The Pulaskian. (Pulaski Heights [Little Rock], Ark.) 1915-1929, 1918-03-29

queen. And from the new anglo f.o.- Il
which King saw him the Sleepers uka
ness to himself was actually startlIDs
Startling-weird-like an incantaHos
were Yasmini's words when at last sb.
spoke.
"Muhammad 1iedl He lied In HI.
teeth His sons have multiplied HI.
lie Siddhattha, whom men have callad
Gotama, the Buddha, was before Nm
hammad and he knew more! He told
of the wheel of things, and there Il
wheel! Yet, what knew the Buddha n
the wheel? He who spoke of Dharms
(the customs Of the law not KNOWING
Dharma This Is true-of old thers
was wish of the gods-of the old
gods. And so these two were. Ther
is a wish again now of the old gods
So, are we two not as they two were,
1t is the same wish, and loi We ara
ready, this man and 1. We will obey
We gods-ye old godsI'
She raised her arms and. going closer
to the bed, stood there in an attitude
of mystic reverence, giving and "a
ceiving blessings.
"Dear godsl - she prayed. Dear old
gods-older than these 'Hills'-shov
me in a vision what their fault was
why these two were ended before ths
end!
81 know all the other things ye have
shown me. know the worlds silly
creeds have made 1t mad, and it mus
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 visioni"
She shook her head and sighed. Sad
ness seemed to have crept over her
like a cold mist from the night. n
was as If she could diInly see her
plans foredoomed, and yet hoped on In
spite of 1t. The fatalism that she
scorned as Muhammad's lie held her
in its grip, and her natural courage
fought with it. 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 pitied
/ her.
"Have you seen that breast under
the armor?" she asked suddenly
"Come nearerl Come and look! Did
she kill him? Was that dagger-stab
in his breast? I found perfume In
these caves-great Jars of 1t, and use
it always. I think that scent is the
preservative. Athelstan-listen!
think he would have failed heri
think she stabbed him rather than see
him fail, and then swallowed poisoni
Afterward their servants laid them
there. She smiles in death because she
knew the wheel will turn and that
death dies tool He looks grim be
cause he knew less than she. 1t is al
ways woman who understands and
man who failsl I think she stabbed
him. She should have loved him bet
ter, and then there would have been
no need. I will love you better than
she loved him p
She turned and devoured him with
her eyes, so that it 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 - flattery
Cher eyes could flatter as dumb dogs
fatter huntsman)-grace unutterable
-mystery-she used every art on him
she knew. Yet he stood the test.
"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 fall
mel You are mine, and earth is ours
for the old gods intend 1t SOP
She seemed to expect him to take her
In his arms again; but he stood re-
spectfully 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 It's lines. His Roman nose and
steady, dark, full eyes suggested no
compromise. Yet he was good TO LOOK
at. She had not lied when she said
she loved him, and he understood hef
and was sorry. But he did not look
sorry, nor did he offer any argument TO
quench her love. He was a servant Oh
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
supposing he had loved her with all bis
heart, not on any conditions would ne
have admitted 1t until absolutely frea
any more than that If she crucified him
he would love her the same, supposins
that he loved her at all. Nor did sns
trust the "old gods" too well, or let
them work unaided.
Come with me, Athelstan |" she SAID
She took his arm-found little jeweled
slippers in a closet hewn in the wall
put them on and led him to the cur
ta1ns he had entered by. She led down
the steps, and at the foot told him TO
put on his slippers, as If he we're
child. Then, hurryi2g as If those opai