Page:The further side of silence (IA furthersideofsil00clifiala).pdf/133

 and women enjoying themselves each after their own fashion, the former idling while the latter worked—when suddenly a dull thud, as of some falling body, was heard within the house. The women rushed in to enquire its cause, and found the little bride lying on the floor with a ghastly gash in her throat, a small clasp-knife on the mat by her side, and all her pretty garments drenched in her own blood. They lifted her up, and strove to stanch the bleeding; and as they fought to stay the life that was ebbing from her. the drone of the priests and the beat of the drums came to their ears from the men who were making merry without. Then suddenly the news of what had occurred reached the assembled guests, and the music died away and was replaced by a babble of excited voices.

The father of the girl hurried in, thrusting his way through the curious crowds which already blocked the narrow doorways, and holding his daughter in his arms, he entreated her to tell him who had done this thing.

"It is mine own handiwork," she said.

"But wherefore, child of mine," cried her mother, "but wherefore do you desire to kill yourself?"

"I gazed upon my likeness in the mirror," the girl sobbed out, speaking painfully and with difficulty, "and looking, I beheld that I was very hideous, so that it was not fitting that I should any more live. Therefore I did it."

And until she died, about an hour later, this was the only explanation that she would give.