Telegram-herald., 1889-11-21

We - qlle@ze1 through, ard within wzs a
aide and airy cays-svidsntiy a place 4
aacItzrion. Nature had SHAPED - @sLs
zlc stretched - rocf. III art lad txans-
tcrDed ne E-ce mountain eyre ingo =
pelarlzl h24 Evidences q wealth were
on every side. The finest Oriental fso-
rics ~sEs the gsrnlture q shelving h0or
and lofty recess. oott rugs were here IA
beS L-Gerlug PFof1slon. AM furniture zad
pieces of cric-z-brsc that would have
fetched fabulous sums ID " zrd0Qr street
Ay eyes caught also ths unnisgaka5ie
gLeam of the precious metals
u was a riddle az first ~ here the sub
dued hight came frcm. for window there
was none. But at last / made the dis
cogery that - one end of the great
chamber was a long gallery. communi-
eating doubtless. with the outside woEi ~
amidst the inaccessible heights of tae
clin. This admitted both ar and light.
sunshins could Dc but brief visitant
ana weaving together the results II
extended and leisurely examination AT
the instant Of Introduction / vas TOO as
tOnished 70 observe Inany details Tie
sInazement mirrorsd inevitably upon nay
countenance was noticed.
This Is a poor wanderers occasional
home It's existence Is a secret which
you viii not betray," MOung Ko said
You are the first stranger have had
the honor 20 welcome here; and when
you are strong enough 70 20 with me
h. I -.
ask that you keep strict silence as 10
where you have been. You can say that
you have rested IN a cave man haunt
It viii be srUe. | am sure my secret is
safe
The calm expression Of complete GER
talnry struck me IS singular.
4 arm hattered by your faith in nv
gratitude, and hope and believe that il
Is not misplaced, answered; "but is
there not risk: may disappoint you
by some unguarded word. Do YOU not
fear its''
was smiling; but il was no smile that
came on Moung Kos face. \ light was
IN the deep set, neutral tinted eyes that
touched my spirit almost 70 awe.
No, | do not, Moung Ko replied, in
deep, resonant tones. 1T is on the
scroll os the future that shall not suffer
through you. Ny own people-they will
mete out the punishment that has tar
ried so long. But what am | saying?
Yes. | can read the language of the face.
l know that | may trust you"
The light was gone, and l could have
fancied that had not really heard those
words Of weird fate which, nevertheless,
| was 70 remem Der after many DAYS.
While we talked Moung Ko was deftly
preparing and applying a cool compress
to the swollen joint. 1t was patent that
he possessed not little surgical skill.
Suddenly / spoke Of the strange figure
| had seen while waiting for the fiat of
fate; and | surely felt Moung Kos
fingers tremble. His head was bent
down, and this was my one warning of
the phOOnghie's uneasiness. His reply
was evasive.
There Is no village in that direction;
il is all waste and barren; there are no
paths, either. The hill folk talk like you
of things that it is i'll to see. They are
towards. But | say that bushes take
wonderful shapes; and sometimes they
move in the wind"
1t sounded like satire, and Moung Ko
was a clever diplomatist. Hehad nearly
persuaded me that was the victim of a
delusion. A man recovering from a
swOon may easily be cheated by shad-
ows. let the subject drop. 1t occurred
10 me later that Moung Ko was relieved
to find that did not insist on the reality
Of the experience.
had fallen into capital hands. If
tie of kinship or creed had existed, |
could not have been better cared for.
And at the end of a week was able TO
move gingerly about with a crutch. Nv
host now suggested migration to zyat,
or hostelry for travellers, hard by his
pagOda, in a village OF the lower plateau.
l was perfectly willing to move. Il
would give me opportunities for becom-
ing acquainted with the inhabitants Of
the district and with local customs and
characteristics that were hitherto only
matters Of hearsay.
great an obligation was more and more
a marvel and a mystery. His life. as
gradually disclosed, seemed full of con-
tradictiOns. It was abundantly clear
that he was held in extreme reverence by
the brethren Of his order as well as bv
the villagers. But, with innate skepti-
cism. | declined to think that there was
anything in his common fame as a seer.
Still, he accepted the homage. and it was
equally hard to believe him an impostor.
Your vulgar trickster does not devote
himself 10 the wants of a poor and primi-
tive people as MOung Ko did Without
fee or reward. he was always at their
service. He was strict-nOne more so, |
learned-in fulhllment Of the ritual Of
the pegOda. Yet, BY the law, binding
on phoonghies, he could possess no per
sonal property. and had seen what I
had seen. Perhaps fingered in the dis
trict longer than I should otherwise have
done because l wanted TO fit an answer
% my enigma.
Tragic circumstances supplied il. The
tribesmen Of Upper Anapoors were tur-
bulent and headsfronE. and it was one
of Moung Kos most difficult aud delicate
tasks 70 maintain peace.
There has always been a strife be-
tween mountain and plain. Two races
touch in these hills" he said. The feud
viii break out afrssh one day in spite q
ne. Yes, and soon. I have heard the
sound e the dismal wind-of the war
wind-sighinS in the air where TO forest
trees are. It will come. and then the
vengeance falls and I 20"
TIE sad eyes were gazing through the
veil We All seek % pierce but may not