Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-05-07


arms and faces pressed against the
earth, Frustrated themselves before
a colossal stone Buddha seated upon
lotus leaf, whose c,asped hands
| rested upon bis crossed legs.
And in the imperial chamber, IN
der gold-embrodiered silks, still lay
and agonized the little Prince.
His wasted chest heaved painfully.
A strange, gasping sound issued
from between his chsttering teeth,
and at times his poor little clenehed
hands seemed trying to throw of
some invisible weight which opprcss-
ed and suffocated him.
In the adjoining apartment the
Empress, surrounded by her women,
who were lying upon the floor, was
herself kneeling, and, in spite of the
silken hanging and the doors Of
brass, her sobs reached the cars oil
the sick boy.
| lie turned gently toward his faith.
er, and fixing on him his large, deep
eyes, in which now seemed to burn
a mysterious light, he inquired why
his mother was not at his side, and
why all those soldiers, with their
big sabers, could do nothing to ease
his pain.
| At a sign from the Emperor the
horsemen hrandished their lances
the archers made rain cloud of ar.
rows around the palace, and the
noise of the tom-toms was re-
| doubled. Then, looking at his son
the Emperor said to him:
"Sleep, little Prince, for your
trusty soldiers are watching over
| your
But the child's eyes remained
wide open, and his breathing grew
| less and less distinct.
Suddenly a commotion arose al
the foot of the staircase and the EN-.
peror turned his eyes wrathfully in
that direction.
Who xhad dared to cross the
threshold of his palace at such q
time His hand, disengaging Itself
from that OF his son, sought the hilt
of his simitar. Then a soldier ap-
peared In the doorway and pros
trated himself before his master.
"Speak ~ commanded the Emper.
or. "Who dares to intrude upon
me 2"
can old man, replied the soldier
trembling.
what does he want ~
ITO speak with you"
ITO speak with me ! By my di-
vine ancestors I know not what
restrains me from relieving you and
your comrades OF your heads Re.
turn to your post; l will deal will
you later"
The cowed soldier bowed anG
vanished. The others, immovablt
as brazen images, and still graspins
their naked sabers, awaited calmly
whatever might befall.
But now, from the top of the stair
case came. forward an old man. His
long beard, white as snow, descend
ed to his waist. He was attired in s
silken robe, which time and use haG
robbed of its original color. With
one hand he leaned upon long BAN
boo stick, in the other he held 6
withered chrysanthemum flower.
The Emperor uttered an exclama
tion of rage, but before he coul6
make any further sign, the stranger
stretching forth his hand, said
"They allowed me to pass when
told them l had come to save thy
son."
"To save my sonl Thou n
OPP
And the old man, regardless Of
the menacing soldiers, advanced to-
ward the bed.
"By the rising sun ~ vowed the
Emperor, "if thou liest, / will have
those who admitted thee shot to
death with arrows, and for thyself,
will charge my executioners to in
vent the most cruel tortures.'
The old man smiled.
"When one has reached my age
remarked he, "the thread which
unites soul and body is extremely
fine and worn, and the iron of thy
executioners would scarcely torture
corpse ~
And as the guards, at signal
from the Emperor, made way, he ap.
preached the bed.
81 come in time,' he said, gazing
upon the child, who now lay perfect
ly still and apparently unconscious
'sbut il thy soldiers had not permit
ted me to pass, thy son would have
been dead at this moment
The Emperor trembled.
This old mans words impressed
him strangely.
And thy remedy ~ he inquired.
This crysanthemum flower, which
/ have but to lay upon thy sons
heart, and his cleansed blood shall
flow with rev life through his
veins
HDo Sd, then r.
But the old man answered with q
smile: cit is necessary that should
first know what you are willing to