Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1918-08-01

sage Into the outer chamber: and the
Illusion was of walking behind gold
en,halred Madonna to some shrine of
Innocence. Her perfume was like In.
cense; her manner perfect reverence.
She passed into the cave where the
two dead bodies lay like high priest
ess performing rite.
Walking to the bed. she stood for
minutes, gazing at the Sleeper and his
queen. And from the new angle from
which King saw him the Sleeper's like.
ness to himself was actually startling,
Startling--weirsk-like an Incarnation
were YasInini's words when at last she
spoke.
"Muhammad lied! He lied in his
teeth! His sons have multiplied his
I've Siddhattha, whom men have called
GOtama, the Buddhn, was before Mu.
hammad and he knew more! He told
of the wheel Of things. and there is n
wheel! Yet. what knew the Buddha OF
the wheelf He who spoke Of Dharma
(the customs OF the law) not knowing
Dharma This Ii true--of old there
was a wish Of the gods---Of the old
gods. And 30 these two we,e. There
Ia wish again now Of the old gods
So. are we two not as they two WERE
II In the same wish. and 10! We are
ready, this man and I. We will obey
ye gods--ye old godsr'
She raised her arms and, going closer
to the bed. stood there In an attitude
Of mystic reverence, giving and re-
ceiving blessings.
"Dear gods I" she prayed. "Dear old
gods--older than these 'Elills'--show
me In u vision what their fault was--
why these two were ended before the
endi
II know all the other things We have
shown me. know the worlds silly
creeds have made II mad. and 1t must
rend itself. and this man and I shall
| reap where the nations sowed--if only
We obeyl Wherein, We old dear gods
who love me. did these two disobey4
pray you. tell me In vision!"
She shook her head and sighed. Sad
ness seemed to have crept over. her
like cold mist from the night. II
was as II she could dimly see hel
plans foredoomed. and yet hoped on In
| spite Of It. The fatalism that she
scOrned as Muhammad's lie held hel
In Its grip, ind her natural courage
fought with It, Womanlike, she turned
to King In that minute and confided t.
him her very ininost thoughts. And he
without M inkllng as to how she mus,
fail, yet knew that she must, and pitiet
| her.
Have you seen that breast under
! the nrmorf" she asked suddenly
| 'Come nearer! Come and look! Die
she kill him2 Was that dagger.stat
In his breast? found perfume n
these caves--great jars Of 1t, and use
II always. l think that scent Is tht
preservative. Athelstan---ltsten!
| think he would have failed her!
think she stabbed him rather than see
him fail. and then swallowed poison
| Afterward their servants laid then
there. She smiles In death because sht
knew the wheel will turn and thai
death dies too! He looks grim be
| cause he knew less than she. 1t Is al
ways woman who understands ant
man who fails! think she stabbed
him. She should have loved him bet
ter, and then there would have beer
no need, viii love you better thar
she loved hint"
| She turned and devOure1 him witt
her eyes, SO that II needed all his man
hood to hold him back from being hel
| slave that minute. For In that min
ute she left NO charm unexertiseti-
| sex mesmerism - beauty - flatter,
cher eyes could fiatter as dumb dog
natter huutsman)-grace unutterahie
--mystery--she used every art ON hin
she knew. Yet he stood the test.
Even II you fail me. well-heloved
! will love you. The gods who CAV,
| you me will know how to make 20,
love: and lessons are to learn. II Vol
fail me will forgive, knowing that IL
the end the gods will never let you fai
| me! You are mine. and earth Is ours
for the old gods intend II sol"
She seemed to expect him To take hc1
In his arms again: but he stood re
| spectfully and made no answer mo-
any rove. Grim and strong his lou
was. like the Sleeper's, and the iar
| hair three days oa0 on Ii Softenc1 .,ato