The Washington times., 1905-10-29
AYESHA--The Further History of ''SHE"

lay upon the Rocking Stone where her
cloak fell upon meas he said the
words the breath caught in his throat
how the ray of light was sent to
us in farewell. and to show us q path
of escape from the palace OF death?
Now 1 think that IL has been sent again
in greeting to point out the path to the
place of life where Ayesha dwells,
whom we have lost
'Tt may be So" I answered shortly,
for the matter was beyond speech or
argument, beyond wonder even. But I
knew then. as ! know now, that We
were players in some mighty. predes-
tined DRAMA that our parts were writ
ten and we must speak them. as our
path was prepared and we must tread
1t TO the end unknown
Now We feared no more, not even
when with the dawn rose the roaring
wind, through which we struggled down
the mountain slopes. as IT would seem
in peril of our lives at every step: not
even as hour by hour we fought our
way onward through the whiritng
snowstorr, that made rs deaf and
blind. For we knew that those lives
were charmed We could not see or
hear. vet we were led Ciinging 10 the
yak. we struggled downward and
horeward. till at length out OF the tur-
moil and the gloom It's instinct brought
us unharnled TO the door OF the mon
astery, where the old abbot embraced
us In his Joy, and the monks put up
PRAYERS of thanks For they were sure
that we must be dead Through SUCH
a storrn they said, no man had ever
lived before.
II was still midwinter, and. oh! the
awful WEAKNESS of those months o1
waiting. In our hands was the Key
wonder among the mountains lay the
door, but not yet might We set tnat kc5
within It's lock For between as ana
these stretched the great desert wnere
the snow rolled like pillows. ana until
that snow melted we dare not attempt
its passage. So we sat IN the mon
asterv and schooled our hearts to pa
thence.
still even to these wilds OF Contra
Asia spring comes at last one even
ing the air felt warm. and that night
here were only few degrees OF frost
The next the clouds banked up. and IN
the morning not snow was falling from
them bu. rain. and we found the old
monks preparing their instruments or
husbandry. as they said that the season
OF sowing was at hand. For three days
IL rained. while the SHOWS melted be-
fore our eyes On the fourth. torrents
of water were rushing down the nASlln-
tain and the desert was once moro
brown and bare. though not for longs
for not within another week it was car
peted with flowers Then we knew that
the time had come 10 start
But whittier go you? Whittier go
you?" asked the old abbot In dismay.
Are you not happy here? Is not every
thing that we have your own? Oh, why
would you leave?''
I'VE are wanderers" We answered,
..and when we see mountains in front Of
us we must cross them
Kou-en looked at US shrewdly. then
asked:
What do you seek beyond the noun
tains?''
Holy abbot" 1 said. "a while ago
yonder in the library you made certain
confession TO us"
'Ah, remind me not Of it," he said.
holding up his hands Why do you
wish TO torment me?''
Far be the thought from US. most
kind friend and virtuous man." / an
swered- But. as il chances. your story
is very much our own. and we think
lHstl we nave tAptIlcLlCc U liAiS SANS
pTieSteSs."
Say on he said, much interested.
So 1 told him the outlines Of our tale;
for an hour or more 1 told it while he
sat opposite to us. swaying his head like
a tortoise and saying nothing. AT
length il was done
Now 1 added, 'Iet the lamp of your
wisdom shine upon our darkness. Do
you not find this story wondrous. or do
you perchance think that we are liars2"
Brethren of the great monastery
called the world Kou-en answered,
with his customary chuckle. why
should / think you liars who, from the
moment my eyes fell upon you. knew
you TO be true men? Moreover. why
should l hold this tale so very won
drous? You have but stumbled upon
the fringe OF a truth with which we have
been acquainted for many. many ages.
Because In a vision she showed YOU
this monastery, and led you to spot be-
yond the mountains where she vanished.
you hope that this woman whom you
saw die. is reincarnated yonder. Why
not? In this there is nothing strange to
those who are instructed in the truth.
though the lengthening of her last life
was strange and contrary TO expert
ence- Doubtless you viii ftnd her yon-
der. as you expect, and doubtless he's
khama. or identity. is the same as thar
which In some earlier life o. hers once
brought me to sin.
ITO Be Continued Next SundauN