SHORT STORY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 50

SHORT STORY.

♦ ■ TARADIANA.

(By a New Zealand Author in an English Magazine.) CHAPTER n. It seemed as if the whole populace of the city had assembled in the narrow street fronting the palace gate. Men, wdmen, and children, gesticulating, hustling, shouting, and imprecating, crowded round a low platform. At one end of it stood a mummied figure holding a crook and flail and wearing the crown of Upper Egypt, with an ostrich feather on each side.

It was Osiris, the greatest god in the Egyptian Pantheon.

At the other end stood a priest, clothed in the skin of a leopard, emblematic of his order.

Between the figure and the priest was a small temple, and attached to this a goat stood ready for the sacrifice. , The sacrificial ceremony was about to begin when Tara-diana reached the outskirts of the crowd. Looking to neither right nor left, she passed in among the people, and they instinctively fell back before her, leaving an opening tlirough which she proceeded to the temple. "It is Taradiana," whispered one whose long hair, falling in • plaits about his shoulders, 'indicated that he belonged to the better classes, and who had probably seen Taradiana in the palace. "And what does sweet Taradiana here?" queried the leopard-priest in a tone that conveyed his resentment at the interruption to the ceremony. Taradiana ascended the platform. She fronted a sea of faces, and when it was seen that she was about to speak, the clamour ceased.

'*I am here, Sir Priest, to denounce you and your hypocrisy," she said, ' to burst aside the bonds of your idolatrous tyranny, and to lead these unfortunate beings to freedom and light.' Meanwhile the priest had disappeared. Hardly had Taradiana ceased speaking, however, when there was heard the measured tread of soldiers, and the bright helmets and short coats of plate-mail peculiar to the Body Guard of the King appeared :n: n the distance.

At this demonstration the rabble quickly dispersed, vanishing through courts and doorways, where they could defy the search of the soldiers.

The officer in command was a young mn. He seemed somewhat unaccustomed to the position he occupied ; and his manner betokened embarrassment. Besides wearing a gay uniform, he differed from the other soldiers in that he wore a moustache and beard, whereas they were all clean shaven. " Seize the infidel ! " cried he of the leopard skin, who had reappeared with the soldiers. " She who would defy the gods must die. Away with her to "the palace dungeon ! "

The officer maintained silence, but at a motion from him two soldiers came forward and seized Taradiana, who was conducted through the streets into the palace grounds.

So rapidly had events occurred, that Taradiana hardly had time to consider her position before she was thrown inte the dungeon attached to the castle. The atmosphere was foetid, and v»he whole surroundings repulsive in the extreme. On Taradiana, however, they had no effect. Her mind was too active, her sensibilities too highly strung, for her to consider these things. Seating herself . on the bench, she endeavoured to calmly review her position. She did not, on reflection, regret her action. On the contrary, she felt a fierce glow of happiness to think that the initial step had been taken m what she believed a great mission. The possibilities of the future made her heart beat madly. Torture? Yes ; but could she not bear it with fortitude,' well knowing that for every twinge of pain by-and-bye she would be rewarded with her full of spiritual pleasure.

Occasionally, it is true, her thoughts would dwell on Prince Sensuphis and his sorrowful but handsome countenance.

But that was weakness, and she cast it from her. Were her selfish feelings to interfere with her glorious mission to mankind? No, a thousand times no ! Smother the thought, and trample out the fitful flame of passion. Come weal, come woe, her promise made to Saidie so many years ago mast be fulfilled.

From the great hall the sound of revelry, dimly audible in the distance, entered through the grating of the cell and disturbed her thoughts. Then the sound grew fainter and fainter, and died away altogether. The feast was over.

The palace and all about it were still — except for the tramp of the armed guard, and soon that too died away in the dead monotony of the night. On the side of the wall opposite to that at which Taradiana crouched the moon's rays played strange freaks of fancy, and her attention was attracted to> them, despite her preoccupation. . A large stone in the centre of the wall seemed to bulge forth in an unaccountable manner.

It began to vibrate as if struck from behind with a blow. Then, swaying to 7,nd fro. it fell with a crash at her feet.

The ruddy glaie of a torch illuminated the cell, and disclosed in the aperture a dusty figure hardly recognisable as that of the bedizened young officer 3f che preceding day, who, however, it was.

Without .epeakine, hnz with the greatest deference of manner, he entered .he dungeon, placed ou the -liioic it Kn.s niAi-tle with hood attached, and motioned Taradiana to enrob* herself in it. When she had done so he indicated that he wished her to follow him, and, extinguishing the torch, he entered the aperture.

They groped their way along a damp and narrow subterranean passage for a few yards. Presently light was admitted, and, partiryj a jjiece of dense foliage .in their Batik

they stood in the pale moonlight of the palace gardens. The measured tread of footsteps was heard. It was the palace guards going their rounds. The officer uttered a low exclamation. What did the palace guards there at that hour, when by actual reckoning they should be on the other side of the palace? They now appeared in sight, marching for the spot where the officer and Taradiana stood in the shadow of the trees.

