Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1905-10-23

fTlNEc VI AAA@ cDNaNAf NAN- ESAA tAAClll
of their treasure.
Azul knew the black magic art.
Ne brought his richest treasure to
NaxteIla's court. He used his black
art that he might appear pleasing in
her sicht. His arms and throat
we're bare. On his head was a 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 were 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
knife. bv which he worked his magic
art.
When the queen appeared he look
ed at her and turned pale. Azufs
ewes 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 AzuPs power was exerted to
subdue her gentle heart.
When she went to walk a wolf
sprang up in her path, sharp stones
cut through the deerskin and
wounded her feet.
Near by was a spring of healing
water, but when Maxtella went to
drink of it a foul odor of poisonous
] gases arose.
She sought her couch, but Azul
had driven sleep away. When she
was alone the black hearted vassal
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 to hate.
:. Of her attendants who remained
faithful none was more so than lit
tie page, a boy Of not more than q
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 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 l will teach you how to
weep" and he struck her with his
. cruel throng.
Maxtella turned upon him he1
: timid, pleading eyes. With mighty
J. bound the youth leaped toward thu
IL chief and seized the magic wand
Its possession gave him the strength
d of many men. He struck the wretch
a blow and pinned him to the floor
re Azul writhed in pain, and the bloot
,e dyed his dress of feathers crimson
lie None but wizard might ever loos
i, him. With the blow the spell b
a. had wrought on Maxtella wa
IN broken, and all her gentleness an
he purity returned. It was this tina
n caused her to pity the bleedin
he wretch, squirting in agony, yet fu
of rious with rage. She reached dow
an her delicate hand to withdraw tn
rs wand if it were possible, when Azr
an seized her by the arm and buried hi
sharp, cleaning teeth into the han
extended in mercy.
wv Maxtella, unable to release he
IDS self, shrieked in pain, for the BIZ
co of the sorcerer was as deadly as tn
as poison of the snake with the cast;
las nets in his tail.
nd .'Now is thy blood mingled wit
of mine," Missed Azul, "and of thy ow
free will! Now are we one foreve
Ter By my living hate and the minglin
he of our blood l have supremest pov
lth er over thee. Coward thou ha
Ills ever been. Coward thou shalt ev'
ter be. The spirit shall pass from th'
so in the form of the creature the
ON most resemblest-a doe, timid I
no heart, feet of foot and spotless
lie. white. None may slay thee, y
he thou wilt ever long for the dart tn,
would release the spell. Thy spec
md shall shame the feetest of the her
new and thy matches beauty shall ev
- | lura the hunter ~ HE dpath y