THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SlirNDAY , FEBRUARY 13 , 1808 ,
THE DOOM OF ZIMBABWE ]
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD
( Copyright. IMS , by H. UMcr
AUTHOR'S NOTE.
The world Is full of mine , but few of thorn
liavo nil origin so utterly lost In mystery as I
those of Zimbabwe. Who built them ? What ,
purpose did they servo ? These are questions j
that must have perplexed many generations
and many different rucca of men.
The researches of Mr. Wllmot prove to us
Indeed that In the middle age's Zimbabwe or
JCImlioo was the Beat of u barbarous empire ,
whoso ruler was named the emperor of
Monomotnpa , and that for sonic jcars the
JcstiltH ministered In a Christian church
built beneath the shadow of Its ancient |
towers. Hut of the original purpose of thosn
towers and of the race that reared them , the
Inhabitants of mediaeval Moiiomotapa , It Is
probable , knew less uvcn than wo know to-
tiny. The labors and skilled observation of
the late Mr. Theodore Hent , whose death
la so great n IOFS to nil Interested In such
matters , have shown almost without doubt
that Hlmb bwo was en o an In'a d Phocn cian
city , or at the least a city whcao Inhabitants
wcro of a race which practiced Phoenician
customs and worshipped the Phoenician dei
ties. Ilcyond this , all Is conjecture. How
It happened that a trading town , protected
by vast fortifications and adorned with tem
ples dedicated to the worship of the godo of
the Sldonians or , rather trading towns , for
Zimbabwe Is only one of n group of ruins
\\ero built by civilized men In the heait of
lAftlcn. perhaps we shall never learn , though
the d'Bcovcry of their burying places might
tnrow tome light upon the problem.
.Meanwhile there Is ample room for specu
lation , both as to the dim beginnings of the
ancient city and Its still dimmer end , whereof
we can guess only that hordes of Invading
fcavagcs stamped It out of existence beneatli
their bloort-sialnrd feet , as In after genera
tions they stamped out the empire of
Monomopata. In the following romantic
fckelch the writer has ventured to suggest
incidents such as might have accompanied
thla first extinction of the I'liocnlclnn Zim
babwe. The pursuit , Indeed , Is one In
whlih ho can only hope to fill the place.of n
hunb'o plorecr ; since It Is certain that In
years to come the dead fortress temples of
South Africa will occupy the pens of many
generations of the writers of romance who ,
nu ho hopca , may have more ascertained f.icta
to build upon than are available toJay.
CHAPTER I.
Till : CARAVAN.
The sun ttat sliaio.upon a diy that was
fathered to the past omo 3.COO years ago waa
ttlnr ; In fu'.l glory over the exro'.iscs of
hOiithraUcrn Afrla , the Libya of the an-
clfiits , and Its last burning rays Till upon a
cavalcade of weary men , who , together with
long st' Inns of camels , as'csand oxen , after
much toll , had struggled to the crcjt of a line
of stony hills , where they halted to recover
bit.Uh. Ke.'ore them lay .1 plain clothed wll'.i
sere jellow grass , fo.- the season v.'a.-j winter
bounded by mountains of no great height ,
upon whose slopes stood the city which they
bid traveled far to seek. It was the ancient
e.ty Zlmboe , whereof 'the ' lonely vulns are
known to U3 moderns as Zimbabwe.
At the sight of Its flat-roofed houses , doml-
i.atcd by a huge circular building of dark
stone , net upon t'.ie side of the opposing hill ,
the caravan raised a gruU sh.ut of joy. They
fchouted In several tcngucs , In the tongues of
Phoenicia , of Egypt , of the Hebrews , of Arai i
Ma , and of the coasts of Afrlc.1 , for all theio |
people were ccprihcnted among Its numbirs.
Well might they cry out in their delight ,
seeing that at length , after eight months of
perilous traveling from the caaat , they beheld i
tMe walls of their city of rest , of the golden '
Ophlr of the bible. Their company had '
fctarted from the eastern port numbering 1,500
men , besides women und children , cud of j
these not more than half were left alive. :
Once a tavago tribe had ambuched them , |
killing ntany. Once the pestilential fever of
the lowlands had taken them so that they bad
died of It by scores , and twlco they > iad suf
fered heavily tl rough hunger and thirst , to i
ray nothing of tholr losses by the fangs of
lions , crocodiles cod other wild beasts with
which the country swarmed. Now their tolls
wcro over , and for six months , or perhaps a
year , they might rest In the great city , en
joying Its wealth , Its flesh pots , end the nn-
hply orgies wnlch amcng people of the Phoe
nician race were dignified by the immo of the
worship of the cods of herven.
