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


didate. Then he spoke:
Brother Toyhai, 1 hand you a
sword" suiting the action to the word.
''This is the only emblem of authority
of the saints of joy and plentitude. BY
it all brothers conquer. 1t is the fit
food of the Han Chows, and command
you to feed them we'll. But renem Der.
a single secret given to you in these
four walls and under the roof of this
chamber revealed, you will be the sheath
for thousand such swords"
Eight men, armed with eight swords,
formed a circle about the trembling
girl, who closed her eyes lest she might
show weakness, and oncircled her head
with the glittering points of their
weapons. Should she move even so
much as a hairs breadth she would
reach point held by stern and steady
hand. 1t seemed to her fcvered mind
as though eight fiery fingers were
pointing at her in condemnation, but
such was the horrible fascination that
she closed her quivering eyeiids only to
open them again.
Suddenly the chant began. 1t was
taken up by men in the second cham
Der, repeated by those in the first cham
Der and passed along until it seemed as
though the stones of the floor, the reeds
of the roof and even the very swords
themselves gave tongue to the strain
1t was echoed and re-echoed; it swellet.
out into the open air, and came back re-
inforccd. Even when the voices ha,!
hushed it seemed to the kneeling gil
as though the spirits of the air wer9
waiting it up to the gods. The words
told her she was hero, but the music,
SO wild and unearthly, killed in its con-
ception the thought of praise.
He of the yellow robes then advanced
with a cup.
Drink he said, "and may the cow
ard blood of the Han Chow make you
stronger and more vengeful against our
lawful prey!'
The liquor was one-half wine and one
half blood! Could size drink it? Invol-
UNFAIRLY she turned her head to look be-
hind, hoping to see the face of the Chief.
''You are looking beyond the earth.
There is death behind YOU" came the
voice from the yellow robe. ''Drink!'
and the dreadful cup came just a trife
nearer.
Death! and there was so much to live
for-ki Xiii; the competition, her pa
rents. If she died there, no one would
ever know her fate. The compressed
lips parted just trihe and the small,
shapely head leaned forward with an
almost imperceptible movement. The
cup came closer. She hesitated to think.
''Death!" said a voice behind her.
"DrinkI" came from the robe.
The words were all that broke the
tomb-like stiffness of the cham Der save
the breathing of the girl. She would
drink, then perhaps the awful ceremony
would be ended.
The full, round lips kissed the cold
edge of the cup. The hand which held it
tilted it just little, and the blood of the
dead and the lips of the living met. The
liquid stained the crimson lips with a
shameless red, the stain crept into the
white teeth and trickled down her
throat. She shuddered and felt as if
the blood of the dead had palsied her
limbs. She choKeu, gaspeu and strug-
gled for air.
Suddenly the cup was removed, a mur-
mur went through the throng, lights
blazed up, the hoods of the assembiage
were thrown back and the faces of the
band were revealed.
The figure in the robe of yellow ad
vanced, and, extending his hand, lifted
Sho siai to her feet. She still held the
sword which had been given her.
Brother" said the man, ''there is but
one thing more for you to do. Many
have lacked the necessary courage to
face this last ordeal, and so have lost