Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-03-16


ness to himself was actually startling.
Startling weird--like an incantauoR
were Yasmini's words when at last she
spoke.
"Muhammad lied He lied In bis
teeth His sons have multiplied his
lie 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 Ia a
wheel Yet. what knew the Buddha of
the wheelf He who spoke Of Dharma
1.-THE customs Of the law not knowing
Dhnrmal This Is true-of old there
was wish Of the gods-of the old
gods, And SO these two were, There
is wish again now Of the old gods.
So, are we two not as they two weref
1t Is the same wish, and lol We are
ready, this man and |. We will obey,
We gods--ye old godsp'
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" she prayed Dear old
gods-older than these 'HIlls'-show
me in a vision what their fault was
why these two were ended before the
end
II know all the other things We have
shown me. know the worlds silly
creeds have made 1t mad, and 1t must
rend itself, and this man and / shall
reap where the nations sowed--if only
we obey Wherein. We old dear gods.
who love me, did these two disobey?
pray you, tell me in a visionl"
She shook her head and sighed. Sad
ness seemed to have crept over her.
like cold mist from the night. II
was as IL she could dimly see her
plans foredoomed, and yet hoped on In
spite of II. The fatallsm that she
scorned as Muhammad's lie held her
In Its grip, and her natural courage
fought with 1t. Womanlike, she turned
to King In that minute and confided to
him her very inmost thoughts. And he,
without an inkling as to how she must
fail, yet knew that she must, and pitled
her.
Have you seen that breast under
the armor?" she asked suddenly.
Come nearerl Come and look! Did
she kill him? Was that a dagger-stab
In his breast? / found perfume In
these caves--great Jars Of 1t, and use
1t always. think that scent la the
preservative. Athelstan--lIstenl I
think he would have failed herl I
think she stabbed him rather than see
him fail, and then swallowed poison
Afterward their servants laid them
there. She smiles In death because she
knew the wheel win turn and that
death dies tool He looks grim be-
cause he knew less than she. II Ia nj.
ways woman who understands and
man who falls think she stabbed
him. She should have loved him bet
ter, and then there would have been
no need. will love you better than
she loved hlml"
She turned and devoured him with
her eyes. 80 that II needed all his man
hood to hold him back from being her
slave that minute. For In that min.
ute she left no charm unexercised---
sex mesmerism -- beauty fiattery
Cher eyes could fiatter as a dumb dogs
fiatter huntsman) grace unutterable
--mystery--she used every art on him
she knew. Yet he stood the test. 1
Even If you fail me, well-beloved,
I will love you The gods who gave
you me will know how to make you
love; and lessons are to learn. If you
fail me ! will forgive. knowing that In
the end the gods will never let you fell
mel You are mine, and earth is ours.
for the old gods intend IL sow
She seemed to expect him to take her
In his arms again; but he stood re-
specially and made no answer, nor
any move. Grim and strong his jowl
was. like the Sleeper's, and the dark
hair three days old on It softened moth
Ing Of Its lines. His Roman nose and
steady, dark, full eyes suggested no
Yet he was good to look
at. She had not lied when she said
she loved him, and he understood her
and was sorry. But he did not look
sorry, nor did he offer any argument to
quench her love. He was servant OF
the raj; his life anc his love had been
midas since the day he first buckled
on his spurs, and Yasmini would not
have understood that.
Nor did she understand that, even
supposlng he had loved her with all bis
heart, not on any conditions would he
have admitted 1t until absolutely free.
any more than that If she cruclfied him
he would love her the same, supposIng
that he loved her at all. Nor did she
trust the "old gods" too we'll, or let
hem work unaided.
"Come with me, Athelstan y she said.
She took his arm--found little jeweled
slippers In closet hewn In the wall
put them ON and led him to the cur
aims he had entered by. She led down
he steps, and at the foot told him to
out on his slippers, as If he we're a
hid. Then, hurrying as IL those opal
'yes of hers were Indifferent to dark
'r daylight, she picked her way among
powders that he could feel but not
tee, along floor that was only smooth
n places. for a distance that was long
'nough by two or three times to lose
lin altogether. When he looked back
here was no sign of red lights behind