The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-09-24
DANCE OF
BUTTERFLY

had the yestermorn brought such
gladstone tidings. And now-fear-
somely she rushed to meet him. "Why
comest thou? Is" the question
trailed away. But his first words
seemingly irrelevant. "My daughter,
have any seen thee dance save Cad
mus and me?"
Wondering, the girl made answer,
mo, Peracles, since Cadmus wished
1t not"
"It is WE'LL" responded the old man
looking back at the empty road. Lit
tie one, y his voice bore firmly, "Cad-
mus comes not down that road to-day.
Within the distant city he lies a pris-
oner, calumned by the foul untruths
Of one he trusted and thrown into the
dungeon on the eve Of his honorable
discharge as a soldier of the king. To.
morrow at sunset" the courier shud-
dered, he had loved these children as
his own, "he is condemned to be shot,
unless" he paused, thou canst save
him."
II, Peracles?" thrilled Nyssa. "I?"
the unspoken resolution blazed in
her face.
There will be a great feast to-mor.
row at which all Of the kings maid.
ems will dance. Come thou also.
will procure thee entrance into the
palace and II 1t be that thou pleasest
the king, then mayst thou perchance
intercede for thy lover"
C to dance-is that all?" faltered
Nyssa.
"All!" the old courier turned away.
Well he knew that the like of her
beauty was equalled not at the court
Of Athens, though the king made i:
ever his aim to secure the fairest. But
it was the cnly chance; the gods
would guard her, their own.
In the brightness Of the next days
noon, a black-robed, hooded figure
met Peracles by the palace wall. Cali
is WELL" he assured her, gently and
In silence unmolested they trod the
marble terraces past countless SEN
tries till they came at length to
small lodge.
It was with curious exhilaration
that Nyssa mounted the grand stair
way of the inner court, a quickening
of the pulses that robbed her errand
Of CHASTITY portent Above she saw
gay groups in many-colored raiment,
dower-decked and jewel hung, the
kings dancing girls, and she fastened
her steps to join them. Amidst the
boisterous banter, she glided unno-
tced to the far end of the hall where
hung a canopied dais. But moment
had passed when a fanfare Of
trumpets announced the sovereign's
approach, and accompanied by mag
nificent suite, he was escorted to the
throne.
Nyssa could bear concealment no
longer. DofIlng her black mantle, she
slipped forth and bent low before the
king In a courtesy of such exquisite
grace that murmur of admiration
arose. Twice again she repeated the
reverence then slowly, neither hidden
nor refused, commenced to dance, her
little arched feet, shorn Of their travel
ling sandals, making no sound on the
mosaic floor. In the chaste simplicity
of her white robe, unadorned, save
for the entwining gold of long un-
bound tresses, her radiant perfection
of youth and beauty thrilled all. But
as she danced a new emotion gripped
the spectators. Was it fear?
AS If in answer to these thoughts,
through an embrasure high in the
succeed wall, golden butterfly flut-
tered. Far beyond their reach it fit
ted its vagrant course, idle, unseeking.
But Nyssa had seen, and knew! In
Athens an ancientelegend held that on
whomever should rest golden butter
fly in its flight, that person was sacred
to the gods.
An instant the dancer flung slim
arms upward in mute supplication,
then as the butterfly, she became it's
likened shadow. Back and forth, here,
there, she darted, now genuflecting as
the beautiful winged creature dropped
downward, now leaping lightly as it
sought the dome. In ecstatic aban-
don she skipped the far length of hall,
and veering, capriced as among Wis
ionary flowers. By what intuitive
sense knew she its course, none might
say; surely the gods directed her
steps. But suddenly the butterfly
fiuttered, came lower, lower and quiv-
eringly poised. Nyssa, who had drop
ped to her knees, swaying her slender
body to each lightest motion, in that
instant collapsed in crumpled heap.
With piteous little cry, her tiny,
trembling hands shot out, and the
butterfly, straightly descending. touch
ed thereon, then passed to the white
ness Of her robe. where, a golden glow
ing gem, 1t remained immobile.
A great breath went up, a great
sigh, as If In the surcease of that sus
pense the watchers too knew peace
The kings voice was gentle, for II
spoke through unaccustomed tears
What wouldst thou?" he asked.
"Sire, the life Of Cadmus, whom
love-" answered Nyssa simply.
Staggeringly she approached, and
would have knelt in lowly suppliance
hut his own hand staved her In q