The Washington times., 1905-12-31

that he is dead indeed?''
Then while all waited in a hushed ex-
pectancy, the great priestess delivered
her verdict:
II hear, / balance assess, but judge
i do not, wko claim no such power. Let
the spirit who sent him forth, to whom
he Is returned again pass judgment on
his spirit. This dead one has sinned
deeply, yet has he been more deeply
sinned against. Nor against that man
can be reckcned the account of his deeds
of madness. Cast him then to his grave
feet first that his name may be whiten-
ed in the ears OF those unborn, and that
thence he may return again at the time
appointed. II is spoken"
Now the accuser lifted the book of his
accusations from the ground and, ad-
vancing. hurled it into the gulf in token
that it was blotted out. Then he turned
and vanished from the chamber; while
the advocate. taking his book, gave IT
into the keeping of the priest, Oros. that
II rnight be preserved in the archives OF
the temple forever. This done. the
priests set up funeral chant and
solemn invocation 10 the great lord OF
the under world that he would receive
this spirit and acquit it there az here IL
had been acquitted by the Hesea, his
minister.
Ere their dirge ended certain OF the
priests, advancing with slow steps, lifted
the bier and carried IL to the edge OF the
gulf; then at a sign from the. mother,
hurled it feet foremost into the fiery
lake below. while all watched 20 see how
IL struck the flame For this they held
TO be an omen. since should the body
turn over in it's descent IL was taken as
a sign that the judgment OF mortal men
had been refused in the place of the
immortals 1t did not turn; it rushed
downward straight as plummet ana
plunged into the fire hundreds of feet
below, and there forever vanished This
indeed was not strange since. as we dis
covered afterward, the feet were
weighted
In fact. this solemn rite was but a
formula that. down to the exact words
of Judgment and committal, had been
practiced here from unknown antiquity
over the bodies of the priests and priest
esses of the mountain. and of certain
of the great ones of the plain SO II
was in ancient Egypt, whence without
doubt this ceremony Of the trial or the
dead was derived. and so II continued
to be in the land Of Hes. for no priest
ess ever ventured to condemn the soul
Of one departed
The real interest Of the custom, apart
from its solemnity and awful surround
ings. centered in the accurate knowi-
edge displayed by the masked accuser
and advocate of the life deeds OF the
deceased 1t showed that although the
College of Hes affected 10 be indiffer-
ent to the doings and politics OF the
people OF tho plain that they once ruled
II. a
an opportunity of reconquest, they stfll
claimed a spiritual authority. the atti-
tude was assumed rather than real.
Moreover. Il suggested a system of es-
pionage so piercing and extraordinary
that Il was difficult to believe II un-
aided by the habitual exercise OF some
gift Of clairvoyance.
The service If ] may call it so, was
finished: the dead man had followed the
record Of his sins into that lurid sea of
fire and by now was but a handful of
charred dust But If his book had
closed ours remained open and at its
strargest chapter We knew it. all Of
Us. and waited. our nerves thrilled with
expectancy.
The Hesea sat brooding on her rocky
throne. She also knew that the hou-'
had come. Presently she sighed, then
mOrtOned with ner ScepleG anu bpOht Il
word or two, dismissing the priests and
priestesses, who departed and were
seen no more. Two Of them remained.
however-Oros and the head priestess,
who was called Papave. a young woman
of a noble countenance.
Listen. my servants" she said.
Great things are about to happen,
which have 10 do with the coming OF
yonder strangers, for whom i have
waited these many years, as Is wen
known to you. Nor can / tell the Is
sue. since 10 me. 10 whom power is CIV
en- so freely, foresight Of the future is
denied II well may happen, therefore
that this seat will soon be empty and
this frame but food for the eternal fires.
Nay, grieve not. grieve not, for / do
not die. and if so. the spirit shall re-
turn again.
"Hearken. Papave. Thou art Of the
blood and 10 thee alone have l opened
all the doors of wisdom. II ] pass now
or at any time. take thou the ancient
power. fill thou my place, and In all
things do as ! have Instructed thee
that from this mountain light may shine
upon the world. Further I command
thee. and thee also, Oros. my priest
that IL l be summoned hence you enter
tain these stIa2g h..SI-.: h,x ,,.,-.- =. :.