The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-14

questions to ask of the statue of the
mother yonder. that thou lowest the
place so much? They say it speaks.
telling Of the future to those who dare
TO kneeI beside it uncompanioned from
night Till dawn. Yet / have often done
so. but 20 me il has never spoken.
though none long TO learn the futurs
more"
l made no answer. nor did she seem
to expeet any. for she went on az
once:
Nay bide here and let as have done
with ali sad and solemn thoughts. We
three Will sup together as of old. and
for a while forget our fears ana cares.
and be happy as children who know not
sin and death. or that change which is
death indeed. oros. await my lord
without. Papave. / will call thee later
10 disTobe me. Till then let none dis
turb us"
The room that Ayeshs inhabited was
not very large. as we saw by the hang
ing lamps with which it was lighted 1t
was plainly though richly furnished. ths
rock walls being covered with tapes
tries. and the tables and chairs inlaid
with silver. but the only token that
here a woman had her home was that
about il stood several bowls Of flowers.
One OF these. 1 remember. was filed
with the delicate harebelis I had adj
mired. dug Up roots and all, and sst in
moss
"A poor place" said Ayesha. yet
better than that in which 1 dRelt those
two thousand years awaiting thy COM
ing. Leo. for. see, beyond il is a gar
den, wherein / sit and she sank
down upon a couch by the table, mo-
tioning 10 US to take our places oppO-
site to her
The meal was simple, for us. eggs
boiled hard, and cold ve.lison; for her,
milk, some little cakes of -four. and
mountain berries.
Presently Leo threw of his gorgeous.
Durple-broidered role. which he still
wore, and cast upon chair the crook
headed seepter that oros had again
thrust into his hand. Ayesha smiled as
ne did so, saying:
1t would seem that thou holdese
these sacred emblems in but small re-
spect."
Very small" he answered. Thou
heardest my words in the sanctuary,
Ayesha. so let US make a pact. Thy
religion l do not understand, but 1 I'M
derstand my own. and not even for
thy sake viii I take part in what 1
hold TO be idolatry."
Now / thought that she would be
angered by this plain speaking. but she
only bowed her head and answered
meekly:
Thy viii is mine. Leo, though Ii VIII
, not be easy always to explain thy abb
sence from the ceremonies in the tenn
pie. Yet thou hast a right TO thine own
faith, which doubtless is mine also"
How can that be?'' he asked. looking
, up
Because all great faiths are the
same. changed a little to suit the needs
Of passing times and peoples. What
taught that of Egypt. which. in a fash
ion. We still follow here? That hidden
, in a multitude OF manifestations, one
power, great and good. rules all the uni
verses; that the holy shall inherit a life
eternal, and the vile, eternal death; that
men shall be shaped and judged by
their own deeds. and here and hereafter
drink Of the cup which they have
brewed; that their real home is not on
earth, but beyond the earth. where all
riddles shall be answered and all soT-
row cease. Say. dost thou believe these
things as l do?
LAY. Ayesha. but Hes or Isis is thy
goddess, for hast thou not told US tales
OF thy dealing with her in the past.
and did we not hear thee make
prayer 10 her? Who, then. is this god
dess Hes?"
Know. Leo. that she is what named
her-nature's soul. no divinity. but the
1 secret spirit OF the world; that universal
motherhood. whose symbol thou hast
seen yonder, and in whose mysteries lie
hid all earthly life and knowledge"
Does, then. this merciful motherhood
Il ,-fss
as thou sayest she has followed thee for
4 thy disobedience. and me-and another
: because of some unnatural VOWS bro
ken long ago?" Leo asked. quietly.
Resting her arm upon the table. Aye
sha looked at him with somber eyes
and answered:
IN that faith Of thine. Of which thou
speakest, are there. perchance, two
gods. each having many Minister'S
sod OF good and a god OF evil. an Osiris
and a Set?"
He nodded.
81 thought it, And the god OF i'll is
strong, is he not. and can put on the
shape Of good? Tell me, then. Leo. in
the world that is today, whereof /
know so little. hast thou ever heard OF
frail souls who for some earthly bride
N have sold themselves 70 that evil one,
or 10 his minister, and been paid their
Il price in bitterness and anguish?"
Y "All wicked folk do as much in this
d form or in that" he answered.
And il once there lived a woms a
4 who was mad with the thirst for beauty.
for life, for wisdom, and for love, might
she notch. might she not, per-
chance"
Sell herself to the god called Set. or
one Of his angels? Ayesha, dOst thou
mean"-and Leo rose, speaking IN
voice that was full of fear-''that thou
art such q woman?
And If sO?" she asked, also rising
and drawing slowly near TO him
If So" he answered, hoarseiy, II SO.
/ think that, perhaps we had pest lhl-
I'LL our fates apart
"Ahl" she said, with a little scream
of pain, as though a knife had stabbed
her, "wOuldst thou away to Atene?
Ia tell thee that thou canst not leave me
have power-above all men thou
. should know IT. whor1 once slew
= Nay. thou hast no memory. poor crea'
ture of a breath, and IL remember