Decimon Hûŷdas : a romance of Mars : a story of actual experiences in Ento (Mars) many centuries ago

Dedication

To my daughter Adelaide Carolyn Crosby, whose aspirations are in touch with my own, I dedicate this little story concerning persons and events of the Planet known to Earth people as Mars.

SARA WEISS.

Contents

Chapter. Page.

I Invalou and Frona 15

II Within the Walls of Koidassa. ... 20

Introduction

Gentola emana : — Nearly two of Earth's years have elapsed since I have had the privilege and pleasure of personally saluting you, which now I do with fullest assurance of a regard which magnifies itself, as I recall the experiences of those never to be forgotten days of yore and your loving endeavor in the interests of my people. You have been made to understand why, during this period, you have felt disinclined to commune with your spirit friends, who, nevertheless, have constantly been about you, guarding and guiding you along the devious ways of mortal existence. We rejoice with you that, at last, you are thought to be strong enough to resume association with the Evon Thia.

During the past year, one of the lessons that you, to a degree, have been perfecting, is the all important one of self-control, which is very nearly allied to the mental quality termed concentration; and until mortals have made these two traits a part of their selfhood, they are at the mercy of every adverse circumstance and emotion : consequently, they are as driftwood tossed hither and thither on the pulsing tide of human existence, whose waves ever are bearing them onward towards a shoreless eternity. Other lessons, unconsciously, you have been incorporating into the very warp and woof of your being; and now we find you prepared to take upon yourself the accomplishment of such duties as are a part of your life work.

In fulfillment of my promise to some time relate to you a Romance of Ento, which, alas ! is founded upon actual occurrences, I shall be obliged to recall scenes and events of days long past, happily never to return, — days so filled with anguish that men and women, the actual characters of the story, who long have dwelt in Ento's spirit spheres, even yet shrink from recalling memories which would becloud the joys of their present existence. While reading the story, my brother Inidora and I were so impressed by its pathetic and tragic features, that we are yet able to recall it almost in its entirety. By the Entoans it has ever been regarded as a little classic in which are portrayed, not only phases of human nature, but religious and social events of a bygone time : events tinged with the sacredness ever attached to sorrowful personal experiences.

Before beginning the recital of the story as related by Decimon Huydas, I desire to touch upon some points which may render more intelligible some statements and expressions, which otherwise might confuse the minds of those not at all versed in Spirit philosophy.

In planetary language, which all advanced spirits understand, Evon Thia (For Love's Sake) is the watchword of all engaged in endeavor to uplift humanity on both the physical and spirit planes of being; and such spirits ever strive to unfold such mentalities as are sensitive to their approach : for only through sensitives can the truth of the continuity of existence be demonstrated.

In every human being are the infolded qualities constituting the sensitive, or mediumistic, condition ; but, as no two personalities are alike, so no two sensitives are alike : hence spirits are obliged to accommodate their efforts to the individual peculiarities of sensitives ; and often their efforts prove ineffective, or are wholly misunderstood, thus creating confusion and skepticism in many minds.

At the period when Man on any planet becomes a living Soul — that is, a soul dominated by Immortal Spirit — consciously or unconsciously he enters into relation with the spirit side of life, ever recognizing only what the plane of his development can assimilate. On

Ento, as on other planets inhabited by spiritualized humans, this process of unfoldment of spirit perceptivity, or sensitiveness, has ever been recognized as something apart from the objective experiences of all observing its phenomena; and endless have been the conjectures concerning its origin. When experienced by persons of exalted piety, its source has ever been regarded as Deific ; but when experienced by irreligious and immoral persons its source has been considered only evil. But to you, as to many others, has come the knowledge that in the universe there is but one Principle, which is wholly good, and that the expression of seeming evil is but the expression of an unevolved condition. Admitting the correctness of this statement inclines one to be charitable towards those who, through ignorance or weakness of purpose, fail to fulfill the Law of Love.