Boon the clamor died auny , and although no
command wsa given , the caravan started on
nt speed. All weariness faded fiom their
faces , even the very cumcto and asses , worn
us most of them wcro to mere aXeletuiis ,
eeeincd to understand tint labor and blows
weio done with , and , forgetting their loads ,
t'jnmblcd unurged down the stony path. One
man llngcced , however. Clearly he wns u
person of milk , for eight or ten attendants
surrounded him.
"Go , " ho said. "I will follow presently. "
And they boned to the earth end went.
The man won young , five or six and twenty
years of age , perhaiu , and' his dark fikln ,
buiut almost to blackness by the heat of UK
EH n , together with the fashion of his short
square-cut board and of his gai incuts , pro
claimed him of Jewish or Egyptian blood
while the gold collar about hU neck and
thti sold giavi-ii ring upon his hrrid iihowcd
that his ixuik was high. Indeed , ' { hit
wanderer was none other than the Prlucv
Azlel , nicknamed the Evcrllvlng , because ol
n curious mole upon his shoulder , bearing a
rcacmblanco to the crux ansatn , the symbol
of life eternal among the Egyptians. Ily
birth ho was u grciutaon of Solomon , the
jnlghty king of Israel , born o ; a royal
mother , a princess of Egypt. In sUture ho
was tall , but somewhat sllmly made , having
small bones. His face was oval In shape ,
the featured being flno and deailtlve , ispo-
clally the mouth ; the eyca were largo , dark ,
and full of thought , the eyes of a man with
& destiny. For the most part , linked , they
wcro somber and overfull of thought , but
At times they could light up with a strange
fire.
fire.Azlcl
Azlcl , the prince , placed his hand against
Ms forehead In such fashion a. to iilmilo bin
oyrs from the rays of the setting sun , and
from beneith Us shadow gazed long and
earnestly at the city of the hill.
"At length I behold thee , thanks bo to
Dod , " he murmured , for ho was a wo chipper
of Jehovah , and not ( > . ' hta mother' , ! deities ,
"and It Is time , for , to speak the truth , I
am we ry of this traveling. Now what for
tune shall I find within thy walls , O , City
of Gold ami devil-servers ? "
"Who cm tell ? " said a quiet voice at his
elbow. "Perhaps , prince , jou will tlnd a
wlfu or a throne , or a grave , "
Azlcl started , and turned round to see u
man standing at Ills aide , clothed In robe *
that had been rich , but wcro now torn and
Etalncd with travel , and wearing u black
cap In shape not unlike the fez that Is com
mon In the east today. The man was of
middle age , having n grizzled beard , sharp ,
Jnrd features , and quick eyes , which withal
were not unkindly. He was a Phoenician
merchant of SJdon , much trusted by Hiram ,
the king of Tyre , who hid made him captain
of the merchandise of thla expedition ,
"Ah ! to It you. MctemT" said Azlel. "Why
do you leave your phargo to return to mo ? "
"That I uiay guard a more precious charge
yourself , prince , " replied the merchant ,
courteously. "Having brought the son of
Solomon so far In safety , I tlestre to hand
Mm Hafely to the governor of yonder city.
Your servants told mo that by your com
mand they hail left you alone , eo I returned
to bear you company , for after njghtfnll
robbers and savages wander without the
walls. "
"I thank you for your OTO , Mctem , though
I think tl.cro Is little danger , and at the
worst I can defend myself. "
"Do not thank mo , prince ; I am n mer
chant , and now , aa In the past , 1 protect you ,
knowing that I shall bo paid for It. The
governor will give me a great reward when
I lo d you to him safely , and when , In years
to come , I return with you still safe to the
court of Jerusalem , then the great king
will fill my ship's hold with gifts. "
"That depends , .Metcm , " replied the prince ,
"If my grcnJfathcr still rclgna. It may bo
so , but he Is very old , and If my uncle
wears his crown , then I am not sure. Truly
you Phoenicians love money. Would you ,
then , sell mo for Bold also , Mctem ? "
"I said- not so , prince , though even friend
ship has Its price " .
the air 111 tonco that would have been shrill
were they not BO sweet.
"What U that ? " whispered Azlcl to
Mctem.
