The Washington times., 1905-12-17

AS we went down the ravine by which
we had approached the village on the
previous night. sound Of chanting
struck our ears. Presently the path
turned, and when we saw a solemn pro-
cession advancing up that dismal. sun
less gorge. At the head OF II rode none
other than the beauIrul Khania, fol-
lowed by her great-uncIe, the old Sha-
man. and after these came a company
of shaven priests in their white robes.
bearing between them n bier, upon
which. its face uncovered, lay the body
OF the Khan. dTaped in a black gar
ment. Yet he looked better thus than
he had ever done. for now death had
touched this insane and dissolute man
with something Of the dignity which
he lacked in life.
Thus then we met. At the sight of
our guides white form. tbs horse which
the Khania rode reared up so violently
that L thought 1t would have thrown
her But she mastered the animal with
her whip and voice. and called out:
Who IS this draped bag Of the
mountain that stops the path Of the
hhania Atene and her dead lord? My
guests. l find you in I'll company. for
1t seems that you are conducted by an
evil spirit TO meet an evil fate. That
guide OF yours must surely be some
thing hateful and hideous, for were
she wholesome woman she would not
fear TO show her face"
NOW the Shaman pIucked his mis-
tHess by the sleeve. and the priest Oros.
bowling TO her. prayed her TO be silent
ana cease to speak such ill-omened
words into the air which might carry
them she knew not whittier But some
instructive hate seemed to bubble up in
Atene. and she would not be silent. for
she addressed our guide. using the d.
rect thou" manner or speech that
we found was very usuai on the noun
tam, though rare upon the pains.
Let the air carry them whittier II
wih.' she cried. "Sorceress, strip off
thy rags. fit only for a corpse too vile
TO view. Show US what thou art thou
hitting night owl, who thinkest 70
f1ghten me with that livery Of death.
which only serves TO hide the death
within"
Cease. l pray. lady cease" said
oros, stirred for once out Of his i'm
perturbable calm. She is the minis
ter. none other. and with her goes the
power"
Then it goes not against Atene.
Khania Of Kaloon," she answered. cor
SO 1 think. Power. forsoothl Lei her
show her power. If she has any II is
not her own. but that Of the witch Of
the mountain. who feigns to be a spirit.
and by her sorceries has drawn away
my guests'-and she pointed to US
thus bringing my husband TO his
death"
Niece. be silentT said the old sha-
man, whose wrinkled face was white
with terror, while Oros held up his
hands as though in suppIication to
some unseen strength, saying:
oh. thou that nearest and seest. be
merciful. 1 beseech thee. and forgive
this woman her madness, lest the blood
OF guest should stain the hands Of
thy servants, and the ancient honor of
our worship be brought low in the eyes
OF mon"
Thus he prayed. but although his
hands were uplifted, IT seemed to me
mat his eyes were fixed upon our
s'"oe' as ours were. While he spoke.
saw her hand raised, as she had
raised IL when she slew, or rather sent
fenced. the witch-doctor. Then she
seemed 10 reflect and stayed IL in mid
ar so that it pointed at the Khania.
she dld not move. she made no sound
only she pointed, and the angry vorde
dled upon Atene's lips. the fury left her
eyes, and the color her face Vas g.
grew white and silent as the corrso
upon the bier behind her. The, cou,ad
by that invisible power. she str,,cl-
her horse so dercely that 1T boupded
by us onward toward the VILLAGE %
which the funeral company were 10 rest
a while.
AS the Shaman Simbri followed the
Khania, the priest Oros caught his
horses bride and said 10 him:
Magician, We have met before for
instance, when your lady's father was
brought TO his funeral. Warn her. then
you that know something OF the truth
and of her power. to speak more gently
OF the ruler Of this land Say TO her.
from me. that had she not been the am
bassadress OF death. and therefore, in
violate. surely ere now she would have
shared her husbands bier Farewell.
tomorrow We will speak again." and,
loosing the Shaman's bride, Oros pass
ed on
Soon we had left the melancholy pro-
cession behind us. and issuing from the
gorge. turned up the mountain slope
toward the edge of the bright SHOWS
that lay not far above 1t was as we
came out of this darksome valley. where
the oyerhanging pine trees almost