Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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The Will of the Gods Mid-day in early fall gave its warmth and drowsiness to the little village at the font of the mountains. Higher uj tlu- slopes of the mountain a tickle breeze stirred the fields of growing maize. There was no sound except the occasional snatches of conversation that drifted from the huts. No men were abroad in the one narrow thoroughfare of the village. Therefore, no one saw a figure suddenly outlined against the blue of the sky as it paused on the summit of the mountain path and then ran down it toward the quiet town. As he came nearer, a woman, issuing from her doorway by chance, was the first of the place to spy him. She screamed shrilly, and from every door rushed forth men. hastily-snatched weapons in their hands, and women with children clinging to their skirts. The alarm-giver pointed. All eyes turned toward the solitary runner, then to the old man who had just stepped from the door of the largest hut in the village. They waited, watching. The runner approached swiftly, and it was observed that he was a Gaul and wore the scarlet shoulder-strap that betokened a messenger of the Great Chief. As the young man. for such he was, entered the village, the bearded head man advanced to meet him. The crowd closed around the two. The messenger's words were audible to all. “Subjects of Adiux. hear! A Roman. Caesar, he is called, has commanded our nation to pay tribute to Rome and to send him hostages. Our king has refused, and the Roman has marched into our territory with an army numerous as the locusts Our forces gather at the chieftain’s town, and according to the custom of our ancestors the sluggard who last arrives shall die bv torture.” A buzz and then a shout arose. The speaker and the chief pushed their way through the crowd to the door of the hut. and a few moments later, having given the old man a private message from the king, the messenger proceeded upon his way to the next village. He left behind him a turmoil. Some of the men were away on a hunting trip. Among the absentees was the young Meliorix. son of the village chief, lie had gone into the forest alone, and no one knew where to find him. The other hunters were encamped half a day's journey away they could be warned. But Meliorix lie had told no one of his intentions, and often the young man spent days at a time in the forest. The time was short. To send some one to attempt to find him was useless, as well as dangerous to the messenger. since the village was one of those farthest from the rendezvous and every hour ought to he spent on the journey . Night came, and with it came the other hunters. Meliorix did not come. The old chief sat in his hut and waited—waited and prayed Odin to rescue I'afic

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“iMa am. 1 he startled boy turned with a guilt face as lie suddenly remembered his bare legs. Billy, what on earth were you doing just now?” “Nothing.” “Nothing, and then as her gaze rested on his bare legs, “come here. il-liam. Ihdnt your father tell yoy you could not go barefoot today, (»o upstairs and wait for him.” Rosk KokEkts, ‘Mb A Peony Peeping over the wall at me. A peony, blinking its droll little eve at me. Saucy peony, Seeming to say. as it smiled at me. This peony, That it beckoned me, called me. then scorned me. Cruel peony! But when leaning coyly toward me. Sly peony. I plucked it and crushed it against me. This peony— Now it lies faded next to me, Poor peony! Paying the price of its lure to me. A peony. —Km m a Stockm ». I s- rape .‘wity-right

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CURRY LITERARY SOCIETY