The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-05-30
CHAPTER VI.

When Sho Mai, with the officer, Yee
Chan, had passed out of the great hall,
she found herself in a miniature city
with paved streets. Arount; it stretched
q wall OF solid masonry at least seventy
Eve feet in height, without any gates
whatever so far as she could discern.
The wall had been SO highly polished
that it reflected the city's lights as if it
were great circular mirror.
The houses were low and were built at
equal distances apart along the wide av-
enues, but here and there were larger
dwellings, the residences of Generals
and their families. These large houses
resembled very much the residences of
retired merchant princes, and were
beautiful structures with finely laid-out
gardens before them.
They stopped before a house which
had been selected as the residence of
the future Toyhai. In the courtyard a
deft attendant removed Sho Mai's outer
robe and helped her to put on the uni
form of her rank. Then she was led
into a chamber, where she kneeled be-
fore a figure attired in long black satin
robes, the somberness of which was re-
ieved by the heavy gold embroidered
designs with wnlcn IL was profusely
ornamented.
Brother" said he of the black robe,
as he laid his hand upon the head of the
novice, ''the God of your Good Fortune
has smiled upon you in permitting you
to enter the eternal city of joy and
plentitude. Let us sing the song of
praise"
Ten men, attired in robes similar to
that worn by the speaker, then advanced
and raised up their voices in wlerd
chant.
The words were:
Drink thou the cup Of eternal life and friend
ship now,
Thou art the hero of all heroes now alive,
Thou hast arrived this day to drink eternal
wine.
Wherever you go you will find your faithful
brother
Before the chant had ended silver cup
filled with orange wine was held to Sho
Mai's lips, and she drank of it. When
the singers had finished they all slipped
in turn of the liquid remaining. Then
two young men, in garments garnished
with gold and armed with swords, laid
the heavy, cruel-looking blades upon
the barred head of the girl, who shud
dered.
''Swear," said voice from the black
robe, ''swear on the pirates cross to be
true as the steel to the brothers of the
Kwan Dab Clan. Swear to the north,
swear to the south, swear to the east
and to the west. Swear"
81 swear" whispered the girl, and her
voice sounded to her as though it had
come from another being.
Then three men formed a triangle
with Sho Mai and the two young men in
the center, and as they walked she
crept on her knees over the tiled floor,
with the swords still resting their fear
full weight on her head, into the next
chamber. The swords were removed
and she was commanded to look up.
Before her stood a red-robed figure.
Again voice broke the death-like still
ness of the chamber.
Brother, will you swear by the sun
which gives you light by day, by the
moon which illuminates the heavens at
night, and by the stars to be a true saint
son of the kingdom of joy and plenti-
tude; to enrich only the clan of Kwan
Dab; to protect only the men of the
clan, and to declare eternal war against
the Han Chows?"
Again she uttered that whisper, low,
distinct but with sound as though it
were born of sepulcher:
81 swear"
"You hear" came from him of the
red robes. LET us sing the chant of
the faithful" and once more the voices
were lifted up in the strain of welcome
to new member of the order. When
the last echo had found death in silence
the head of the candidate was again
bowed, and four swords rested their
weight upon her head. Then the four
men formed square and again the girl
kept pace on her knees with the slow,
steps of the men about her.
The third chamber was reached. Itwas
darker than the other two, and as the
procession came to halt and one end
of the human fence broke apart man
in robes of royal yellow stepped forth.
AS he waved his hand the four swords