"He silent , " answered the other In his car ;
"we have wandered Into one of the sacred
groves of Uaaltls , which is death for men to
enter save at the -festivals , and a priestess
of the grove chants her prayer to the god
dess. "
"We did not come of our own will , so
doubtless we should bo forgiven , " said \\zlel
Indifferently ! "but that song moves me.
What are the words of It. 1 can scarcely
understand them. "
"Prince , they are holy words that I have
little right to hear and none to repeat. She
sings of life and death , and she prays that
the goddras may touch her soul with the
wing of fire and make her great and give her
vision of the things that have been and that
' } . ' ' M&T *
ife ir - IS
" 0. QUEEN OF HFUVEN. HI3\R THE > PHAYEIl OF THY PRINCESS. "
"Among your people , Metem ? "
"Among all people , prince. You ro-
pieach ns with lov.iig money ; well , we do ,
slnje money gives everything ; for which
men strhe hon.r , an ! lace , and comfort , and
the friendship of kings. "
"It cannot give you lo\e , Mctem. "
The Phoenician laughed contemptuously.
"Love ! With gold I will 'buy as much of it
as you need. Are there no slaves upon the
market ? And no free women who desire
ornaments and feast an1 * the purple cf Tyre ?
You are young , prince , to say that gold can
not Tuy us love. "
"And you. Mctem , who are old , do not
understand wh'.t I mean .by love , nor .will . I
stay to expla.n It to you , for were my words
as wise as my grandslre Solomon's , still
you would not understand. At the least ,
your money cannot Tiring you the blessing
of God. nor the welfaie of ycur spirit In the
eternal life that is to come. "
"Toe welfare of my spirit , prince ? No , it
cannot , since I do not believe that I have a
spirit. When I d c , I die , > . .nd' there Is an
cid. : But the blessing of God , ah ! that
can be 'bought ' , as I have proved once and
again , If not with gold , then otherwise. Did
I not In 'bygone ' years pass the first son ot
my manhood through the fire to 'Baal- '
Sldon ? Nay , shrink not from me. It cost
mo dear , but my fortune was > -t stake and
better that thp boy should die than that all
of us shouH live on In penury and bonds.
Know you not , prince , that the goils must
have gifts of the best , gifts of blood and
virtue , or they will curse us and torment
us ? " , ,
"I "do " not know , Metem , for such gods
are no gods , but de'Vlls ' , children of Beelzc-
'bub ' , who has no power over the righteous.
Truly I would have none of your two gods.
Phoenician upon earth the god of gold , and
In heaven the devil of slaughter. "
"Speak no III ot him , prince , " answered
Metem , solemnly , "for here you are not la
the courts of Jehovah , but In his land , and
he- may chance to prove his power on yon.
For the rest , I 'had sooner follow after gol.l
than the folly ofi drunken spirit which you
name , love eceing that It works its votary
lea-j mischief. Say , now , It was love that
drove you hither , was It not , prince ? Well ,
be careful , lest love should keep you here.
"Tho sun has set , " said Azlel , coldly.
"Let ua go forward. "
With a bow and a murmured salute , for
his quick courtier instinct told him that he
had spoken too freely , Mctem took the bridle
of the prince's mule , holding the stirrup
while ho mounted. Then ho turned to
seek his own , but the animal hod wondered
and a full half hour went by before ho could
bo captured ,
Uy now the sun had set , and ns there Is
little or no twilight in iiouthern Africa , It be
came dlflleult for the two travelers to find
their way down the rough hill path. Still
they stumbled on till presently the long ,
dead grass brushing against their kueea told
them that they had lost their road. They
know. Indeed , that they -were riding In the
light direction , for the watch fires burning
en the city wal's wo o a guide to them. Soon ,
however , they lost sight of the fires , the
loughs of a grove of thickly leaved trees
hiding them from view , and In trying to
push their way through the wood Mctem's
mule BtumWed against a root and fell ,
"Now , there Is but one thing to bo done , "
said the Phoenician , as ho dragged the ani
mal from the ground , "and It Is to stay hero
till the moon rises , which It should do within
an hour. H were better , prince , had we
waited to dtsrurs love and the gods till we
were safe within the walls of the city , for
the end of U Is that wo have fallen Into the
hands of darkness , and he Is the father of
many evil things. "
"That Is so , " said the prince , "and I am
to blame for It. Let us bldo here , since wo
must. "
So , holding their mules by the bridles , they
eat down upon the ground and waited In
silence , fcr each of them was lost .In his
own thoughts.
1
CHAPTER IT.
THH GROVEOP BAAI/TJS.
