The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-05-30
RISING SUN, CECIL COUNTY, MD. FRIDAY, MAY 80, 1890.

could almost hear 1t surglng to and fro.
Her cheeks were aflame, and her heart
beat with painful violence. She knew
what was required of her. She must
take human life, but such was the
wild excitement which now controlled
her that she had less horror in contem-
plating this act than she had before in
drinking the blood and wine.
She stepped forward, with the weapon
pointed toward the trembling wretch.
1t was within an inch of mis- breast. The
blood surging to her brain dazed her.
She wavered backward and forward,
and as the condemn ned traitor saw
her thus, as if summoning energy for a
fatal stroke, he sent forth such Cry of
agony as rang through the whole city.
To Sho Mai it sounded like the voice of
thousand demons hailing the new
murderer in the list of blood-stained
souls. She staggered, and the blade in
her hand, without her volition, touched
the barred breast of the traitor. The
steel was keen as a razor, and though
the touch was light blood flowed in
bright red stream Sho Mai saw it, and
voice seemed to thunder ''Murderess!"
in her ears. Her brain reeled, and, by
the mercy of the gods, she fell to the
floor unconscious!
How long she had lain thus she did
not know, but when night came to her
eyes she found herself alone, lying upon
the tiles just as she had fallen. With a
shudder she turned her head toward the
spot where a corpse should have hung
suspended by the bands of steel, but the
curtains had been drawn, and no sound
came from behind them. She would
have given much to lift that drapery
and learn whether she had really taken
life, but her resolution failed her, and
she turned toward the second apartment.
With feeble steps she staggered toward
the curtain, but as she placed her hand
upon it some force which she could not
trace drew it back suddenly, and she en-
tered, wondering.
There she saw seated about the apart
ment the members of the clan who had
assisted at her initiation. She was i'm
inediately conducted to seat before a
raised dais, upon which was the man
who wore the royal yellow robe and who
acted as orator. An attendant brought
her glass of sweet wine, and when she
had drank she felt refreshed.
''Itis considered by your brethren of
the Toyhai that you have earned your
'obe," said the orator. "Renen. bcring,
S'we 90, that you are but a boy, ant
}at vou have succeeded where uIore tina
lp man has failed, we are inclined
Jok lenicntly upon your weakness and
invest you with the black robe of Toy
hal" Then without further formality
her robe of Office was conferred upon her.
''Hear the word of the mighty Kwan
Dah," said the orator, and at the name
all heads were bowed. "The most high
ruler grants the new Toyhai his choice,
either to remain and serve the great
Kwan Dab in his city or to sail under the
flag of the white crescent in the ship of
the First Chief, which shall presently
sail"
A great hope swept through Sho Mai.
Once free of this island could she not
escape altogether from the sway of
Kwan Dab? The thought well-nigh be-
reft her OF speecn, but gaUnerlng her
courage she said at length:
"Let me sail the sea under the banner
of thegreat kWan Dab"