Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-04-24
CHAPTER XVI.
HEN-KO-HI,

O1lhL ILis ~ @s
HEN-Ko-HI.
It has been said by those who ought
to know, UNEASY lies the head that
wears a crown" But no crownless
head ever rested more easily than
mine that first night of my kingship
at Quiental. I was very weary, and
slept soundly and long. In the morn
ing. when I went into the breakfast
room, I found Miss Arnold and Mr..
Avery waiting for me to appear before
the coffee was brought in.
II declare, our king sleeps late,
said Mr.. Avery, gayly, as I entered.
perhaps you would, too, had you
fought an entire campaign in one day."
I said, laughing and sitting down near
Miss Arnold. 81 was rather tired,
but feel equal to any emergency now"
ct tell you," said the old man ;-gaz'
ing around him, "the fellow that
trimmed up this old barn knew what
he was doing. 1t is simply gorgeous.
Now look at that panel Of gold. Was
ever anything so fine?"
: eyes, in the temple of Su Foo. The
arrangements here are strikingly like
that place. Doyou not think so, Miss
Arnold?"
Every like" she said. ''There is
a suspicion of relationship about it.
But that doesn't concern us now. How
soon do you think we shall be able to
reach Hong-Kong?"
cit all depends upon luck. If we
have to build ship to go there in, it
will be a long time. Bnt the first ship
that stops here shall take us to your
father"
"Poor papa? These long months
have been lonely ones to him, I know.
How happy he will be to see me-te
see us-alive and well!'
"Yes,"I said, che will, no doubt.
be overjoyed to see me. hope, be-
fore I meet him, [ shall succeed IN
getting this stain off me. L would
like to be white again.
"What about Hen-Ko-Hi?" asked
Mr.. Avery.
"Bother that rascal! Why couldn't
he have fought with his army and been
killed decently? He deserves death
more than any of the others. l must
give him trial, I suppose, and show
something like mercy. I don't feel
any"
'I see but one course. You must
have him executed"
POSSIBLY. But he must have al
least the semblance of trial. If this
thing is made national issue-for ]
shall appeal to the States for protec;
tion-it will be much better for us il
we show that Hen-Ko-Hi suffered
death legally and not by the hands Of
violence"
perhaps you are right. But your
position with your own people de-
mands his death"
ST believe you. We will give him
trial this afternoon"
Toward the close of the day called
Garu.Saak to me, and ordered him to
have Hen-Ko- Hei taken to the north
tower for trial.
There was in the north tower a large
square room, light and airy, which ]
had chosen for the trial. 1t was al
ideal room for an executive chamber.
The windows looked out over the bat
Elements to the sea. In this room
there were large, comfortable chairs
and some solid mahogany tables.
Mr.. Avery joined me, and L led the
way through the long corridors to the
north tower. Mr.. Avery was calm, but
evidently by an effort. Now that the
time had come to send, in cold, pas
sionless way, human being to his
Geatn, the good old preacher felt that
his advice had been wrong.
"Thou shalt not kill" was upper
most in his mind, and the law of mercy
was his theme.
There was evidently a severe con-
Aict going on within him. Hen-Ko.
Hi was the murderer of his wife: For
years he had been tortured bodily by
the tyrant. as his useless arm bore
witness. The moment had come when
he must pass upon the murderer judg'
ment of death or mercy.
Csc. Bark entered the room quietly.
His face was set and determined.
There was no doubt of his desire With
regard to Hen Kohl. He could not
consign the royal prisoner to a fate
that was severe or cruel enough to sat
irfv his thirst for rayenQe
I motioned him to chair. 1 sat
down between him and Mr.. Avery.
It was not long before we heard the
tramp of soldiers on the stone floor Of
the corridor; the the shutting Of
prisoner in chains.
The face OF Hen-Ko-Hi was not
pleasant one to look at. It never could
have been pleasant, even under the
most favorable circumstances. Nov