Presently , as the two men sat thus si
lently , for the placa oppressed them , a sound
broke In upon the quiet of the night that ,
beginning with a low wall , such as might
come from the lips of a mourner , ended In
a chant or tons- The voice , which seemed
close at hand , was low , rich and passionate.
At times It tank almost to a sob. and at
times , taking & higher note , It thrilled upon
shall be ; more I dare not tell you. Crouch |
down , for the moon rises , and pray that the
mules may not stir. Piesently she will go
and wo can fly the holy place. "
The Israelite obeyed and waited , watch
ing eagerly.
Now the edge of the great moon appeared
upon the horizon , and by degrees her white j
rays of Ihjht revealed a strange scene to the
watchers. About an open space of ground , |
perhaps fifty paces In diameter , grew seven ]
I huge baobab trees , so ancient that their.
presence here must have been attributable
to nature rather than to the hand of man.
It was behind the trunk of one of these
, trees that Azlel and his companion were !
hidden with their mules , and looking round I
it they perceived that the open space beI I
! yond the shadow of the branches was not i
, empty. In the center of this space stood
an altar , and by It a rude figure of a divinity
carved in wood and painted. On Its head was
a crescent , symbolical of the moon , and.
round Its neck hung a chain of wooden stars. I
It had four wings , but no hands , and of these '
wings two were outspread and two clasped
to Its breast a shapeless object Intended
apparently to represent a child , symbols from
which Azlel knew that before him was a
figure sacred to the goddess of the Phoeni
cians who In different countries passed by j
the various names of Astarte or Ashtoroth '
take my life In payment. Speak to me from
the heaven above , or show mo some slRti
upon the earth beneath. ( Kill up the vcssul
of my thirsty soul and satisfy the hunger
of my spirit. Oh , thou that art the god ,
thou that hast the gift of power , give me ,
thy servant , of thy power , of thy godhe.U
and of thy peace. Hear me , or , heaven-
born , hear me , Elltsa , the daughter of
Sakon , the dedicate of thce. Hear , hear and
answer now In the holy hour , answer by
voice , by wonder , or by symbol. "
She paused as though exhausted with the
passion ot her prayer , hiding her face In her
hands , and , as she stood thus silent and
expectant , the sign came , or , at least , that
chanced which In after days she believed
to have been an answer to her Invocation.
Her face was hidden , therefore she could
not see , and fascinated , by her beauty as It
appeared lo them In that unhallowed spot ,
and by the depth and dignity ot her wild
prayer , the two watchers had eyes for hef
alone. Therefore It happened that not until
his arm was about her to drag her away
did cither of them perceive a huge man ,
black as ebony In color , clad In a cloak of
leopard skins , and having In his right hand
a broad-bladcd spear , who , following the
shadow of the trees , had crept upon the
priestess from the further side of the glade.
\ \ 1th a guttural exclamation of triumph , ho
gilpped her with his left arm , and , despite
her struggles and her shrill cry for help ,
bcsan halt to drag and half to carry her
townul the deep shade of the baobab grove.
Instantly Azlcl'and . .Metem sprang up and
lushed forward , drawing their bronze swords
whllo they ran. As It chaaccd , however ,
the Israelite caught his foot In one of the
numerous tree roots which stood above the
siface ol the ground and fell heavily upon
his face. In a fuw seconds , twenty , per
haps , ho found his feet again , to sec that
Metem had conic up with the black man ,
who , healing his appproach , suddenly wheeled
at omul to meet him , still holding the
snuggling priestess with his left arm. Now
the Phoenician was so close upon him thai
the savage could find no time to shift his
grip upon his spear , but drove at him with
the knobbed end of its handle , striking him
lull upon the forehead , and felling him as
n butcher fells an ox. Then once more he
turned to fly with his captive , but before
he had covered ten yards the sound of Azlcl's
appioachln ? footsteps eauteil him to wheel
round again.
At the bi ht of the Israelite advancing
upon him > \wth \ the drawn sword , the great
barbarian freed himself from the burden of
the girl by throwing her heavily to the
Rrotimi , where she lay , for the breath was
bl.-.ken out of her ; then snatching the cloak
from his throat he wound It over his left
arm to serve as a shield , and , with a savage
jtll ruslcd straight for Azlel , purposing to
trans.lx him with the "broad-headed speai.
