The Washington times., 1905-11-26

were Spoken-eXpecting every moment
that the Khan would draw the short
sword at his side and cut the old man
down. But he did not he covered be-
fore him Ike a dog before some savage
master, the weight OF whose whip ne
knows. Yes, answering nothing. he
shrank into the corner and covered
there, while Simbri. taking Atene by the
hand, went from the room. at its mas
sive. ironbound door he turned, and,
pointing to the crouching figure with
his staff. said:
Khan Rassen. ] raised you up. and
now I cast you down Remember me
when you lie(dying-in blood and pain. .
Their footsteps died away. and the
Khan crept from his corner, looking
about him furtively.
Have that rat and the other gomez
he asked OF us. wiping his damp brow
with his sleeve: and I saw that fear had
sobered him and that for a while the
madness had left his eyes
I answered that they had gone
You think me a coward he went
on, passionately, land 1t is true. 1 am
afraid OF him and her-as you, yellow
beard, will be afraid when your turn
comes I tell you that they slapped my
strength and crazed me with their
drugged drink, making me the thing l
am. for who can war against their wiz
ardries? Look you now. Once 1 was
prince, the lord of half this land, noble
OF form and upright of heart, and !
loved her cursed beauty as all must
love il on whom she turns her eyes
And she turned them on me, she sought
me in marriage; IT was that old rat
who bore her message
so / stayed the great war and mar
/ ried the Khania and became the Khan
| but better had it been for me II had
crept into her kitchen as scullion, than
into her chamber as a husband Fol-
! from the first she hated me, and the
more l loved. the more she hated, till al
our wedding feast she doctored me witt
| that poison which made me loathe her
and thus divorced US: which made m,
mad. also eating into my brain Xix,
fire"
IF she hated you so sorely,: Khan"
asked, why did she not mix a stronger
draught and have done with you?"
why? Because OF policy. for / ruled
half the land. Because It suited her
also. that 1 should live on, a thing t
mock at since while 1 was alive n,
other husband could be forced upon he
/
she is a witch who desires TO live alone
or so | til 1T until tonight"-and h.
glowered
''She knew. also, that, although l mus
shrink from her. l still love her In N!
heart. and can still be jealous. and
therefore, that 1 would protect her from
/ all men. It was she who set me on tina
lord whom my dogs tore q while ago
because he was powerful and sough
her favor and would not be denied. Blu
now''-snd again be glowered at Leo
| now I know why she has always
seemed so cold. 1t is because there IiveG
q man 10 melt whose ice she husbandeC
her fire
u Then Leo. who all this while had stood
tsilent stepped forward.
II Listen. Khan" he said. Did the ic'
seem like melting while ago2
| IS 'sNo-unless you lied. But that wal
/ only because the fire IS not yet ho
enough. Wait while until it burns I'D
/ Snd melt you must, for who can mattel
| IAss will against Atene?"
| Sand what IL the ice desires TO fle'
! he fire? Khan. they said that ] SHOULD
| XIII YOU. but I do not seek your blood
! You think that would rob you OF you
| ,rife, yet / have no such thought toWar'
Her. We desire to escape this tow