The Washington times., 1906-01-21


debtor know that in mercy it is given
10 us TO redeem one another.
Now he would have spoken, but with
motion of her hand she bade him be
silent, and continued:
See now, Leo, thee great dangers has
thy body passed of late upon its jour
ney 10 my side-the death hounds, the
mountains, nd the precipice. Know that
these We're but types and ordained fore
shadowings Of the last theefoId trial o.
thy soul From the pursuing passions o.
Atene, which must have undoue us both
thou hast fed victorious. Thou hast
endured the desert loneliness of the
sands and SHOWS, starving for a comfort
that never came. Even when the avail
anche Numbered round thee thy faith
stood fast as il stood above the pit OF
flame, while after bitter years of doubt
a rushing flood of horror swallowed NJ
thy hopes. As thou didst descend the
glaciers steep. not knowing what lay
beneath that fearful path. so but now
of thine own choice, for very love Of me
thou hast plunged headlOng into an
abyss that is deeper far, to share its
terroTs with my spirit Dost thou under
stand at last?"
Something. not all, / think, he an
sWered. slowly
Surely thou art wrapped in a double
veil of blindness" she cried, impatient
y. Listen again
"Hldst thou yielded to natures cry
ing and rejected me but yesterday. in
that foul shape l must, perchance, have
fingered for Jnccunted time, playing the
poor part of priestess of a forgotten
faith. This was the first temptation,
the ordeal Of my nesh-nay, not the first
the second. for AUene and her lurings
were the first. But thou vast loyal and
in the magic OF thy couque~ing love my
beauty and my womanhood were re-
born.
"Hadst thou rejected me tonight.
when. as ! was bidden TO do, l showed
thee that vision in the sanctuary and
confessed to thee NY souls black crime.
then hopeless and helpless. unshielded
by my earthly power. 1 must have wan
derea ou into the deep and endless night
of solitude. This was the third appoint
ed test, the trial OF thy spirit. and by
they Steadfastuess. Leo. thou hast loosed
the hand of destiny from about my
throat. Now l am regenerate in thee
through thee may hope again for some
true life beyond. which thou shalt share
And yet-and yet. if thou shouldst suf-
fer. as well may chance
Then / suffer, and there's an end"
broke in Leo, serenely, Save for a few
things my mind is clear. and there must
be justice for US all at last. If l have
broken the bond that bound thee. if /
have freed thee from some threatening.
spiritual i'll by taking d risk upon my
head. well. I have not lived, and. if
need be, shall not de. in vain. So let us
have done with all these problems, or,
rather. first answer thou me one, Aye
sh3. how vast thou changed upon that
pea-2'
In flame 7 left thee, Leo, and in
flame I did return, as in flame, may
hap, Wc shall both depart or perhaps
the change Was in the eyes Of all Of
you who watched. and not in this shape
of mine. / have answered. Seek to
learn no more"
one thing I do still seek to learn.
Ayesha, we were betrOthed tonight.
When wilt thou marry me?'
Not yet, not yet" she answered
hurriedly her voice Quivering IS she
spoke. Leo. thou must put that hope
from thy thoughts a while and for
some few months. year perchance.
be content TO play the part OF frienu
and lover"
Why so%' he asked, with bitter dis
''Ayesha, those PARTS
have been mine for RAINY a day; more
grow no younger, and, unlike thee
shall soon be old. Also, life is fieeting,
and sometimes l think that near its
end"
Speak no such evil-omened words"
she said. springing from the couch and
stamping her sandaled foot upon the
ground in anger born of fear YET
thou sayest truth; thou art unfortified
against the accidents Of time ana
chance Oh. horrible. horriblel Thou
die again, and leave me liv-
ing"
Then give me OF thy life. Ayesha."
That would | gladly, all OF il.
Couldst thou but repay me with the
boon of death 20 come
oh, ye poor mortalS,'' she went on.
with a sudden burst of passion; we
beseech your gods for the gift OF many
years. being ignorant that ye would
SOW seed within your breast whence
We must garner ten thousand miseries.
Know ye not that this world is indeed
the wide house of he'll. in whose c'am-
bers from time 10 time the spirit ta--
ries a little while, then, weary and
aghast. speeds wailing TO the peace that
it mas won?
Think. then what it is TO live on