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THE DARK STAR
"My darling Rue--my little Rue Carew----"]
THE DARK STAR
By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS
Author of "The Girl Philippa," "Who Goes There,""The Hidden Children," Etc.
WITH FRONTISPIECE
By W. D. STEVENS
A. L. BURT COMPANY
Publishers--New York
Published by Arrangement with D. Appleton & Company
Copyright, 1917, by
ROBERT W. CHAMBERS
Copyright, 1916, 1917, by the International Magazine Company
Printed in the United States of America
TO MY FRIENDEDGAR SISSON
Dans c'metier-la, faut rien chercher a comprendre. RENE BENJAMIN
ALAK'S SONG
Where are you going, Naia? Through the still noon-- Where are you going?
To hear the thunder of the sea And the wind blowing!-- To find a stormy moon to comfort me Across the dune!
----
Why are you weeping, Naia? Through the still noon-- Why are you weeping?
Because I found no wind, no sea, No white surf leaping, Nor any flying moon to comfort me Upon the dune.
----
What did you see there, Naia? In the still noon-- What did you see there?
Only the parched world drowsed in drought, And a fat bee, there, Prying and probing at a poppy's mouth That drooped a-swoon.
----
What did you hear there, Naia? In the still noon-- What did you hear there?
Only a kestrel's lonely cry From the wood near there-- A rustle in the wheat as I passed by-- A cricket's rune.
----
Who led you homeward, Naia? Through the still noon-- Who led you homeward?
My soul within me sought the sea, Leading me foam-ward: But the lost moon's ghost returned with me Through the high noon.
----
Where is your soul then, Naia? Lost at high noon-- Where is your soul then?
It wanders East--or West--I think-- Or near the Pole, then-- Or died--perhaps there on the dune's dry brink Seeking the moon.
THE DARK STAR
"The dying star grew dark; the last light faded from it; went out.Prince Erlik laughed.
"And suddenly the old order of things began to pass away moreswiftly.
"Between earth and outer space--between Creator and created, confusingand confounding their identities,--a rushing darkness grew--thehurrying wrack of immemorial storms heralding whirlwinds through whichTruth alone survives.
"Awaiting the inevitable reestablishment of such temporary conventionsas render the incident of human existence possible, the brooding Demonwhich men call Truth stares steadily at Tengri under the high starswhich are passing too, and which at last shall pass away and leave theDemon watching all alone amid the ruins of eternity."