Well was it for the- prince that ho had
been trained in sword play from his youth ,
also , that , notwithstanding h < s slight build ,
ho was strong and active as a locpard. To
await the onslaught would be to die , for the
spear must > plerco him Jbefore ever he could
reach the attacker's 'body ' with his shoit
sword. Therefore , as the weapon flashed up
ward , he sprang aside , avoiding It , at the
same time , with one sivift sweep of his
FworJ , klasMnff its holder acrcss the > back
is he passed him. With a howl of pain
and rage the savage- sprang round and
charged him a se-conxl time. As.In lAzlel
leaped to one side , but now he struck with
all his force at the spear shaft , which his
assailant lifted to guard his head. So
strong was the blow and so sharp the heavy
sword th.t It shore through the wood , sev
ering the handle from the spe'.r , wli.eh fell
to the ground. Casting away the useless
shaft the warrior drew a long knife from
his girdle anJi before Azlel could strike
again faced him for the third time. But
he no longer rushed onward like a bull , for
ho had learned caution ; ho stood still , holdIng -
Ing the skin cloak before him shield fashion
c.nd peering at his adversary from over the
edge of it. 'Now was Azlel's turn to take
the offensive , and slowly he d.rcled round
the huge barbarian , watching his opportunity.
At length it came. In uns.ver to a feint ct
his the protecting cloak was dropped a lit
tle , enabling him to prick Its bearer In the
neck , but only with the point of his sword.
Tiio thrust delivered , he leaped tack , and
not too soon , for , forgetting bis o.titlon In
his fury , the negro charged straight at
him with a roar like that of a Hon. So swift
and terrible was his onset that Azlcl , hav
ing no time to spring aside , did the only
thing possible. Gripping the ground with
"WITH A QUICK MOVEMENT OP HIS LEFT ARM HE SWBPT THE CLOAK ASIDE. "
or Daaltis , and who In their coarse worship
was the personification of the moon and the
emblem of fertility.
Standing before this rude object and be
tween it and the altar , whereon lay some
llowere , in such fashion that the moonlight
struck -full upon her , was a white-robed
woman. She was young and very beautiful ,
both In shape and feature , and even with her
black hair streaming almcst to he-r knees
she seemed tall. Her rounded arms were
outstretched ; her sweet and passionate face
was upturned toward the sky , and oven at
that distance the watchers could sco her
deep eyes shining In the moonlight. Her
song was finished , and now she was praying
aloud , praying from her very heart , not to
the Idol before her , however , but to the
moon above.
"O , Queen of Heaven , " she said , thou
whose throne I FCC , but whose face I can
not see , hear the prayer of thy priestess.
Oh , as thou flllest the night with light , so
fill the darkness of my soul with the wis
dom that I crave. Oh , whisper Into my ears
and let mo hear the voice of heaven , teach
ing mo that which I would learn. Read mo
the riddle of my life , show mo my destiny
and let mo know wherefore I am not an
my sisters are ; why feasts and sacrifice * de
light mo not , why I thirst for knowledge
and not for wealth , and why I crave such
love as hero I cannot win. Satisfy my
being with thy Immortal lore and love that
docs not fall or die , and it thou wilt , then
his feet , ho bent his lody forward , and ,
with outstretched arm and sword , braced
up his muscles to' receive the ch'.rge. '
Another Instant and the leoparJ skin cloak
fluttered before htm. With a quick move
ment of Ills left arm he swept It aside ; then
there came a sudden pressure upon hlt >
sword , ending In a jarring shock , a flash
of steel above htz head , and down ho went
to the ground beneath tno weight of the
bl' ck giant ,
"Now there Is an end , " ho thought ;
"heaven receive my spirit , " and his senses
left him ,
When they roturneJ again he perceived
dimly that a white-draped figure > bent over
him , dragging at tomethlng black -which
crushed hU breast. In her grief and fear
hot/blng as she dragged , Then he remem
bered , and with un effort sat up , rolling
from him the corpse of his foe for bin
b-word had pierced the giant through breast
and heart and beck. At this sight the
woman ceased her sobbing and said , in the
Phoenician tongue ;
"Sir , do you live ? Then the protecting
gods bo thanked , and to Uaaltls tbo Mother
I vow a gift of this hair of mine In grati
tude. "
"Nay , lady , " ho answered , faintly , "that
were pity , and if any , It'a ray hair which
should bo vowed. "
"You bleed from the head , " she broke In ,
"Say , stranger , arc you wounded ? "
"I will tell you nothing , " ho answered ,
with A smile , "unless you promise that you
will not offer up your hair. "
"So bo It , stranger , since I must. I will
give the goddess this gold chain Instead. It
la of. raoro value. "
' 'You would do better , lady , " said the
ehrlll voice of Mctem , nho now found hla
wits again , "to give the gold chain to me ,
whoso head has been broken In rescuing you
from that black thief. "
"Sir , " she answered , "It Is this young
lord who killed the man and saved mo from
worse than death , and ho ehall bo re
warded. "
"Listen to her , " sold Metcm. "Did I not
rush In first In my folly and receive what 1
deserved for my pains ? Hut I nm to have
neither thanks nor reward , who am but nn
old merchant ; they are for the young prince
who come after. Well , eo It ever wna ; the
thanks I can spare , and the reward I shall
claim from the treasury of the goddess.
