Middletown transcript., 1911-07-08
TO THE GODS OF TOQUAY.TO
rnnnrrNuEp From LAST WEEK
BY LEoNoRA BECK ELLIS

the arbitrary claim that no Vloie
diamonds exist.
Again the kings eyes were nx
ed on him, with that dull yet in
cisive gaze. But the monarch
only asked: And how does /
compare with other gems yoE
have seen in the vast world yot
pirate to me of?
In truth, 1 know none thai
would not plate or flaw beside !,
and l have seen the Kohinoor
No other jewel exists, will evel
exist, l trust, spoke a low voice
at Esmond's side, the tradition Of
whose splendid being binds 8
people to so terrible a rite as this
of ours.
Levering started, turning 6
sharply to gaze into the mourn
full eyes of the Princess Wiyuna'
What tradition, what rite ? he
demanded.
Are you wholly unprepared'
then ? asked she, lowering her
tone yet more, and watching her
royal sire, whom one of the
priests was engaging momentari-
ly. Do you not understand that,
to keep this marvellous efnlgence
at full fame, that must be every
year hideous oblation, demand
ing the blood Of
Matazino was summoning Lev
ering in harsh, imperious tones,
to fall in at his left, the Princess
on his right. The procession
was forming anew, to move for
ward, up the fiower-strewn steps
the deep aisles of the temple.and
to the altar's foot.
Esmond's eyes, wide, excited
now, kept on the Princess when
he could see her, as they moved
slowly forward to the dirge-like
chanting. What could she mean
and what was he to witness at
this pagan celebration, after allS
Those lambs and bullocks will
be Stained, of course, he told him.
self, with relief. The Princess
who is intensely womanly; thank
fortune, hates the sight and smell
of blood; and no doubt is sutfi'
ciently enlightened to feel aver
sion for so absurea a superstition.
A slight shifting of position
had brought his betrothed into
full range of his vision. He
thought no more of the Moon OF
May.
In the next minute, life chang
ed suddenly, poignantly, for Es-
mond Levering. He reused from
thought; then had halted near
the altar. The dirge-like chant
had modified, ceased, then risen
again, this time as a wild incan'
tation; of which he grasped but
half the meaning. Yet - that
cleaning blade swung with lusty
good will by the strong-armed
hierach, here, within the shrine?
He had held some vague notion
that the slaughtering of the
beasts was finished up outside,
and only certain parts brought
within as some kind of oblation.
The throng parted, the wild
song rose higher, became a thrill
ing requiem; pair Of captives
were led forward.
The man was bound hand and
foot, with breast barred for the
knife. The woman, young, slender
was struggling passionately to
break her fetters and reach him.
With a mad surge the blood
seemed to leave Leverer-
ing, while it stood still. He had
heard this captive husband and
wife alluded to some days before
but thought them of Malay race,
and secure of their lives if no
more. In the stress of his own
personal matters; he had not
found time to think of them be-
yond that, But now, they were
white, they we're white, they
were Americans, and the man az
least was destined to immediate
death.
Leap;ng from his station be-
tween the king and the Princess,
whose face was covered from the
monstrous sight, Levering broke
into the ring Of hierophants, so
staying the unholy rite.
The chant became broken, con-
fused; a wild murmur surged up
from the throng beyond. The
captain wife turned her agonized
Ice towards her com.
patriot-it was the face Of Theo-
dora Latham!
Dazed, maddened, yet strugg-
ling to keep that hold on his reel
ing senses which alone could save
her, Levering; seeing but that
L