Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-29
THE CHDED NAN
By CLIFFORD SMYTH

me listening throne moved uneasily. hlled
WIN vague premonitions of what was to
come Sajpona lifted her hands to the
STATUE. then smiled serenely at the two low
ers before her The spell was broken.
This is the ancient festival Of my people"
sne sald 1T should be time for rejotc-
ing. The Gided Man awaits us"
As she spoke the wells covering the statue
dropped one by one TO the ground Before
them stood. dazzling, glorious the figure Of
a man carved In gold. His head was up
nfted. as ~ intent on something beyond the
ordinary ken Of mortal. only the face was
clearly and sharply chseled the rest of the
figure-limbs. body. and flowing drapery-
blended together In ono massive pillar Of
flaming gold
The effect on the behoider Of this ex-
auisitely nodded shaft OF metal, upon which
the radium light from above sparkled and
mashed, was indescribable. The brilliance.
the lavishness Of It. savored Of barbarisrn (;
but the delcacy Of detail. the simple pathos
and exaltation portrayed in the face, had In
II an art that was Natures own. And the
wonder OF II, the miracle that caught all
mems eyes as they looked. was the likeness
that lived IN every feature. For this Gid
| ed Man. newly wrought to preside over the
last festival of this forgotten race; this one
final splendid piece Of work that summed up
all that was best and noblest in an ancient
art was a deathless portrait In gold Of the
man who stood before Sajipona. Of the man
upon whom she had built her hopes. ana
for whom she would sacrifice everything. II
was Davd-a queens tribute OF Immortal
love
Touched at heart, the living David knelt
at Sajiponas feet, pressing her robe to his
lips. A moment she stopped caressinsly
above him. whispering words that none--not
even he-could hear Then proudly she
stood before them. regarding those about
her with an eve that did not falter In It's
imperous glance.
As she finished speaking. Sajipona looked
again at David. unspoken grief In her eyes
| He stretched his hands to her. murmuring
her name, appealing to her. terror-stricken
by the stern look that slowly cverspread
her features, telling Of some great and tragic
purpose she was bent on carrying out. But
she was unmoved by his entreaties. Slowly
she turned away. Them beCkoning to the
priests. Saenzias and Omono. she disap-
peared with them behind the golden statue,
Those who remained breathlessly awaited
her return--the explorers restless and
anxious the caveman rapt in a sort Of reli-
gious ectasy. 1t was thus that their ancestors
had awaited the plunge of the Indian mon
arch into the dark silent waters Of the
| Sacred Lake.
And now high above them the thin wall
81 the palace roof was opened. without. the
| great sun of this underworld poured down
| it's radiance. Almost blinded. they could still
dimly see. standing just level with this
| sun, Sajipona arrayed became the last
descendant of the zipas. At her side were
| the two priests: but these retreated as the
| scorchng heat pierced them. For an instant
| she stood where they left her. vision Of
majestic beauty that fascinated and held
| them spebound Then, chanting an Indian
| song of triumph, the paean with which the
| ancient kings heraded their descent to the
| god beneath the waters of the Sacred Lake,
she cast herself into the globe of fire.
| A wave Of light famed across the upturned
! face Of the golden statue. a wall of mingled
| exultation and despair arose from the throng
| below
The Festival of the Gilded Man was ended.
| THE END.