wed thee
and take thee away with him, but first
he will Stay all thy friends, Leodesia-
all thy people. If thou choose for the
safety of Syria, thou shalt hand to
him the other, and thou wilt go thy
days without husband
Thus spoke the. sage and went his
way and the maiden dropped upon the
sand and wept.
Deep was her love for the Syrians
They were her people. Tenderly they
had reared her, cared for her, provided
lOI ASIs auu HOW IL Was WlCulH uCI
power to return their love and kind
ness. She had but to perform simple
act to preserve their lives and fill the
city with songs of gladness and re-
joicing instead of means and anguish.
And yet-Tyra! How she loved him!
All her half-barbaric nature cried out
with joy at the mention of his name.
To her he had ever been loving and
true and devoted.
When he had gone away she had
followed him to the city gates and had
promised to wait for him until his re-
turn. And now that he was come, was
it for her to choose to place to his
lips, under the guise of greeting, the
beverage that should still his heart,
should freeze his smiles-should drive
the love-light from his eyes.
But-the thought of blood; the
thought of her people slaughtered be-