The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-12-02


the queen suffer her subjects to
make war upon those weaker hordes
who dwelt in rocks and caves high
up in the cliffs that bordered on the
green canyons. There was vassal
chief, Azul, OF lowly birth and evil
WAYS. He saw the beautiful Max
tella, and the sight Of her touched
his black heart. He loved Maxtel-I
la not for her virtue nor her wis
dom. He loved her that he might
rule the land and that from his
blood and hers might come a race of
savage kings and that the northern
hordes might make war upon the
tribes Of the south and despoil them
Of their treasure.
Azul knew the black magic art.
He brought his richest treasure TO
Maxtella's court. He used his black
art that he might appear pleasing in
her sight. His arms and throat
were bare On his head was snowy
white helmet, and his dress was Of
green feathers His breastplate of
feather work CLEANED like jewels
when the sun shone upon it. Tall
and straight was this vassal chief,
and mighty was his stride. Great
blue and blood red stones shone in
the middle Of his sword.
But the counselors we're wise
men. They could see his black heart
and read his evil mind, and they
spurned him with scorn. They
would have driven him from the
court. The vassal chief held in his
hand a wand, sharp pointed like a
knife, by which he worked his magic
art.
When the queen appeared he look
ed at her and turned pale. AzuPs
eyes pierced her, but his magic was
not strong enough to make her love
him. Until then she knew not fear,
but now the evil spell was upon her.
All of Azul's power was exerted to
subdue her gentle heart.
When she went 10 walk a wolf
sprang up in her path, sharp stones
cut through the deerskin and
wounded her feet.
Near by was spring of healing
water, but when Maxtella went to
drink of it foul odor of poisonous
gases arose.
She sought her couch, but Azul
had driven sleep away. When she
was alone the black hearted vsssal
chief would suddenly appear and
with throngs of the deer would beat
her white body until his savage
lashes drew drops of blood.
All things could he make Max
tella do but love him. False words
she spoke TO her counselors and did
unholy deeds that made her cour-
tiers bow their heads In shame. No
more was Maxtella just or merciful.
Cruelty, pitiless cruelty, turned her
love of her subjects 10 hate.
OF her attendants who remained
faithful none was more SO than lit
tie page, a boy of not more than a
score of years. These two sat one
eve within the palace. The dusky
shadows were gathering without,
but the night could only bring add
ed wretchedness to Maxtella. The
boy sang to her, and as his song
died away a black shape entered the
room. 1t was Azul.
"Thy song is sad" he said to the
page "Why do you not weep, Max
tella?"
The rivers OF Maxtella's eyes
were dried up.
"Now ! will teach you how to
weep" and he struck her with his
cruel throng.
Maxtella turned upon him her
timid, pleading eyes. With a mighty
bound the youth leaped toward the
chief and seized the magic wand.
It's possession gave him the strength
of many men. He struck the wretch
a blow and pinned him to the floor.
Azul writhed in pain, and the blood
dyed his dress OF feathers crimson.
None but a wizard might ever loose
him. With the blow the spell he
had wrought on Maxtella was
broken, and all her gentleness and
purity returned. 1t was this that
caused her to pity the bleeding
wretch, squirming in agony, yet fu-
rious with rage. She reached down
her delicate hand to withdraw the
wand if it were possible, when Azul
seized her by the arm and buried his
sharp, cleaning teeth into the hand
extended in mercy.
Maxtella, unable to release her
self, shrieked in pain, for the bite
of the sorcerer was as deadly as the
poison Of the snake with the casta-
nets in his tail.
"Now is thy blood mingled with
nine" Kissed Axul, "and OF thy own
free will Now are we one forever.
By my living hate and the mingling