Now , prince , let mo see your hurt. Ah. a
cut on the ear , no more , and thank that God
you worship It Is so , for another Inch and
the great vein of the neck had been severed.
Prince , draw out your sword from the car
cass of that brute , and then perhaps this
lady will guldo us to the city before his
fellows come to ecck him , seeing that for
one night I have had a stomach full of fight-
Inc. "
"Sirs , I will Indeed. U Is close at band ,
nnd my father shall thank you there ; but
It It Is your pleasure , tell me by what names
I shall make you known to him. "
"Lady , I nm .Metem , the Phoenician , cap
tain of the merchandise of the caravan ol
Hiram , king of Tyre , and this lord , who slew
the thief , Is none other than the Prince
Azlel , the twice royal , for he Is grandson to
Solomon , the glorious , king of Iracl , and
through his mother of the blood of the
Pharaohs of Egypt. "
"And yet he risked his life to save me , "
the girl murmured , astonished ; then , drop
ping to her knees before him , she touched
the ground with her forehead In obeisance ,
giving him thanks.
"nise. lady , " ho broke In , "because 1
chance to be a prince I have not ceased to
bo a man , nnd no man could have seen you
In such a plight without striking a blow In
your behalf. . "
"No , " added Motcm , "none , that Is , as yoi !
chance to be rich and young and lovely. Had
you been old nnd Uily ? and poor , then the-
black men might have carried you from here
to Tyre ere I risked my neck to stop him
or for the matter of that , t'.ie prince cither
though he will deny It. "
"Men do mot often show their hearts sc
clearly , " she answered with sarcasm , "bill
now , lords , I will guldo you to the city be
fore more harm befalls us , for this dcai
man may liavo companlonB. "
"Qur mules arc here , lady , will you nol
ride mine ? " aokcd Azlel.
"I thank you prince , but my feet will carrj
me. "
"And so will mine , " said Azlpl , ceasing
from a fruitless effort to withdraw his snort
from the breastbone oP the savage. "On such
paths they are safer than any blasts
Friend , will you lend my mule with yours ? '
"Nay , prince , " grumbled Melrm , "for S3
the world gos with the old ; you take Iho
fair lady fee company and I a she ae. Well
of the two give me the ars. "
Turn they started.
"How are you named , Mdy ? " said Azlel
"cr rather I need not ask ; you are Ellssa
the daughter ofSakon , governor ot Zlmbnc
are you not ? "
"I am bo called , prince , though bow yon
know It I 'Cannot guess. "
"I heard you name yourself , Kidy , in the
praycc- you made before the altar. "
"You heard my prayer , prince ? " s'jc s > ild
sterling. "Da you not know that It Is deatn
to that man who barkens to the prajcr of a
prlesieijs of Flaaltls uttered In her holy grove ?
Still , none know It E-JVC the goJdess , who ws
all , therefore I beseech you foe- your Mia
and the sake of your companion , say nothing
of it In the clly. "
"Certainly It would have been death to jou
! ad I not chanced to hear It , having lost m >
way In the darkness , " answered the prince
laughing. "Well , since I did hear It , I wll
add that It wan a beautiful prayor. revealing
a heart high and pure , though I grieve th-it It
should have been ofCcced to one v.hom I hold
to bo a demon. "
"I am hoiiared , " eho answered coldly ; "but
prince , you forget that , though you , being n
Jew , worship him they call Jehovah , or so 1
am told , I. being of the blood of the Sldon-
lans , worship the Lady Ilaaltls , the quneu
of heaven , the holy one of whom I am n
prieste.o.9. "
"So It Is. alas ! " ho said with a sigh. "Well ,
let ua not dispute of these matters , though
If you will it , the holy Issachar , the Levlte
who Is of my t'/aln , can set out the truth
of them to you. "
Ellssa made no reply , and for a while thej
walked on in silence.
