The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1921-03-25

assembled hordes.
''rhe egg from which came was
hidden beneath a great glass vessel
upon the highest and most inaccessible
OF the partially ruined towers Of an
cient Thark. Once each year my moth
er visited 1t for the five long years II
lay there In the process of incubation.
She dared not come oftener. for In
the mighty guilt Of her conscience she
feared that her every move was
watched During this period my IN
Their gained great distinction as a
warrior and had taken the metal from
several chieftalns. His advance was
rapid and he soon stood high In the
councils of Thank. But one day he was
ordered away upon a long expedition
to the ice-clad south, to make war up
on the natives there and despoil them
OF their furs.
"He was gone for four years, and
when he returned all had been over
for three for about a year after his
departure. and shortly before the time
for the return Of an expedition which
had gone forth to fetch the fruits OF
q community incubator, the egg had
Matched. Thereafter my mother con.
tlnued TO keep me In the old tower.
visiting me nightly and lavIshlng upon
me the love the community life would
have robbed US both OF.
"She taught me rapidly the language
and customs OF my kind, and one night
she told me the story have told to you
up TO this point, lmpresslng upon me
the necessity for absolute secrecy and
the great caution must exercise after
she had placed me with the other
young Thanks to permit no one to guess
that was further advanced In edu
cation than they and then drawing me
close TO her she whispered In my ear
the name OF my father.
"And thHu = light flashed out upon
the darkS.a.e Of The tower chamber.
and there sjs,od Sarkoja, her cleaning
baleful eyes fixed in frenzy Of loath.
Ing and contempt upon my mother.
That she had heard the entire story
was apparent, and that she had sus-
pected something wrong from my
mothers long nightly absences from
her quarters accounted for her pres.
ence there on that fateful night.
"Sarkoja FASTENED to Tai HaJus to
report her discovery, and while she
was gone my mother. wrapping me in
the silks and furs OF her night cover
ings, so that was scarcely noticeable,
descended 10 the streets and ran Wild
ly toward the outskirts OF the city. In
the direction which led TO the far
south, out toward the man whose pro-
lection she might not claim. but on
whose face she wished TO look once
more before she died.
"As we neared the clty's southern
extremity a sound came TO us from
across the messy fat, from the direc-
tion Of the only pass through the hills
which led 10 the gates. the pass by
which caravans from either north or
south or east or west would enter the
city. My mother from her hiding
place saw that the expedition was the
returning caravan bearing the young
Thanks. Instantly her plan was
formed, and as a great chariot swung
close 10 our hiding place she slipped
steathlly In upon the trailing tail
board crouching low In the shadow Of
the high side, stralning me TO her
bosom In a frenzy of love.
"She knew, what ! did not. that
never again after that night would she
hold me To her breast, nor was II like
ly We would ever look upon each 9th
ers faces again. In the confusion OF
the plaza she mixed me with the other
children. whose guardians during the
Journey we're now free to relinquish
their responsibility.
IL never saw my mother after that
night. She was Imprisoned by Tai
Hajus. and every effort, including the
most horrible and shameful torture,
was brought 70 bear upon her 20 wiring
from her lips the name OF my fathers;
but she remained steadfast and loyal.
dying M last amlds, the laughter Of
Tai Hajus aud his chieftalns during
some awful torture she was under
going.
IL learned afterward that she told
them that she had killed me 10 save
me from a like fate AT their hands. and
that she had thrown my body 10 the
white apes. Sarkoja alone dlsbelieved
her, and feel to this day that she sus-
poets my true origin, hut does not dare
expose me. NJ the present, at all
events, because she also guesses, ] am
sure, the lGcy',iy II my father.
"When hu returned from his expedi.
ton aud learned the story al my moth
er's fate was present as Tai Hajus
told him; hut never by the CULVER OF
muscle did he betray the slightest emo
tlon only he did not laugh as Tai Ha-
jus gleefully described her death
struggles. From that moment ON he
was the cruelest OF the cruel. and !
am awaiting the day when he shall
win the goal OF his ambition, and feel
the carcass OF Tai Hajus beneath his