Arizona republican., 1911-10-30
The Blind God By E. G. COOPER Copyright, 1910, by the Pearson Publishing Co)
  Continued from Yesterday)
Continued from Yesterday)

The beech trees rustled in the wind. The sunshine, Altering through the leaves, turned them to brilliant emer. aid, and then fell to the ground, dap- bling the red beech mast with golden streaks. Among the trees wound a little river, and by the river stood a young giant clad in tweeds. A fut- ter of white upon the water and a paper was borne towards him on the gentle current. He stopped to take it and read:
 "The Psalm of Adonis.
 There are built for him shad-
 owy bowers of green, all laden
 with tender anise, and children
 fit overhead-the little Loves
 as the young nightingales perched
 upon the trees fly forth and try
 their wings from bough to
 bough."
 AS he read he strolled on, and a gentle murmur caught his ear. The undergrowth was thick. and a voice came from beyond. He parted the branches and gazed into a small clear. ing.
 At the foot of huge beech tree sat a girl, her knees drawn up, her arms straight down, the palms of her hands fiat upon the messy ground. Her head was tilted back, and with her eyes shut she was speaking low and continuously.
 At first he took no note of the words, for he was too keenly appreciative of this beings delicious harmony with her present surroundings. She was one with all the beauty of this most beautiful prImeval forest.
 She was dressed in a green gown, of no fashionable cut, but such as might have been worn by Greek maiden or so it seemed to him-and the color set of to perfection her olive skin. Her mouth, with its c,ear-cut lines and tilted corners. recalled a faun to his delighted gaze.
 At last the longing to see her eyes overcame him: for moment she was silent, and he spoke:
 Forgive me for interrupting, but does this paper belong to you?"
 She opened eyes gray and uncon- cerned.
 "It does; how did you get it?"
 "It floated down the stream to me. and, hearing voice near by, l brought it on the chance"
 'T'm glad it was not lost; put it in that book, will you?" and she pointed to an open book few yards distant. The man pressed through the bushes and. picking up the book, laid the pa per carefully between its leaves.
 "One of my favorites," he said quiet ly.
 "Is it?" said she. "To my mind, Theocritus is one of the few who seems to have written with reed on papyrus plucked straight from the brook He will bear to be brought out into the air"
 When I'm reading him I always taste honey and smell thyme and
 
 An, I perceive the gods have opened your eyes" the faun-like mouth widened into a smile. Sit down and talk to me"
 For a moment a little shock ran through the mans conventional being.
 "I had lost my way and was going to ask you how to get on to the high road again." he said.
 A look of comprehending amuse- ment shot from the girls eyes. and he sat down hastily. With perfect se- renity, she added:
 And you are thinking I am dread fully unconventional. but do you not know that this is the Greek Dodona and I am the high priestess who in terprets the oracle by rustling leaves and eddying brook?'
 And what am I?" he queried.
 Are you a hunter?" she asked.
 "Whenever I get the chance"
 "Then you shall be Acteon."
 But remember my awful fate.'
 Your fate has not yet come upon you-and think of the splendid time he must have had first"
 "In that case, of course, you are Diana"
 "If we ever meet again perhaps 1 may be. but today I am tie priestess of Dodona. and, by the rustling of the leaves. find your way lies to the left, till you get to the moor. when you will find a white track. which will lead you to your destination. Farewell, Acteon." Farewell, Priestess," and he rose to his feet.
 Almost before he had turned away she was deep in the book again. Next day Acteon found himself wandering towards the same spot. l The natural temple was deserted and he sat down with his back to the tree l against which he had leant on the | previous day.
 With his minds eye he co:,,d see | yesterdays picture; indeed. It haj | filled all his waking thoughts. He re membered the paper he had picked | up-one of the parts of an Idyl of | TheocIitus which the girl was evi- dently studying Could she be an ac- | tress? He scorned the idea-actresses | don't take part in Idyls by Theocri- | ,,, put bor Uoup7 Was she a diSci- |