"Wlio was that black robber whom I slew ? "
Azlel asked presently.
"I am not sure , prince , " she answered ,
hesitating , "but savages such as he haunl
the outskirts of the elty , fcceklng to etcal
whltowomen to bo their wives. Doubtless
he watched my steps , following me Into the
holy place. "
"Why , them , did you venture there alctic ,
lady ? "
"Crnnot Daaltls protect the priestess ,
prince , and did she not protect her ? "
"I thought , lady , that 1 had something
to do with the matter , " he ociowcrcd.
"Aye , prince , It was your hanJ that
struck the blow- which killed him , but Daal
tis , and no other , led jou to the grove to
rescue me. "
"I understand , lady. To c-avo you ,
Baaltls , laying aside her power , led a mortal
man to the * grove , which It Is death that
mortal man should violate. "
"Who ccn fathom the ways of the gods ? "
she replied , with patslcin , then added , aa
though reasoning with a new-barn doubt ,
"Dd ! not the goddess hear my prayer and
answer It ? "
"In truth , lady , I cannot say. Let me
think. You prayed for heavenly wisdom , but
whether or not you have gained It within
Ma last hour I do not Know. And then
you prayed for love , an immortal love. Oh ,
maiden , has It come to you since yonder
moon appeared upon the sky ? And you
prayed "
"Peace , " she broke In , "pwco , and mock
mo not , or , prince that you arc , I will make
1-nown jour crime In hearkening to the
prayer of a priestess of Daaltls. I tell jonI
I prayed for a symbol and a sign , and the
prayer was answered. Did not the black
giant spring upon me to boar mo away
to be his slave ? And U ho not a symbol of
the- evil and the Ignorance which are on the
earth , anO that would drag down the beauty
rod the wisdom of the earth to their own
level ? Then the Phoenician ran to rescue
me and was defeated , since the spirit of
Mammon cannot overcome the. black powoni
of III. Next yon came and fought hard cud
long till In the end j-ou slew the mighty
foe , you , the prince born ot the royal blood
of tbo world , " and she ceased ,
"You have a pretty gift of parable , lady ,
{ s It should be- with one who interprets the
oraclcu of a goddess , Hut you have not told
mo of what I , your servant , am the sym
bol. "
She stopped In her walk and looked him
full In the face- .
"I never hearJ , " she said , "that either
the Jews or the Egjptlans , being Instructed ,
were blind to the reading of an allegory.
Hut , prince , If jou cannot read this one ,
It Is not for me , who am but a woman , to
act It out to you. "
Just then their glances met , and In the
clear moonlight ho taw a wave of trouble
sweep over her dark and beautiful oj'ca , and
a faint flush appear upon her brow. Ho
caw , and something stirred at hla heart , that
till th's hour he had never felt , nnd of which
ove-n now ho know ho could never more bo
rid ,
"Say , lady , " ho asked , hla voice sink-
lag almost to > i whisper , "In this fable of
yours am I even for an hour deemed worthy
to play the part Of that Immortal love em
bodied which you sought no earnestly a
whllo ago ? "
"Immortal love , prlnco , " she answered In
a new voice , a voice low and deep , "Is not
for ono hour , but for all hours that ore and
areto be. You , and you alone , ran know
If you would dare to play such a part as
thU"
"Perchance , lady , there lives a woman
for whom I might dare It. "
"Prlnco , no ruch woman lives , since Im
mortal love must deal , not with the flesh ,
tut with the spirit. If a spirit worthy to be
thus lovi-d and worshipped now wanders In
earthly shape upon the world , seeking Its
counterpart and Its completion , I cannot tell.
Yet happy would It bo for such spirits wcro
It to , and should they chance to meet , for
then the answer to the great riddle would bo
theirs. "
Drown by an overmastering Impulse , Azlel
bent over her to inako reply , when suddenly
requirements are
perfectly met in
Wool Soap.
There may be
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the bath it is pleas
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There's only
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MY MAMA I WISH MINE must choose be
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round a bend In the path , but a few paces
from them , came a body of ( soldiers and at
tendants , headed by a man cad ! In a white
robe and walking with a staff. He was gray-
bearded and keen-eyed , thin In face and iis-
cote ! In appearance , with a brow of power
MiO bearing of great dignity. At the sight
of the pair he halted , looking at them woi-
derlngly , and with disapproval.
