Part 9 (1/2)

By the side of the sleeping hero stood the tall white figure of Athene At her feet yelloers broke out like little flarave eyes were bent full upon Ulysses

Perhaps he felt that unearthly majesty above him, for he turned and moaned in his sleep

The Goddess, like a statue of whitedown at hih she stooped and touched his forehead with her long slender fingers

The birds began a full-throated ecstasy of song, which filled the ith a sound as of a h the sunlit grove with deep organ e onceair

Where the Goddess had stood there was nothing but a clump of yellow crocus and some violets more vivid than the rest

Ulysses aith sudden stahtened child He looked round hie troubled eyes

Then slowly he rose up and walked through the wood towards the cave of Calypso

Forgotten fingers were upon the latch of his brain, old scenes began to h it in swift familiar panorama, he was as a man akened from a sleep of years

One word burst froh a mist had suddenly dispersed before it, and his walk quickened into a fir stride as he came out on to the lawn

He stopped short as he saw theup and doith her sinuous graceful step, and at her side walked a tall young ed sandals upon his feet

And Ulysses knew hiiven him the sacred herb in Circe's island and who had led hiloomy ways of Hades

They turned and cao, Her,” said the God, ”I ae fro in this island with the Goddess, and bids me tell you of Ithaca and ho within you and you may adventure forth and find your wife Penelope in your ancestral house And the father pros shall be at an end, and you shall come safely to the land of your heart's desire Is it your will to go and leave the lady?”

The Goddess laughed a little h of certain triuo, Her years of love? Go! No, ia, and these weak arms can yet hold his wisdom captive Hoill you answer, my heart's love?”

”To Ithaca?” said Ulysses

”Yes, to Penelope thy wife, who sorroweth for thee and is in peril,”

answered the God

A bright light flashed into Ulysses' eyes and his cheek was flushed with hope

”Now have I tarried too long in this place,” he cried ”I know not why, but never before has my heart burned within me as now Yes, to Ithaca! back to my father and my wife and the old hills of home! Zeus be praised, for I as asleep waken this day, and manhood is mine once more”

Then Calypso drooped her lovely head like a tired flower as the God Herht

”I see so of which I know not has come over you, lord of my heart,” she said sadly ”I have no more power, save only the power of otten Who am I that I can combat the will of Zeus or the hardness of your heart? I have loved you well and cherished you, and shall I love you less now? No, I am no cruel Goddess Go, and my heart be with you; and what power is mine to aid you that shall you have I doubt,” she said, with a sudden burst of anger, ”I doubt you have soreater Goddess than I at your side, some lovelier lady, else how could my spell be broken? But now come within and make a farewell feast with ive you if you will not go Would you be iift is yours Never shall death touch you or age I am a Goddess and can never die Am I less beautiful than Penelope, or less kind?”

Ulysses answered her pleadings slowly and painfully

[Illustration: ”WHO AM I THAT I CAN COMBAT THE WILL OF ZEUS OR THE HARDNESS OF YOUR HEART?”