Page:Maud Howe - Atlanta in the South.djvu/294

 her hunting-dogs her dearest companions. She lived in the woods; and you know half as well as I myself the delights of such an existence. She was vowed to the worship of Diana, and all men were abhorrent to her. Nevertheless, she had many suitors; and to rid herself of these, she promised to wed the one of all her lovers who could overtake and surpass the speed of her swift white feet. She was a cruel girl and very fair; and the luckless youths who lost in the trial of speed were condemned to die. Many a one lost his life; and at last, though she was still young and lovely with the reflected beauty of the 'orbed maiden' her mistress, there came no more competitors for the fair prize. Then it was that she joined the band of warriors destined to destroy the Calydonian boar. Her arrow first pierced the thick hide of the monster, and at her feet Meleager, the young ruler of Calydon, laid the spoils of the slaughtered boar. More than this, the brave young prince offered, kneeling before her, his heart and hand and kingdom. But she was fiercely wedded to her maidenhood, and would not hearken to his suit; and when the youth lay dead, like many another for her sake, the cold maiden kissed him, and wept for his youth and beauty, cut short in their green prime. But she who had overcome so many was in her turn overcome. There