The Virginia enterprise., 1909-07-02
By TIE COUNTESS OF >cRoMARTlE


They had met on a long Phoenician
/ slaveship. Ho was a swarthy young
F.Scythian With a thin, keen face, an
a1uiline nose and black hawks eyes.
She was little fair Creek with dark
frlnged blue eyes, and a pretty soft
way OF smiling that she still had even
now, in the midst of fear and haunting
memories OF happy home: The fact
OF their both being highly born may
have drawn them together. For Zala,
the Scythian, was a princes son, and
had known a happy life, till one day,
after hunting, he. awoke from q heavy
sleep among the sand Dunes to find
the kidaapers' ropes about. his neck
and ankles. He had fought like young
tiger, but it had been no use, and
now-his slim" highbred beauty and his
courage and strength would doubtless
fetch high price. Just now he spent
most OF his time. in chains, for he still
had fits of violence. Lying on the
deck one sunset. his black curly head
against the mast, hts: eyes gazing sui
lenly at nothingness, he caught sight
OF the girl Zoe:: One of the other
slave women, foul-tongued young
fury, was mocking her for a. soft
hearted little fool. that did not know
what fate had in store for her. Zala
knew we'll why the other girls hated
Zoo. The Phoenician trader spared
her few of the hardships that would
fall to the ordinary slaves share, be-
cause he knew we'll enough If he did
not he might lose what promised to be
the best of his female merchandise.
Fol the little Greeks steady bravery
and endurance covered a frailty of
body and nerves that Zala, born horse.
man as he was, recognized at once.
"A touch of the whip and she'll die" "
he thought, as he watched the girl face
the Woman's gibss, The cool bravery
or her race was in her eyes, but the
lovely, slender lines of her little figure
were drawn tense, and the pulse in the
white throat beat like a hammer, and
as the woman taunted on roughly. tell
ing of Tara's slave market. and other
things, Zoe seemed to be bracing her
self against physical blows, as she
Leaned against the side, of the pitch
ing galley. Zala rose with a growl.
to stagger against the mast, for he had
forgotten that his ankles were roped,
The woman shrank away, for she got
as good as she gave from the Scyth.
1an's sharp tongue. In that day men
often knew many languages. Zala
had been a fighter and, young as he
was, had been in many strange camps,
so ne was able to speak to Zoe, who
as soon as her enemy had departed
collapsed into frightened, trembling
child. From that hour they were
friends. She would bring him her share
OF food and drink, for Zala, being re.
bellious, was often half-starved. Some,
times he would eat 'wolfshly, for he
was no saint to deny himself. But
then he would look a. the sweet deli.
cate face, and demand half angrily
Hast thou eaten?" and she would lie
to him and say, Yes, Zala, yes"
1t was on one of these occasions that
ne caught her to him fiercely and nut
MS llps to hers. 1t was enough to him
that she returned his kisses before he
1elt the slave merchants whip across
Ills shoulders. That also was enough
for his passionate nature, and fierce
unsubdued pride. He gripped the girl
to him tigerishly, and she clung to
MIN though she was bruised and hurt
IN MS savage embrace. They tore he,
away from him at last and Zala was
tied up and thrashed, then flung un
der the deck to mediate upon his
sins, faint and sick, but absolutely un
subdued. Two nights afterward there
| was a heavy storm, the slaves were
! drlVen below, and discipline was some
what relaxed by imminent danger.
The storm had driven the gallev on,
OF Its course, For Zala and Zoe the
inevitable separation was delayed. ner
maps Tor months. There was a glory
not OF earth In the girls blue ewes
The trader grunted with satisfaction
she was growing fairer every dav ehl
would fetch much gold. As for Zala
ne was. more amenable. The trade,
did not guess at the reason that made
the Scythlan put aside his fierce pride
because with tied limbs he cou,f
not. with all his cunning, arrange thoal
desperate stolen meetings that werf
life to two souls on the slave shin. 1r
one of these dangerous hours. zal,
noticed how Zoe coughed-a tackins
little cough-and how. the cold at,
was making her shiver. She was mad
for warmth and light. "A chill Novem
Der in the northern sea was not pool
for her. he thought anxiously. So on.
night he rose and made his ,wav r.
the traders cabin in the fore part n
the galley. Under the light If ,
swinging lamp sat the Phoenician caet
Ing up accounts on huge sheet ~
parchment. He looked up. zala stoot
with his back. to the cabin door hi,
dark eyes burning fire in the pallor o
his face. The trader had merely r.
call his men to have him draxref
back to the lower deck. But he IN;
not call. He had live. fearless an,
evil life. but he feared his gods II.
said afterward that Zala had the ver,
fire of Bael in his eyes, that night a.
he spoke-quickly and hoarsely like :,
nan in fever. ::
What hast thou done with tn,
child? Answer me, man, :answer!"
The young Scythian had once com
! manded men. The sense of that mad.
his tone like a whip-lash, fors.aM hi.
present fate. -Fhe trader: couldocop<
with that, so he shrugged his .shoul
ders and answered.: All, ha, 50 It I,