"Our searcli Is ended. " lie said In Hebrew ,
"for hero is he we seek , and alone with him
a h cat hen woman. "
"What do you here , Is-wer-ur ? " asked Azlel
somewhat confusedly , for the suddeu appear
ance of the Lcvltc disturbed him.
"What do I , prince ? Surely you can guese
the * youc absence has been noted. We feircd
lest barm should have come to you , or that
jou had lost your path , but It seems that you
have found a guide , " and he looked at hM
companion sternly.
"That guide , Issachar , " answered Azlel , "Is
none other than the Lady Ellssa , daughter of
Snkon , the governor of this city , and our host ,
whom It has becci my good fortune to rencue
from n woman stcaler yonder in the grove of
the goddess IJanltls. "
"And w'nom it was my bid fortune to try
to rescue In the said grove , as my broken
head bears witness , " added Metem , who by
now had come up , dragging the two mules
with him.
"In the grove of the goddess Baaltls ! "
broke In the Levlto with n kindling eye , and
striking the ground with his staff to em
phasize his words. "You , a prince of Israel
and n servant of Jehovah , alone In the pMce
of abomination with the priestess of a fiend ?
Fie upon you , flo upon you ! Would you t'.ien
also walk In th < - sin of your forefathers , and
so eoon ? "
"Peace , " said Azlel In n tone of command
"this Is no time or place for wrangling. "
"Between mo and UIOFO who follow ofter
false gods , or the womto who worship them ,
there Is no peace , " replied the old priest
fiercely.
Then , followed by all the company , ho
turned and t > trodo touard the gatca of the
city.
( To bo Continued. )
The pure Juice of the grape , no artificial
flavor In Cook's Imperial Champagne , extra
dry. Try It.
1 /
01,11 \MiVn MS II.VVH.
Will T. Hulo.
If there's n place that's icully bloys'il o'er
other ppotH of earth ,
'TIs that fur-off In momoryland where first-
love had Its birth.
And there tire tlnn. * lone hours , perhaps ,
lonjf after day hUH HeJ
When men look backi on tholr mistaken und
women have their ill-nil ;
And then may come- some faded face , and
in the firelight's shine ,
Ilecull the ago of poeny and of the valen
tines
The simple rhymes wo scribbled then return
In plain review-
Homo couplet old about "the rose. Is Hwcet ,
and co nro you , "
And nwor message ' , UIH HO fraught with
doting tenderness ,
And never htan set throbbing with eucli
Htrangely nwcet dlHtrrHi ;
And nil the 'world , I well recall to" " my eyes
u'onr ' divine
When off to 'I.lzn stealthily I went my val
entine !
We seldom wed our earliest love , but though
WH drift apart ,
A little eravo ta rounded up the Ilr t one In
the heart.
And , 'I.Iz.i , whcresoa'er you be If prized by
other eyes.
Or If beneath the fri'Hh. green Brass , be-
m-ath tlm old blno sklo'
t wonder If yon sometimes dream , as dors
UilH heart of mine.
Of other day ? , and' ' fulrer ways , and of the
vulenllnu ?
To Any Reliable Man.
Utrreloni appliance and rno month tr
of ruro puwtr will bo ecut UN tflut , nut/tout / anv
adtantt jHivmrtif , Ly ibe I reiuo i iximpinr In th
world In tba ttvulnieiilut turn uc.il. , Uok n , (111.
couriuied from efftcci of unreuti , worry , orer.
work , Ac. lUppr ioitrl > n ircurud. complete rc > -
toralluaor doielopmenluf nil rutiutt condltlum.
The tlma ot Inli offer u Iliullrd. No O. O. 1) ,
chemai no deception ) nn ciputurc. Aildroi
" " " " " " " "
64 NIAOAkA ST. ,
BUPPALO , N.y.
Wiiiter'sWinds
on face and hands produce the same r
suits an nn axe on t'io bnrk of a tree. Cuti
cle Is your bark , t'ncared for , It Is worse
than the proverbial blto And as It mould
be uncomfortable to guoid face and tiandl
by a substantial enclosure use
Rose and
Cucumber Jelly
That is belter than tt sheltering fence. It's
cheaper , not in the way , softens , soothes the
chapped ckln , removes redness and rou h-
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heads , Is not sticky. More , It flghte the
wind and cold of winter , it Is the best nr-
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cool , refreshing ' .ouch It prevents sore ,
cracked . kln. It heals nil pans exposed to
the chllllntr blasts of out doors ,
25 cents largo bottle and sold wherever
wind * blow.
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