The Washington times., 1905-10-29

IlDie tnlng. so We chOSe the lesser
evil and gave way, and afterward OBJ
tanned absolution for our si=s from
the Great Lama Myself 1 did not
see this queen. but 1 saw the priestess
Of their worsh.p-alasi alasr' and
Kou-en beat his breast.
Why, alas?" ! asked as unconcern-
edly could. for this story interest
ed me strongly.
Why? OH because / may have for
gotten the army, but have never for
gotten that priestess. and she has been
a great hindrance to me through many
incarnations. delaying me upon my
journey to the Other Side. to the Shore
/ Of Salvation. /, a humble Lama,
was engaged in preparing her apart
ment when she entered and threw aside
her veil: yes. and perceiving a man.
| spoke to me. asking many questions.
4 and even IL ! was not glad to look
| again upon a woman"
"what-what was she nke7" asked
! Leo anxiously.
| What was she like? Oh, she waz
/ all loveiiness In one shape; she was like
the dawn upon the SHOWS: she was hke
| the evening star above the mountain;
| she was like the first flower OF the
spring. Brother. ask me not what she
! was like: nay. I will say no more. Obi
ward and you draw my black shame out
into the light of day. Nay, 1 will
confess 1t that you may know how vile
/ a thing 1 AMI whom perhaps you
have thought holy-like yourselves.
That woman, II woman she were, lit
a fire in my heart which will not burn
out. oh. and more. more,' and he rock
ed himself TO and fro upon his stool
while tears Of contrition trickled from
beneath his horn spectacles, ''she made
me worship heri
For first she asked me of my faith
and listened eagerly as I explained 1t,
hoping that the light would come into
her heart: then, after had finished. she
said:
so your Path is Remuneration and
your Nirvana most excellent Nothing
ness which some would think II scarce
worth while to strive so hard 10 reach.
! Now I will show you a more joyous
way and goddess more worthy OF your
/ worship
what way. and what goddess?' I
asked OF her.
1.-The way of Love and Life she
answered, that makes all the world to
I be. that made you. o seeker OF Nirvana.
and the goddess called Nature
Again 1 asked where is that god
dess. and hehold, she drew herself y
looking most rcral. and touching her
I ivory breast. she said: 4 am she. Now
kneel you down and do me homage
h My brethren, I knelt, yes. / kissed
her foot, and then 1 fed away ashamed
a and broken-hearted, and as L went she
| laughed, and cried: Remember me
a when you reach Nirvana, o servant OF
q the Buddha saint. for though l change.
1 do not die. and even there 1 shall be
n with you who once have given me
s worship
Z And 1t Is so. my brethren, It is so:
! for though obtained absolution for my
sin and suffered much for it through
A many existences, yet / cannot be rid OK
e her. and for me Nirvana is stiu far far
g away
o And Kou-en placed his withered
d hands before his face and sobbed.
O When his calm was somewhat re-
/, stored we tried TO extract further in
II formation from him, but with poor re-
r suits, so far as the priestess was con-
:, cerned-
He said that he did not know to what
, religion she belonged. and did not care,
; but thought that it must be an evil one
She went away the next morning with
n the army. and he never saw or heard Of
~ her any more. Yes. he had heard one
e thing, for the abbot of that day had
- told the brethren. This pr!estess was
n the real general of the army. not the
king or the queen. the latter of whom
!, hated her. It was by her will that they
: pushed on northward across the desert
: to some country beyond the mountains.
. where she desired to establish herself
! | and her worship.
:. We asked IL there really was any
country beyond the mountains. and he
4 he Hl1ia cd
Either in this or in some previous exist
ence ne had heard that people lived
. there who worshiped fire. Then the
memory OF that fancied transgression
again began 10 affiict Kou-ens innocent
: old heart, and he crept away lamentins
= and was seen no more for a week NOT
/ would he ever speak again to of this
y matter But we spoke OF 1t much with
o hone and wonder, and made up our
minds that we would at once ascend this
mountain.
A week later came our opportunity OF
making this ascent of the mountain. for
&c now IN rnidwinter 1t ceased storming,
. and hard frost set in. which made 1t pos
s sible TO walk upon the surface OF the
! snow. Learning from the monks that
l. at this season owls poll and other kinds
N of big horned sheep and game descended
III from the mountains TO take refuge IN
y certain valleys. where they scraped away
the snow to find food. We announced
that we were going out to hunt.
le So having manufactured a rough tent
- from skins and laden our old YAK. now
RI I'm the best OF condition, with food and
II garments. one still morning We started
o. as soon as 1t was light Under the
* guidance OF an old monk. who. not
I, =, withstanding his years. walked very
- well we reached the northern slope OF
= the peak before midday Here We
," found a great cave of which the opening
was protected by an overhanging ledge
of rock Evidently this cave was the
> favorite place Of shelter for game at
. certain seasons OF the year, since In
" fl were heaped vast Accommodations OF