Gunnison news-champion., 1906-05-25
s.aassa.se fzsn Lass Wees.

hauaisef. The ssOrilS Vcre Feususrd
SD sss was commanded to islssk -.
. isre her si.-,ss a zsa-F0lssa iiruro.
.lsla q voice baelse si8e daash-lsAe SILL
a-ss % tae ch.snll,.ss.
"iseosher. vii Feu su.ar by ths san
rhioh gives yoa hEht ~ d@g, hy the
aitsla Nhtch illumanates the heavens al
a4rnt, snd By tae stass ~ be- a true sain;
ssn - she Kingdom - jny and pleu-i-
taae. ~ enrich only the clan - euan
Dab. - protect essiy the men 81 tho
sian. aud 10 declare eternal var against
the Han CAogsP"
AEaln she uttered that whisper los.
ii-zincI but vim sound a. thos4gh o.
eere born - a sepgicher.
- swear"
Aou hear" came from him of the
re1 robes Let us sing she chant 81
sle ialthful. d" and once more the voicos
0src ilfted % IN the strain Of welcome
ucW member u the oraer When
.ne last echo had feuRd death IN slience
ne head OF the candidate was again
1oWed. and four swords restca their
weight upon her head. Then the tour
mcR formed a square and again the glrl
sept pace on her knees win the SLOW
uca-gred steps Of the men about her
The uhsrd cham Der was reached. ltw
larser than the other two. and a. the
sr0cesslon came te . halt and one end
u the human fenoe broke apart . man
n robes Of royal yellow stepped 'orth
AS be waved his hand the tour swords
we're removed from the head Of the can
d4eate. Then he spoke;
"Brother Toyhai. hand you .
sword, = sRitiug the action 10 the word
This Is the oHiy emblem % authority
of the saints Of Joy and pientitude. By
1t all brothers conquer. 1t is the TT
food of the Han Ch0ws, and | command
you to feed them well. But remember
single secret given TO you in these
four walls and under the roof OF this
chamber revealed, you will be the sheath
for thousand such swords"
Eight men, armed with eight swords.
formed a circle about the trembling
girl. who closed her eyes lest she might
show weakness, and encircled her head
with the glittering points of their
weapons. Should she move even So
much as a hairs breadth she would
reach point held by a stern and steady
hand. 1t seemed to her fcvered mind
as though eight fiery fingers were
pointing at her in condemnation, but
such was the horrible fascination that
She closed her quivering eyelids only to
open them again.
Suddenly the chant began. 1t was
taken up by men in the second cham
Der, repeated by those in the first cham
Der and passed along until 1T seemed as
though the stones of the floor. the reeds
OF the roof and even the very swords
themselves gave tongue to the strain
1t was echoed and re-echoed; it swelled
out into the open air, and came back re-
inforced. Even when the voices had
hushed it seemed To the kneeling girl
as though the spirits of the air were
waiting it up to the gods. The words
told her she was hero, but the music,
so wild and unearthly. killed in it's con
ception the thought Of praise.
lie of the yellow robes then advanced
with cup.
Drink" he said. "and may the cow
ard blood Of the Han Chow make you
stronger and more vengeful against our
lawful preyl"
The liquor was one-half wine and one
half blood Could ste drink itP Invol-
UNFAIRLY she turned her head to look be-
hind, hoping to see the face of the Chief.
you are looking beyond the earth
There is death behind YOU" came the
voice from the yellow robe. Drink"
and the dreadful cup came just . trif1e
nearer
Deathl and there was so much to live
for-ki Xii. the competition, her pa
rents. If she died there, no one would
ever know her fate. The com pressed
lips parted Just a trifie and the small
shapely head leaned forward with an
almost imperceptible movement The
cup came closer She hesitated to think
Death" said a voice behind her.
"Drink!' came from the robe.
The words were all that broke the
tomb-llke stiffness of the chamber save
the breathing OF the girl She would
drink. then perhaps the awful ceremony
would be ended
The full, round lips kissed the cold
edge OF the cup. The hand which held it
tilted it Just little. and the blood OF the
dead and the lips of the living met The
liquid stained the crimson lips with q
shdHieitss reu. the STAIN crept into the
white teeth and trickled down her
throat. She shuddered and felt as II
the blood OF the dead had paisled her
limbs. She choked, gasped and strlg-
gled for air.
Suddenly the cup Was removed. . mur-
mur went through the throng lights
blazed up, the hoods of the assem- /. age
were thrown back and the faces Of the
band were revealed
/ The figure in the robe OF yellow ad-
vanced and. extending his hand lifted
I Sho slal to her feet. She stiil held the
sword which had been given her
brother" said the man. there i. but
one thing more for you to do Many
have lacked the necessary courage to
face this last ordeal. and SO have lost