Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-02-05

stood in his 1.-THE half-naked beauty I'M
der the lamplight. See! They said
long ago ! had beauty and strength.
Man, / viii make thee rich if / live My
body is thine to sell or Stay, only-give
her back to me-"
well, have thy way" said the trader.
Il would send thee to sleep with whips
| if she was not dying. But as it is, Bael
cannot say that | stood against his fire
even with cattle like thee and thy light
o love, so come"
1T is well,' said Zala calmly, and he
followed the trader.
In smaller cabin lay little Zoe. while
near her watched the woman who had
Knocked her that day. She was not in
any actual physical discomfort, for the
superstitious reverence of that day for
! the beauty of love even on the cruel
slave ship, added to the traders hope
of saving a valuable bargain, had made
him comply at last with the child's
piteous appeals for Zala. The one name
was coming from her lips over and over
again, even a. her lover entered the mar
row place Gala! Zala! Zala!" With
a savage gesture Zala took the attend
ant by the shoulder and sent her COVER
| ing out of the door, The trader, sud
denly grown human, turned and went
leaving them together
My love, my child, my sweeti'' Zoe
came back from dark wanderings to the
sound of Zala's voice, and he forgot that
he was working in the Phoenician's in
| terest, not his own, when he tried to
hold her back from the shadow-and the
| Phoenician, with his dark racial knowl-
| edge of human nature and human pas
sion, let them alone, save that he gave
Zala all he asked for But there came a
calm starlit night when Zoe had seemed
stronger for a little while, only Zala
knew, with the strange knowledge of
his time, that it was the last flicker of
the fire of life before it went-elsewhere
The starlight shone into the place where
| they lay Zoe was stroking his face with
her thin little hand ut is better so,
most dear" she whispered at would
have troubled thee to part with me and
! lit would have broken my heart. The
gods have been very good. 1 have had a
happy life, and here rave | had thy love.
Is it not best that we do not part and
because | am timer"
Zala could not say it was not best To
have Zoe torn from him at the end
would have been even harder to bear
| than this.
Zala was bought for the kings service,
and one day the two met face to face
| The Seythian had come with a message
to where the young conqueror sat plan
ming red destruction for the Picts. He
looked at Zala as the latter rose from
a proud, impassiye obeisance. Chou
hast not always been a SLAYER" said the
king suddenly
NO" said Zala. "Once, long ago, l
was prince of the Scythians.''
Long ago?" said the king. "Why,
thou art young, younger than T.
"Ay, but my heart is DID," said Zala,
with a smile that was sadder than any
tears. The king turned restlessly on his
great golden chair. 'Was it love-" he
said coldly, as one who asks a riddle.
1t was love-" said Zala, and told him
all to the end, for he saw a shadow in
the Milesian's dark eyes that was as the
reflection of the shadow in his own soul
The king drew parchment toward him
and wrote what Gala thought was an
answer to the message he had brought.
yet he understood" thought the Scy
THAN as he waited with bent head while
the king stamped the letter with the
ring he wore He looked at Zala and
again their eyes met. The king spoke
briefly. There is a Phoenician galley
in the harbor. Take this to the captain
and say thou art to have safe passage
homeward. He will take thee safe or
his life pays the forfeit. Thus have /
written, so he will guard thee with his
life. My mother was a Tyrian, there
fore, they love me, also fear me, which
is better sometimes. Now go-nay, thank
me not, | would keep thee, but l have
lost even as thou hast lost Farewell"
Thus Scythian prince regained his
home and his rights. But Love he never
knew truly again, because for him it
lay hidden in the far Ictian sea.-The
Countess of Cromartie in Black and
White.