The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-11
THE PUNISHMENT

Tonight the Indian prince was thinking
as to how he would kill this Laon. And
many plans came into his mind as he sat
in the great room. It was a strange room.
Red lights burned within it, the walls were
red, the hangings were red, the ceiling was
red-a strange room
After all, he thought there was but one
thing to be done, and there were hundred
ways of doing it-ways secret and safe,
ways violent, unheard Of ways.
To have this Laon strangled would be
brutal, steel let blood fly, the bludgeon
crushed the skull horribly. There was the
way of the killing by water that he had
invented himself. There was the way of
the killing by the fire of Artos, there was
the way of the killing by snakes Oh,
there were many ways How fine to think
of them
But the way, the way to kill this Laon,
who was not as other men2 He reached
his hand to the great flask and poured
himself out a goblet of wine. 1t was
hand firm and well shaped and full of
meaning and power-a beautiful, cruel
hand And as he was in the act of drink
ing it his mind was flashed with an inspi-
ration He saw his way clearly. He laid
the half emptied goblet upon the board,
and leaning back in his chair he smiled as
man will smile in moment of triumph.
At lastl At lastl
And he began to revel in his scheme.
He looked at it from this side, from that
side and thought of all the contingencies
that might arise from the working of it
out; for this Laon was surely one Of great
power.
And as he was thinking he suddenly
raised his eyes, and there, standing beforL
him, was Laon.
81 have GOMEZ said Laon, as he looked
him full in the face, ''to tell you to aban-
don the plan that entered your mind as you
were drinking the wine -
What plan?' asked the prince. He was
too surprised to feel even fear.
{ 'Your plan to kill me-"
81 kill you! For what reason?''
81 will not discuss that, answered
Laon. "All that I will say is that I know
the whole details of the plan-the plan you
have determined to act upon. warn you
against it.
] "Warn mel Warn mel Explain your
selfp'
j you know we'll that speak the truth
And 1 will not threaten you. fear you
not, though I know that you have thought
out and accomplished the death of many
Do not lock at me SO strangely. What
have spoken is the truth.
"Then"-
81 merely tell you that if you attempt
my life it will be your own that will go,
and after that will come punishment 3"
Cannot we boz
mo, we cannot be friends. I have de-
sire neither for your friendship nor fear for
your enmity, powerful and treacherous
though you be. And you will think it
strange that have come to speak to you
as do. Well, it is strange. but there is a
reason for it--a strong reason"
What reason?"
"Oh, q certain reason. However, listen.
Go your way if you will, but remember
that going your way means death and ter
rible punishment RememberP'
And LaOD was gone.
And the prince wondered. How had he
come SO mysteriously? What did it mean9
What was there in this Laon so different
from the rest? What strange, clear eyes he
had-eyes that pierced into the soul. Aye,
eyes that pierced the soul Was it man or
demon who read what was passing in the
mind of another when far apart? He had
heard Of beings who could feel the inner
most thoughts of others. He had heard of
men who had discovered the hidden secret
that underlay and was the life of all things
-magicians who kept their knowledge
from the world, who mixed not closely
with their fellows, whose aim was to keep
the knowledge Of their secret close till men
were wiser
Could it be that this Laon was one of
these men or as one of them?
But he was so young. He was-but
stay, was he so young after alp Did not
his eyes, though brilliant, look old and
full of an all knowledge? Aye, his eyes
looked wise and old, and it is the eyes that
tell the age This Laon was old.
And then he began to think of himself
Why did he wish to kill-ever to kill2
What was the thing or the demon that
drove him to plan, carefully to plan, the
death of those VINO had done him no harm
those against whom he bore no malice?
Vengeance had never overtaken him be-
cause he was such power in the land.
But why did he feel this desire to kill?
There was nothing malignant in his look.
He was neither misshapen of body nor dis |
torted of limb nor cruel of feature.
Then why-why did he kiln? There |
were times when he felt love and tender /
ness for all things. Times when he felt !
Oh, why-why did he obey this prompt |
Ing? This question repeated itself to him |
again and again.
And as if to answer it he sprang up sud
denly. His eye had become cold and /
His thoughts had taken an |
other turn.
He killed-he killed because of the sense !
Of power it brought him. It was fine to /
carefully plot and plan, to lie awake in the !
lead of night when all was still and think, |
think as to the killing of the one he had |
liked upon.
Yes, he would kill this Laon. Magic or
40 magic, he would kill him. He would
begin the working out Of the plan he had
ormed at once.
He was reaching up his hand to small
square bex that lay upon shelf when he
heard a slight noise behind him.
He looked, and there was Laon again,
lut now he was clad in the oarb of a