The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-04

welcome with, something of eoldness. Rumors had reached him in the camp before Troy which disconcerted him and doubts had risen in his mind concern ing the faithfulness of Clytemnestra which were not yet laid. When Clyterl- nestra bade her lord descend from the chariot her handmaidens covered the way from the outer gate to the palace door with splendid tapestries and cloths of purple. Daughter of Leda," said Agamemnon, thy talk Is almost as long as my long campaign; pray do not strew my pathway with your woman's $ gear nor lie there groveling like some barbarian slave. This pomp may be but an allurement to snare my feet from treading other paths. Honor me as a man-my fame cries loud enough. Call me not blessed-eall no man blessed until he Is dead. Well, well. undo my sandals will tread your pur- pie path-and then we have many mat ters to talk of" Then, turning to the people, the king added that, in thanks giving for his safe arrival home, he would, lthe first thing he did, go into the palace altars and offer sacrifice.
 With the returning conqueror was a woman of middle age, proud of bearing and not uncomely of face. Her eyes were dark and piercing and occasion ally flashed with a wild light, which betoke ened inspiration--or insanity. It was Cassandra, the prophecies, daugh- ter of the fallen Priam, King of Troy. Early in life she had devoted herself to the service of the altar and had come to believe herself possessed of prophesied with more truth than dis cretion, and it had been her hard fate that while she always foretold coming events with accuracy her predictions never found believers. This, the an- cient legends have it, was because she had rejected the advances of Apollo god of the silver bow, who had taught her the art of prophecy when enam- ored of her youth. In the sack of fall en Troy Agamemnon rescued Priam's daughter from the rabble and had taken her under his protection to his home in Argos. Give this stranger maid a courteous welcome" said he to his wife, indicating Cassandra, "she has suffered much misfortune; would have her treated a becomes her birth for she is Priam's daughter. Go2s face inclines to him whose hand is light in victory"
 Thus speaking, Agamemnon entered into his palace, the queen all the while calling upon Zeus to witness her great joy at seeing her husband home again. Turning to Cassandra, who still re- mained in the chariot, the queen bade her descend and, since fate had sent her there, to follow into the palace. The prophecies gazed with a strange, fixed lock at the queen, but spoke not. T will not daily with you" said the queen. There, by our household all tars, the sheep are standing ready for the sacrifice and the flames leap high. If you do not understand my speech can talk in none but some barbaric, twittering tongue-you can at least pn- derstand signs. Descend and enter
 But Cassandra still gazed wildly at the queen and her face took on look of un- utterable horror. 'Oh, she is mad" cried Clytemnestra, Tor some moody spell is on her. She houts me; I will waste no more words upon her" Then suddenly, and in tones which made the hearers blood run cold. the Trojan prophecies cried out 'Woei Wool Avaunt, Apollo Apollor' Are you crying woe on the god of the silver bowT' cried Siytemnestra Such sounds affront the god" But Bassandra continued to call upon Apollo and ex- claimed: Thou god of ways, thou hast undone me twice and utterly. What way | hast thou led me2 This Is an ungodIy house before me. How many, near in blood, have bled herel The floor Is wet as 1t were with butchery. And what things does this woman devise? What strange devices to wound her nearest unto death ? | And help there is none, far or near, An, l wretch, what wilt thou do? The lord of | thy bed, fresh from his cleansing! I see her spreading something to the stretch of who makes him a deathbed. Shout, ye spirits of evil, at the altars of this | house."
 l This woman is quite mad" said Cly- temnestra, pay n oattention to her raw ings." But nevertheless the queens face | had taken on fierce, vindictive look-one which boded i'll for any one who should oppose her, and the prophecies of Cas- l sandra seemed to disturb her more than she would adnith Turning hastily, the queen entered the palace and the prophet ess remained at the gate, shrieking out every now and then wild words of direful portent to the line of Atrides. The crowd which had collected first to witness the return of the king now fingered to listen
 to the wild words of the priestess Some
 besought her to be more caim-that such words might cause her trouble if they came to the ears of the king. But Cas- sandra only shouted, ~Woel Wool" more loudly than before.
 "That woman-lion," she cried, "couches for the life of the kingi An, there upon her reelxing block am to die. But why should I, who have seen my Hum fallen
 wish for life? My day is come; escape for me there is none. There is a fume of
 blod in this house; a ghastly vapor, rank as from the tomb. Farewell. life. fain would cry my dirge to wonder sun whose light Is gone for me. But what is life A painted sketch that fades with fortunes
 smile and with her frown Is plotted out
 forever. So to live and so to end Is pity
 from the first to last. go to meet my
 doom."