The Washington times., 1906-01-21
CHAPTER XVuI-(Continued).

Nay. I Will not tempt thee with
these common lures. Go, Leo, if thou
wilt. Go, my love. and lea-4 me to my
loneliness and my sin. NoY-at once.
Atene win shelter thee till spring.
when thou canst cross the mountains
and return 10 thine own world gain,
and to those things of common life
which are thy JOY. See, Leo, / Veil
myself that thou lGaVest not be tempt
ed" and she flung the corner Of her
cloak about her head, then asked d sud
den question through it,
''Didst thou not but now return TO
the sanctuary with Holly after l bade
thee leave me there alone? Methought
1 saw the two of you standing by its
doors"
Yes, we came to seek thee" he an
swered.
And found more than We sought. as
often chances to the bold-is it not SO ?
Well. willed that We should come and
see, and protected you where others
might have died"
What didst thou there upon the
throne, and whose We're those forms
which we saw bending before thee ?"
he asked, eoldly.
have ruled in many shapes ana
lands, Leo. Perchance they were an
cient companions and servitors of mine
come 10 greet me once aCain and 10
hear my tidings. Or perchance they
were but shadows of thy brain. pic
lures like those upon the fire, that il
pleased me to summon to thy sight. TO
try thy strength and constancy.
Leo Vincey, know now the truth;
that all things are illusions, even that
there exists no future and no past. that
what has been and what shall be al
ready is eternally. Know that l.
Ayesha, am but magic wrath, foul
when thou seest me foul. fair when
thou seest me fair; spirit-bubble re-
ftecting a thousand lights in the sun
shine OF thy smile. gray as dust and
gone in the shadow of thy frOwn.
Think of the throned queen before
whom the shadowy powers bowed, and
worship, for that is l. Think of the
hideous, withered thing thou sawest
naked on the rock, and flee away, for
that is l. Or keep me lovely, and
adore, knowing all evil centered in nv
spirit, for that is I, Now, Leo, thou
hast the truth. Put me from thee for
ever and forever if thou wilt, and be
safe; or clasp me. clasp me 20 thy
heart, and in payment for my lips and
love take my sin upon thy head! Nay,
Holly, be thou silent, for now he must
judge alone"
Leo turned, as ! thought, at first,
10 find the door. But it was not So
for he did but walk up and down the
room a while. Then he came back to
where Ayesha stood, and spoke quite
simply and in a very quiet voice, such
as men of his nature often assume in
moments Of great emotion.
"Ayesha.' he said. when I SAW thee
as thou vast, aged and-thou knowest
howl clung To thee Now, when thou
hast told me the secret Of this unhoIy
pact of thine. when with my eyes. at
least, I have seen thee reigning "a mis-
tress OF spirits good or in, yet / cling
- thee. Let thy sin, great or little
whate'er it is-be my sin also. In truth
feel its weight sink TO my soul and
become a part of me, and, although /
have no vision or power of prophecy. I
am sure that | shall not escape its pun
ishment Well, though I be innocent
let me bear it for thy sake. I am con-
tent
Ayesha heard the cloak slipped from
her head. and for moment she stood
silent like one amazed, then burst into
passion of sudden tears Down she
went before him and clinging TO his
garments. she bowed her stately shape
until her forehead touched the ground.
Yes. that proud being. who was more
thar mortal. whose nostrils but now
had drunk the incense of the homage
OF ghosts or spirits. humbled herself at
this mans feet
With an exclamation of horror half
moddened at the pi,eous sight Leo
lifted her stin weeping to the couch.
Thou knowest not what thou hast
done" Ayesha said at last. Let all
thou sawest on the mountain crest or in
the sanctuary be but visions of the
night; let that tale of an offended god
dess be parable. a fable, il thou wilt
This, at least, Is true, that ages since !
sinned for thee and against thee and
another; that ages since l bought beau
~ and life indefinite wherewith l might
win the= and endow thee at cost which
few would dare; that l have paid in
terest on the debt. In meckery, utter
loneliness and daily pain which scarce
could b endured until the bond fell
due at last and must be satisfied.
Yes, how I may not tell thee. thou
and thou alone stoodst between ne and
the fun discharge of this most dreadful