The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-19
THE CROSS OF KAZZA
Chapter II.

the basin OF the fountain, then a
flash of yellow through the bushes
and a man came into view. He
saw the Princess shrink back as
though from a deadly snake. What
could it all mean?
The man that had come through
! The bushes was evil to look upon
lie was a large man dressed in
brilliant yellow velvet. on his feet
were yellow sandals, and laced
around his massive. bare legs. His
huge arms were folded around his
chest and tangled black coarse
/ hair hung nearly to his waist,
small evil black eyes looked pierre
ingly from under shaggy eyebrows
/ and his thick, coarse black beard
was nearly as long as his black
hair. On the black hair sat jaunty
yellow velvet cap of the same mate
rial as the clothes and a long yell
low plume hung over one shoulder
| from the cap.
! Taxa heard the Princess Eya's
musical voice now hoarse with fear
saying:
80, Tia, thou hast returned once
more to torment me. oh, why didst
thou return? l thought perchance
the sea had claimed thee as her
own. A much better place for thee
whence thou would sin no more, oh
son of Satan"
Then the mans voice hoarse and
low: "a pretty speech my dear,
so unlike thyself. Thou seemest
to be SO glad over my arrival. l
thought perchance l would be well
coined at the castle gates with a
chorus of beautiful maidens play
ing on golden harps." And the
man smiled eVilly.
The Princess continued, her
voice strained and low:
"Ta, if my father knew of thee
he would kill thee without mercy.
Thou hast no claim on me. If had
only told father all at first, thou
wou!dst not stand hooking and
jeering me now"
Don't be so proud, my dear,
thou knowest thy father wouldst
never forgive thee if told him |
was thy h" The Princess
had put her small white fingers
over the mans mouth to shut out
the rest of the sentence. The man
only smiled and said: Don't be
afraid Eya, no one is near to hear.
Now give me a kiss and | will bid
thee farewell till tomorrow"
Nay" the Princess cried
shrinking back against the foun-
tain. Nay. thou hast tormented
my soul. but | would rather die
than kiss thy foul lips"
The man started towards her.
The Princess screamed and Taxa
stepped out, his blue eyes flashing.
The man stopped and Taxa said,
his voice full of anger: "Be gone,
evil one, before l call the guards
and have thee killed for the words
thou hast said to her Royal High
ness Princess Eya, Be gone | say"
But still the man never moved
and Taxa doubled his fists his blue
eyes hard and cold as steel, and
he moved quickly towards the man
who laughed his jeering laugh and
said:
who art thou who hast the tenn
per of a pirate and the face and
hair of a Sun God. Ask the
Princess, why l am here and if she
wishes me to leave will do So"
Taxa turned to the pale Princess
whose proud head was hanging
down and large tears in her black
velvet eyes Taxa said quietly.
Your Royal Highness, if thou
wishest me to put this evil one out
of the garden | will do so with
thy permission or shall | call they
father?"
At this the Princess's pale face
flashed with color and raising her
head said in a sad low voice:
Nay, Taxa, tell not father or all
would be ruined but" turning to
the man she said quietly and proud
ly:
ut would please me greatly i'll
thou wouldst leave my presence"
I4H ~ WI