| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories by Alice Dunbar: a diminutive altar draped with threadbare lace. The red glow of
the taper lighted a cheap print of St. Joseph and a brazen
crucifix. The human element in the room was furnished by a
little, wizened yellow woman, who, black-robed, turbaned, and
stern, sat before an uncertain table whereon were greasy cards.
Manuela paused, her eyes blinking at the semi-obscurity within.
The Wizened One called in croaking tones:
"An' fo' w'y you come here? Assiez-la, ma'amzelle."
Timidly Manuela sat at the table facing the owner of the voice.
"I want," she began faintly; but the Mistress of the Cards
understood: she had had much experience. The cards were shuffled
The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: he rushed the lad as a great bull might rush a teasing
dog, but the boy gave back not an inch and when
Greystoke stopped there was a foot of cold steel pro-
truding from his back.
Together they buried the knights at the bottom of the
dry moat at the back of the ruined castle. First they
had stripped them, and when they took account of
the spoils of the combat they found themselves richer
by three horses with full trappings, many pieces of gold
and silver money, ornaments and jewels, as well as the
lances, swords and chain mail armor of their erstwhile
The Outlaw of Torn |