I shall conclude this rather inconclusive introduction to a Romance of Ento by saying that I, an Ento spirit, am aided in expressing myself by an Earth-born, Carl De L'Ester, who is counselor and guide of a band of the Evon Thia; and I am so presumptuous as to hope that my recital of the little story may, in the minds of the thoughtful, awaken an interest in peoples so clearly resembling themselves and in a planet which, like their own fair Earth, was, in the fullness of time, thrown from the glowing heart of the great central magnet, the sun of our solar system, into space and held there by the Omnipotent, Intelligent Force pervading, not only all worlds, but every atom of a boundless universe.

Gexessano Allis Immo.

Once a mortal man of Ento; which is known to Earth-boms as the Planet Mars.

STORY OF

AS RELATED BY

GENESSANO ALLIS IMMO

Chapter I

Twilight's gray, mysterious shadows enveloped as with a dusky veil one of the loveliest suburbs of Leonita Tylu. Overhead the lamps of Astranola* gleamed downward through fleecy, flying clouds, which thinly veiled their sacred fires. From off the bosom of Lake Shaman, whose rippling waves softly kissed its pebbly shore, floated the sweet strains of Zoitas,f accompanying the voices of youths and maidens who sang a tender love song. From out the branches of some great Budas trees, embowering a stately residence near the lake shore, cooed the soft, plaintive, quavering notes of a Zymas,$ whose evening

*Home of Deific Ones.

f Stringed musical instruments.

f Dovelike bird, yet larger.

song ever awakens tenderest emotions and memories. On either side of the residence beautiful fountain groups threw into the quiet air their silvery spray, which returned to great white marble basins with the pattering, soothing sound of gently falling rain. From out the hearts of myriad blooms, the breaths of the wandering breeze drew their subtle fragrance to be borne as a sweet night offering to the gentle goddess Nuya, whose life-giving touch had called them into beauteous expression.

As twilight deepened into night, save for the rustling of the whispering leaves of the towering Budas trees there was unbroken silence. Suddenly, from out the stillness, came the sound of swiftly running feet; and a moment later, hand in hand, the forms of a boy and girl like flying shadows sped towards a nearby temple, whose brilliant lights poured their radiance into the outer darkness, which yet was not deep enough to quite obscure the pallid beauty of the admirable architecture and exquisitely sculptured exterior of the sacred edifice.

As they neared the temple the boy, Invalou, breathlessly whispered : "Oh, Frona, I fear we are late for the offering and the High Priest will be angry with us, — and, Frona

Valseta — A Flower of Mars used as an Altar Offering.

dear, it is my fault. I am very sorry, Frona. Say that you forgive me, Frona, and I will never again behave so foolishly."

Frona said not a word but clasped closer the trembling hand of the boy, and a moment later they hastily entered an apartment at the rear of the temple, where were assembled the offering bearers laden with grains, fruits and flowers.

As the two tardy ones entered the apartment they observed in the glances of their companions an expression of sympathy and alarm. They quickly placed themselves in position in the procession, standing with downcast eyes and abashed faces under the peculiar scrutiny of the High Priest. Presently three strokes of the temple bell broke the painfully embarrassing silence ; then the High Priest said, "Invalou, Frona, you will remain where you are until I return." Again the silverytones of the temple bell pealed out. Noiselessly the temple doors moved aside. The High Priest entered and moved towards the altar, its white sculptured beauty towering to the great dome through whose transparent red and golden Diafon Evoiha* the swiftly flying

^Dwelling place of Gods.

Moon, Entela, threw beams of faint effulgence. Softly the strains of the Vouhoidaf broke the stillness ; and, as its vibrant tones, accompanied by the intoning voices of the singers, filled the temple with sweetest melody, the offering-bearers entered and with slow rhythmic movements drew near the altar, arranging themselves on either side of the High Priest Zeydon Gamala. As the attendants removed the offerings of the previous day the children replaced them with golden grains, fruits, and the red and yellow blooms of the sacred Tsoina and Valseta.

