The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-18
IcOntiuued from Page IS)

ASEeNfSSrAD
temple Of Fortune. An oper
litter, carried by negroes, was
crossing the, square. An exquisite
woman with auburn hair reclined
In it, her white draperies edged
with purple. With one hand she
fondled tiny, sleek monkey that
covered beside her. On the toes
Of. her bare feet were rings set
with blue, green and biood-red
gems Involuntarlly Cassandra
turned her head across her shout
der, watching the passing of the
litter The bearers began to
mount the broad and shallow fight
Of steps before the temple whose
entablatlre was curved with cornu-
copias and smiling divinities bear
ing emblems OF pleasure and
abundance.
Gods! There were none! Or
only a vast, hateful Fate with
blind eyes and . smile like the
sphynx--a smile one wanted to
strike with ones clenched fistl
Cassandra's eyes had . dry glitter
She was breathing uneveniy She
no longer thought of death Death
was probably what this Fate mas.
ter had in mind for her Her
dumb frenzy Of revolt took another
turn. She would not die--she
would not be crushed under the
bEazen chariot wheels Of destiny!
Death was nothingness-a black
gulf like the pit Of the sea into
which Evan, the rowers and the
slave women had been drawn
down. Life was cruel - the edge
OF : bare sword, but It held
beauty. reckless pleasure, luxury
and the possibility Of moments in.
tense ~ the glare Of white fame.
She would fight against Destiny
against Fate, the blind sphynx
and grasp the fruit and flower Of
things. She would not 60 out intO
the dark conquered, frustrated
The tide Of life, of will. mounted
within her as though she were fac
ing an actual foe
Look ut her, sirsl White as
her mothers milk-flaWlessl A
bud that in twelve months viii be
perfect flower. What am
offered 70
Cassandra looked up. On the
suction block stood 3 naked girl
81 about twelve years Of age. Pale
golden ringlets fell to her waist.
Her hands were crossed over her
half -budded breasts and her knees
pressed together as though she felt
the chill Of the morning. A crowd
had gathered, and the slave dealer
stood forward, one arm lifted. He
wore the loose robe of o desert
Arab and his head-cloth was bound
with many coils Of camePs hair.
Several voices answered him.
Arms shot out. There was quite
babble of bidding, for the girl
was perfect and Of rare blond
ness. She was brought down from
the block, wrapped in a dark cloak
and led away. Others succeeded
her. At moments Cassandra paid
close attention, at others she was
preoccupied. She had tendency
to shiver, though she was not cold,
and her lips trembled.
White pigeons disturbed by the
increasing throng futtered up, inn
pearling the sculpture above the
temple of Fortune as they perched
among the carved garlands. The
myriad sounds of life, cheerful and
busy, rose from the market voices,
laughter, quarrelling, the cries of
porters and water carriers
Some one touched Cassandra. It
was an old woman, very sallow
with red, sore-looking eye-lids and
big silver crescents in her ears.
She cut the silk cords that bound
the girls wrists. Cassandra chaftd
them-they had swollen little.
"Get up, DEAR" and she helped
the girl to her feet, for she was
cramped. The auction block was
vacant Mechanically Cassandra
moved toward it, pausing at the
five rough steps that led up to if
as the old woman's gnarled hands
fumbled with the shoulder fasten-
ings of her loose garment. In a
moment she felt the water cool
ness of the air upon the barred
skin of her shoulders, back and
breast. The swift, desperate inn
pulse to stoop and gather the
slipped robe up about her shot
through her, but a queer aristo.
cratic streak of pride checked it.
1t seemed to her if any watcher
should perceive that she felt
shame, that would be the most
burning shame of all. Stepping
from the circle of her raiment AMI
with arms hanging straight at her
sides she mounted the steps and
stood upon the auction block
The claimant hustle of the mar.
kct was like the Indifferent mono.
logue of running water---the voice
Of the life stream. A number of
faces were upturned to Cassandra.
She looked beyond them rather
than at them, gazing straight be-
fore her under half-lowered lids
with an air of hauteur. Within
Lo~colF .Lo 1,,n;inJ h,,~nnJ onA