ense anxiety for the result.

Parrhasius drew near to his rival. At first he would not deign to notice
him; but a few faint voices crying out, "Victory for Parrhasius!" the
judges demanded an exhibition of the picture of the Ephesian. Turning
around, with ill-concealed rage, Zeuxis, with a bitter, scornful tone
cried out, "Come, away with your curtain, that the assemblage may see what
goodly affair you have beneath it!"

Parrhasius handed the tablet to his rival. Had a thunderbolt fallen at his
feet, he could not have been more astounded. The curtain was painted upon
the tablet, and so exquisitely was it wrought that even the practised eye
of the great painter did not till then detect the deception!

"I yield! I yield!" cried the Athenian; "Zeuxis beguiled poor birds, but
Parrhasius hath deceived Zeuxis! Bring hither the laurel and also the
palm: my hand, and mine alone, shall crown the young victor!"

"And thy promise!" exclaimed Cassandra, bounding forward and grasping the
hand of her father.

"I here fulfil it," said he. "Parrhasius is indeed worthy of my Cassandra.
Embrace and be happy!"

The laurel and the palm were brought--and there, in the presence of
assembled thousands, Zeuxis crowned the young Ephesian. Then, mounting a
pedestal, he addressed the assembled multitude. He recounted the pure love
and constancy of Parrhasius and Cassandra, and told of his promise; he
also tenderly related his engagement with Thearchus.

He was proceeding to vindicate himself from the imputation of treachery to
Thearchus, when another deafening shout arose from the assembly, as a
noble youth came from the pavilion with a branch of palm and placed it in
the hands of Cassandra. It was Thearchus. He had before heard and now
witnessed the devotion of the lovers, and his generous heart melted at the
spectacle. He had tenderly loved the maiden, but he magnanimously resigned
all.

"Laurels for Thearchus!" shouted the vast multitude--and Thearchus, too,
was crowned victor, for he had conquered love.

Matrons and virgins strewed the path of Parrhasius and Cassandra with
flowers, as they returned to the city; and on the following day their
nuptials were celebrated with a splendor fully adequate to the wishes of
the ambitious Zeuxis, for the city made the marriage a high festival in
honor of Genius and Constancy.

The games ended; the city became quiet. A few years of happiness cast
their sunlight around the footsteps of the great