Among the throng of worshippers were the parents of Invalou and Frona, who soon perceived that their children were not among the offering-bearers. Quickly their eyes were filled with surprise and their loving hearts with a nameless dread lest some evil thing had befallen their darlings, their Invalou and Frona.

As all Entoans well know, it is not permissible that any one shall enter or depart during the ministry of the sacred functions of the temple ; but as the service proceeded the alarm of the parents of the absent ones in-

fVery like a pipe organ, is creased ; and as the last Rau was pronounced and the procession, preceded by the High Priest, passed from the rear of the temple, they hastened towards their home, where, to their great dismay, they learned that their children had gone to the temple prepared to take their allotted part in the evening service to the goddess Frydas, — she whose quickening breath woos into perfection grains, fruits and flowers, and whose lamplight now gleamed and twinkled in the far-off night sky.

jJECIMON HUYDAS

Chapter II

A long line of worthy ancestry in time found expression in two brothers who, with their families, occupied the residence of an estate known as Koidassa ; and truly their home was one of love, tranquillity and contentment. Luvon, the elder, and Damma, the younger brother, were sons of one of the most distinguished families of a southern land, known in their time as the province Fondelek, a region then, as now, sufficiently fertile to sustain a dense population. A son cemented the union of Luvon and his admirable wife, Tillene ; and a daughter, fair and sweet as a Rodel bud, graced the marriage of Damma and his beautiful and gracious spouse, Avanna.

The two families were as one in all that concerned their happiness and interests. No thought of a separateness of residence ever occurred to any member of either family. Generation after generation of the Nyassas had lived, loved, and gone into the Silence within the walls of the great edifice Koidassa, which was so stanchly built as to defy time and the elements.

Luvon and Tillene, also Damma and Avanna, were united in marriage in the same hour; but through Andumana's creative power, Invalou, the boy, came into existence two years earlier than He bestowed upon Damma and Avanna a daughter, who from her earliest infancy was regarded as wondrously beautiful. The passing years added new charms to a countenance and form of surpassing loveliness ; yet no more admirable were they than the gracious and fine nature which animated her expressive face and lighted the depths of her empurpled eyes. And now that childhood was merging into maidenhood, Frona Nyassa presented a personality so uncommon as to attract the attention and admiration of all beholders. There was about her a subtle charm and a nameless something which set her apart from other girls of her age but did not in any manner detract from her ingenuous simplicity, which was a noticeable trait of her character. Being of a mixed race she inherited the golden hair, fair skin and empurpled eyes of her beautiful mother; but in form, stature and mental traits she greatly resembled her stately father, who was of the d?rk skinned race of Wend.

Invalou, the dark eyed, dark skinned, dusky 21 haired boy, was noticeably like his Wend father, who was a man of great nobility of feature, form and bearing: a man whose just, gentle, loving nature found full expression in his beloved son, who in his approaching manhood promised a complete fulfillment of all the hopes and desires of his fond parents.

By their parents Invalou and Frona were regarded as children, as indeed they yet were, — but as children whose footsteps were nearing the threshold of maturity. Their future I'.tJd for them and their nearest and dearest ones such immeasurable sorrow that I, who relate this story of their trials, shrink with tearful eyes and reluctant speech from its recital. That I relate it at all is that we of a happier time may remember and appreciate the merciful kindness of our Creator, who, through His boundless love for us, hath declared that no more shall His offending children offer themselves, or be offered as atonement for sin to appease His righteous wrath because of their transgressions of His laws. That we who so love our cherished ones that all else is as nothing shall hold them in our embraces as in our hearts until Death, the Inexorable One, shall woo them into perpetual Silence, is such a priceless blessing that with every thought of our minds, with every breath of our lives, we should remember and adore Andumana's mercy for His ungrateful and thoughtless children. May this little story be to all who may read it a reminder of their duty to Him who hath so tempered justice with mercy that the dread past is dead and gone forever. If this end may be attained I, Decimon Huydas, shall not have written in vain.