Lilith
Lilith
Lilith
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An instant more and I should have reached them!−−in that instant I saw Lona lifted high, and dashed on the<br />
marble floor. Oh, the horrible sound of her fall! At my feet she fell, and lay still. The princess sat down with<br />
the smile of a demoness.<br />
I dropped on my knees beside Lona, raised her from the stones, and pressed her to my bosom. With indignant<br />
hate I glanced at the princess; she answered me with her sweetest smile. I would have sprung upon her, taken<br />
her by the throat, and strangled her, but love of the child was stronger than hate of the mother, and I clasped<br />
closer my precious burden. Her arms hung helpless; her blood trickled over my hands, and fell on the floor<br />
with soft, slow little plashes.<br />
The horses scented it−−mine first, then the small ones. Mine reared, shivering and wild−eyed, went about,<br />
and thundered blindly down the dark hall, with the little horses after him. Lona's stood gazing down at his<br />
mistress, and trembling all over. The boys flung themselves from their horses' backs, and they, not seeing the<br />
black wall before them, dashed themselves, with mine, to pieces against it. The elephants came on to the foot<br />
of the daïs, and stopped, wildly trumpeting; the Little Ones sprang upon it, and stood horrified; the princess<br />
lay back in her seat, her face that of a corpse, her eyes alone alive, wickedly flaming. She was again withered<br />
and wasted to what I found in the wood, and her side was as if a great branding hand had been laid upon it.<br />
But Lona saw nothing, and I saw but Lona.<br />
"Mother! mother!" she sighed, and her breathing ceased.<br />
I carried her into the court: the sun shone upon a white face, and the pitiful shadow of a ghostly smile. Her<br />
head hung back. She was "dead as earth."<br />
I forgot the Little Ones, forgot the murdering princess, forgot the body in my arms, and wandered away,<br />
looking for my Lona. The doors and windows were crowded with brute−faces jeering at me, but not daring to<br />
speak, for they saw the white leopardess behind me, hanging her head close at my heel. I spurned her with my<br />
foot. She held back a moment, and followed me again.<br />
I reached the square: the little army was gone! Its emptiness roused me. Where were the Little Ones, HER<br />
Little Ones? I had lost her children! I stared helpless about me, staggered to the pillar, and sank upon its base.<br />
But as I sat gazing on the still countenance, it seemed to smile a live momentary smile. I never doubted it an<br />
illusion, yet believed what it said: I should yet see her alive! It was not she, it was I who was lost, and she<br />
would find me!<br />
I rose to go after the Little Ones, and instinctively sought the gate by which we had entered. I looked around<br />
me, but saw nothing of the leopardess.<br />
The street was rapidly filling with a fierce crowd. They saw me encumbered with my dead, but for a time<br />
dared not assail me. Ere I reached the gate, however, they had gathered courage. The women began to hustle<br />
me; I held on heedless. A man pushed against my sacred burden: with a kick I sent him away howling. But<br />
the crowd pressed upon me, and fearing for the dead that was beyond hurt, I clasped my treasure closer, and<br />
freed my right arm. That instant, however, a commotion arose in the street behind me; the crowd broke; and<br />
through it came the Little Ones I had left in the palace. Ten of them were upon four of the elephants; on the<br />
two other elephants lay the princess, bound hand and foot, and quite still, save that her eyes rolled in their<br />
ghastly sockets. The two other Little Ones rode behind her on Lona's horse. Every now and then the wise<br />
creatures that bore her threw their trunks behind and felt her cords.<br />
I walked on in front, and out of the city. What an end to the hopes with which I entered the evil place! We<br />
had captured the bad princess, and lost our all−beloved queen! My life was bare! my heart was empty!<br />
<strong>Lilith</strong><br />
<strong>Lilith</strong> 116