The Washington times., 1923-03-04

clean as the sea.
Cassandra looked back at the
young man. She could not have
helped doing so, even if there had
been any reason why she should
not. He was tanned, dark haired,
wide shouldered. His dingy wine
red tunic was in ribbons from
shoulder to waist, exposing his
chest and back.
The young man smiled. You're
not seasick now" he said.
His voice was friendly, quiet,
simple. It was apparent that he
spoke as one human being to an
other.
She answered him instantly.
81 haven't been seasick-only
my head ached at first. I'm hum
CRY now" She held out toward
him one of the honey cakes she
had bought. would you like
one?" she asked.
The young man looked silently
at her for a moment, still smiling
in the curious, grave way he had.
Then he rose to his feet and came
three steps toward her-nearly the
full length Of his chain, went down
on one knee, took the honey cake
and then stretched himself on the
planking in the sun-scarcely
yard from her.
Have you enough left for your
self" he said.
"Oh-plentym said Cassandra.
When he had eaten the cake she
offered him more, lut he refused.
Regarding the grapes, she was in
sistent, and they shared the clus-
ter between them.
+ II haven't tasted grapes since |
came aboard this ship" said the
young man.
what do they give you? 7"
"Black bread, onions. Some
times little cheese or dried fish"
"Do you--do you hate this life
very much?"
II hate anything that is not
freedom.
The set of his mouth hardened
until the firm and even lips might
have been cut from metal. He
said nothing further, gazing past
the girl in brooding fashion, as
though his sense of sight were
turned inward.
There was silence between them
for several minutes. In Cassan-
dra sudden upward rush of feel
ing struggled for expression. She
was aware of the traces of tears
upon her face as though they were
fresh scalds. Her breasts tight
ened.
"I'm-I'm a slave, too" she
said suddenly. Her voice choked.
Her eyes brimmed over and the
tears rained down. They were
large tears, burning hot. She put
her hands up to her face and spoke
rapidly-chokingly.
"Our-our town wouldn't pay
the Roman taxes. They were .
dreadful .taxes-unjust. So the
Romans came, and - and they
killed number of our men, and
every one else-every one in the
town-was sold as a slave to pay
the tax money. | lived with my
aunt and uncle and my cousin,
Lais. We had slaves of our own,
and garden with a fountain and
orange trees and a tame peacock.
Oh, wish | were dead! If had
knife I'd kill myselfw
But down deep, in the very core
of her being, Cassandra knew that
she would not kill herself.
Life was life, and the sun
warmed plank beneath her was
good to sit upon; and the blue of
the salt water was as beautiful as a
dark jewel; and the smell of the
wind made one cheerful and hun
CRY; and it was strange and pleas
ant to talk to a young man with
grave eyes of an indescrib; IL
agate-gray. Never before had
Cassandra talked alone with any
man, for her relatives had been
people with old-fashioned ideas,
and the existence of a young girl
in their strict, chastely appointed
house had conformed very nearly
to that of vestal. But the hot
tears dripped between her fingers
and the taste of them was bitter
on her lips. She. felt as if she
could exhaust her very life in
great, shaking sobs, and wished to
do so.
There was a movement near
her. An arm slid very gently be-
hind her shoulders. lnvOluntarly
she yielded trifle to it. Her vio-
lent sobbing lessened.
what is your name?" said the
young man.
"Cassandra."
"Mine is Evan"
"Evan--I like it. It's not Latin
or Greek"
"My mother was neither Latin
nor Greek. She gave me my
name"