Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-03-05
CHAPTER XIV.
AFTER THE CONQUEST.

The palace at Quiental stood at tho
northern end of the city. Therefore
it stood at the most northerl y point OF
Talmooch, for Quiental was the north
ern extremity OF the island. The
palace was not quite up to the modern
idea of what a palace should be, but
it was strongly built, and, in its way,
imposing. 1t was solid, square and
strong. 1t had towers and turrets.
it was surrounded by a large park.
That end of the castle facing the
street was, of course, the front, but
the facade of the opposite end was
precisely similar, and faced the sea.
From this end the ground sloped away
to the frowning battlements that rem
dered Quiental a wonderfully we'll for
tilted city.
The streets of Quiental were mar.
row. The more pretentious houses
were of stone. There were bazars,
coffee houses, gambling places, tea.
drinking rooms and all other places
generally to be found in a Chinese
city.
I had little to do with the formal
taking of Quiental. l left to Garu-
Saak the duty of proclaiming the gov
ernment of Hen-Ko-Hi at an end as
we'll as of securing Hen-ko-Hi and
all those who were close to him in his
tyrannical despotism. Just what to
do with the monster | did not know.
and ordered him placed in dungeon
until | had come to some decision as
70 his fate.
Accompanied by Oso-Bark I went
10 the palace and awaited the arrival
.,f Mr.. Avery aud Miss Arnold.
1 sincerely regret that | cannot do
iustice to the meeting between Han
kannan and her son Gorgret. 1 did
not even linger to gaze upon them IN
;heir mutual embraces. There was
something sacred in that never-dying
owe that bade me leave them to them
selves.
wandered through the wide halls
}, the palace, and found curious
.ommingling OF national arts. The stone
.astlc had been built years before.
" the Kaleks. The architecture, the
workmanship and the inside holdings
nd carvings were distinctly theirs,
>ut the furniture and equipments were
Chinese. The combination was not
,npleasing, and the change from the
lark underground home l had known
10 long was very grateful. The only
unpleasant feature about the nalaco
vas the painfully apparent evidences
If opium. Everything was redolent
If the drug.
When Mr.. Avery and Miss Arnold
oined me, I had explored nearly every
department. in the palace, and L es-
,ortcd each of them to the rooms l
lad sci ected for them. Miss Arnold,
IT'LL accompanied by her faithful
lunar woman, was shown into q suite
If rooms the equal in comfort and ele-
sance to any in Pekin.
Gorgret initiated his mother into
.he mysteries of the palace kitchen,
md under her experienced manage
ment the place was made more habit
lble by the production of good sup
per, after which we went out ON o
broad balcony to listen to the shouts
of the multitude who had not re-
covered from the excitement of victory,
and were making things very lively in
Quiental.
Beacon fires blazed on the noun
lains and in the valley. From Quien-
tal to Galenor the sky was lighted by
these flaming tokens of regained su-
premacy of the people. Everywhere
we could hear my name. Even now
The exultant Talmoochians gave me oil
The credit for the victory.
elbow does it feel to be king?"
asked Mr.. Avery. 81 never was on
such intimate terms with one be-
FORE"
"Now," I re.'liod, "it is time to
drop all ouch nonsense. l am not a
king. I don't want to be king. All
want now is to get Miss Arnold,
| you and myself away from here, find
Miss Arnold's father and then COM
municate with my friends, Langston
and Ralaton, who are now without
doubt in San Francisco.
fro BE CONTINUED.