The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-07
CHAPTER w. Contiauen.

CHAPTER Ky, Contilued).
There was dreadful silence. saw
Leo's lips tdrn white and his knees be
gin to move. but by some eGcrt he re
covered himself and stayed still and
upright like "a dead man held hy wire
Also I saw Atene-and this is TO her
oredit-tun her head away. She had
desired 20 see her rival Inundated,
but that horrible sight shocked her,
some sense OF their common woman
hood for the moment touched her pity
Only Simbri, who, think know what
to expect. and Oros remained quite Un-
moved; indeed, in that CHASTITY silence
the latter spoke. and ever aftcrward I
loved him for his words
what Of the vile vessel. rotted in
the grave of time? What Of the flesh
that perishcs?" he said. Look through
the ruined lamp TO tho eternal light
which burns within. Look through its
covering carrion to the incxtiuguish-
able soul"
Ny heart applauded these noble SEN
timents. I was of one mind with Oros
but, oh, Heaven, 7 felt that my brain
was going and 7 wished that it would
so. so that ! might hear and see no
more.
That look which gathered on Ave
sha's mummy face, AT first there had
been little hope. but the hope died.
and anguish. anguish. anguish took its
place.
Something must be done. this could
TvsT
word would come; my feet refused to
move.
began to contemplate the scenery.
How wonderful were that sheet of flame
and the ripples which ran up and down
its height. How awcsome its buIowv
crest. II would be warm lying in von-
der red gulf below with the dead Fas-
sen. but oh, 1 wish~- that 7 shared
his bed and had finished with these
agonies.
Thank Heaven. Atene was spea&iag.
She had stepped 10 the side OF the
naked-headed thing, and stood by it in
all the pride of her rich beauty ana
perfect womanh0od
Leo Nincey, or KalIikrates," said
Atene, take which name thou wilt:
thou thlnkest i'll of ne perhaps. but
know that at least ! se0rn 10 mock a
rival in her mortal shame. She told US
a wild tale. but now. "a tale true or false
but more false than true. 1 think. of
how ] robbed a goddess of a yotarv. and
OF how that goddess-Ayesha's self rer-
chanee-was avenged upon me for the
crime of yielding TO the man loved
Well, let goGdesses-if such indeed there
be-take their way and work their will
upon the helpless, and l. "a no-laL VII
take mine until the clutch Of loom closes
round my throat and cnJh-s out life
and memory, and !. TOO, am q goddess
or clod.
Meanwhile. thou man. ! shame not
10 say It before all these Witnesses. /
love thee. and il seems that this-this
woman OF goddess-lGves thee also and
she has told Us that now. now thou must
choose between Us once and forever.
She has told us, too. That II I sinned
against Isis. whose minister. be il re-
membeTed, she declares herself. herself
she sinned yet more. For she would
have taken thee both from a heavenly
mistress and from an earthly bride. and
yet snatch that guerdon of lmmortalitv
which Is hers today. Therefore if l am
cvil. she is worse. nor does the fame
that burns within the casket whereof
Oros spoke shine so very pure and
bright.
Choose thou then Leo Vincev and
let there be an end. L vauut not myself:
thou knowest what / have been and
seest what I an. Yet I can give thee
love and happiness. and Hlayhap chill
dren TO follow after thee, and with them
some place and power What yoader
witch can give thee thQU canst guess
~flcs of the past. pictures on the fame.
sc maX-ms and honeyed words. and
ter thou art dead once more. promises
rhaps Of JOY TO come when that ter
PIE goddess whom she serves so close
shall be appeased. / have spoken.
Fet / viii add a word;
20 thou for whom. if the IIesel $
.tale be true. did once lay down my
royal rank and dare the dangers OF an
unsailed sea; O thou whom in ages gone
1 would have sheltered with my trail
body from the sorccries of this cold.
self-seeking witch; d thou whom but a
little while ago, at my own life's risk. 1
drew from death IN yorder river. choose.
choosei"
TO all this speech 50 moderate vet SO
cruel. SD WCll-Tca suned and yet so false.
because ~ lis CLOSES aud omissions,
the huddled Ayesha seemed 10 listen