" The secret opening to the cell is here," said one who acted as guide, and whose voice the listeners recognised as belonging to the leopard priest. " Ha ! " he ejaculated, as his ferret eyes peered into the foliage. "It is as I surmised. By Osiris, we are none ,too soon. And, guards, you have not only one, but two prisoners ; for, if I mistake not, here also is our gay young officer of the body guard." The captain of the Palace Guards advanced and demanded that the pair surrender.

The young officer vouchsafed no reply, but his sword leapt from its scabbard, and immediately the night resounded with the sound of clashing steel as the antagonists met in combat.

Both strong, agile, and skilful, they were well matched. For some time neither gained an advantage ; but at last the officer, seeking to secure the benefit of a momentary pause, lunged forth, missed his footing,- and fell. In the scuffle a long^ veil worn by him over his helmet was disarranged, and as he lay on the ground there glistened in the moonlight just above -his forehead the jewelled figure of a wasp, the emblem of royalty. The weapon of the captain, poised to give the fatal thrust, ..was arrested in mid-air. The young officer on his part saw that to further hide his identity would be impossible, and, tearing off false beard and moustache, he disclosed the features of the newly-crowned King. "The prisoner is in my charge," he said on rising. "You may withdraw your men, Sir Captain — and take with you yonder meddling priest." The captain of the guard saluted, and the soldiers withdrew

Meanwhile Taradiana had watched the rapidly-occurring events with the keenest interest. Sensuphis now approached, and kneeling before her and taking her hands in his, once more implored her to abjure her dangerous doctrine and be to him queen and wife.

Taradiana was visibly affected, but she sadly shook her head. " !Nay," my Lord, "it cannot be," was the only reply sne made.

CHAPTER UI.

The events recorded- in the previous chapters had not occurred many years before the renown of Sensuphis the Great spread throughout Egypt. From one kingdom to another the "Warrior King" led his victorious army. Memphis iell, Tanis and Bubastis were laid waste, and the Eelphantines penetrated into Silsilis and Thebes. No officer in the army was as diligent in all respects as the King ; none engaged in the fray with greater zest than he. ■ He seemed to court danger, and, indeed, to be the most unhappy of men when left to his own resources

Where the fight was .thickest, there his crest was seen, and in the heat of battle it was his stentorian voice that was heard urging on the warriors to deeds of heroism. But whenever peace prevailed, he fell into frequent fits of abstraction, and his manner became moody and morose. The army was returning from the wars one day when a special messenger from the palace reached the King with the news that an incipient rebellion had broken out among a fanatical section of the people. The King, who happened to be in one of his despondent moods, decided to march against the rebels and stamp out the disaffection once for all.

With this object in view, he detached a small force from" his army and ordered the messenger — a priest — to conduct him as cxpeditiously as possible to where the rebels were gathered together. The priest was evidently well acquainted with the locality, for he did not nesitate or show the slightest signs of want of confidence. It was not, however, until they had travelled many miles through the desfert, and until the night was beginning to fall, that a halt was called.

They had reached 'a~ high eminence, which overlooked a long, narrow ravine. The priest indicated that in this ravine the rebel band was wont to meet and discuss plans for raising an insurrection. While the King and some of his officers were yet discussing the probable extent of the disaffection lights became visible. They gathered from various quarters, and ultimately formed a circle in the centre of the ravine.

All this was done in silence.

After a hurried consultation, it was decided to descend stealthily, surround the vebels, and then make an onslaught, so that none should escape.

The word was given, and the troops began the descent of the hill side. They were led by the priest, while the King followed in the rear with a few of his officers.

Up to the present not a sound had been heard.

But now those below broke forth into a tuneful refrain, accompanied with flute, harp, and drum.

The still night air wafted the words up to There the King was standing Sadie's boundless empire, Realms of pure delight, Love and Truth and Justice Hand in hand iimte. The words brought to che memory of Sensuphis a ilood of recollections. After he* escape (by his instrumentality) Taiadinna had gone forth, no one knew whither. Throughout the- length and breadth 01 the land he had sought her, but to no purpose • and at last he had desp?ired of ever seeing her again. The name of Saidie, and the theme A the hymn sung by the people he was about to attack vow. convinced him iheve were those who could give information that might lead 10 the -ecovery of her .vhom he had nerffi ceased to lora.

Indeed, might not Taradiana herself be there? The thought came upon him like a- flash, and he paused for a moment in contemplation. But the troops quickly but) silently pressed on in front. A moment later the sounds of strife arose, and the hills re-echoed the cries of despair as the band of worshippers fell beneath the swords of the soldiers. None escaped. The disaffection was completely stamped out, and with it-ended the life, but not the work, of Taradiana.