33 



THE HAPPY BEAUTY AND THE BLIND SLAVE. 



A SLAVE entered the chamber of lone. A messenger from 

 Glaucus desired to be admitted, 

 lone hesitated an instant. 



"She is blind, that messenger/* said the slave; "she will do 

 her commission to none but thee.^' 



Base is that heart which does not respect affliction! The 

 moment she heard the messenger was blind, lone felt the impos- 

 sibility of returning a chilling reply. Glaucus had chosen a 

 herald that was indeed sacred — a herald that could not be denied. 



" What can he want with me ? what message can he send ? '^ 

 and the heart of lone beat quick. The curtain across the door 

 was withdrawn, a soft and echoless step fell upon the marble. 

 And Nydia, led by one of the attendants, entered with her 

 precious gift. 



She stood still a moment, as if listening for some sound that 

 might direct her. 



" Will the noble lone," said she, in a soft and low voice, 

 " deign to speak, that I may know whither to steer these benighted 

 steps, and that I may lay my offerings at her feet ? " 



"Fair child,'' said lone, touched and soothingly, "give not 

 thyself the pain to cross these slippery floors, my attendant will 

 bring to me what thou hast to present ; " and she motioned to 

 the hand-maid to take the vase. 



" I may give them to none but thee," answered Nydia; and 

 guided by her ear, she walked slowly to the place where lone 

 sate, and kneeling when she came before her, proffered the vase. 



lone took it from her hand, and placed it on the table at her 

 side. She then raised her gently, and would have seated her on 

 the couch, but the girl modestly resisted. 



" I have not yet discharged my office," said she, and she drew 

 the letter of Glaucus from her vest. " This will, perhaps, ex- 

 plain why he who sent me chose so unworthy a messenger to 

 lone." 



The Greek took the letter with a hand, the trembling of which 

 Nydia at once felt and sighed to feel. With folded arms, and 

 downcast looks, she stood before the proud and stately form of 

 lone; — no less proud, perhaps, in her attitude of submission. 

 Tone waved her hand and the attendents withdrew ; she gazed 

 again upon the form of the young slave in surprise and beautiful 



VOL. VI. — 1835. E 



