The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-11-03
WI.

Whcfc f1OWlett ndQ q not pain ready
and a hotter tumbler of Scotch. Pier
pont sponged the blood from my throat
where it had CONCEALED. The cut was
slight, almost invisible, a mere pune
ture from thorn. A shampoo cleared
my mind, and a cold plunge and alco-
hol friction did the rest.
Now" said Pierpont, Swallow your
hot Scotch and lie down. Do you want
a broiled woodcock? Good, l fancy
you are coming about"
Barris and Pierpont watched, me as
] sat down on the edge of the bed, sol
EMMY chewing on the woodcocks wish
bone and slipping my Bordeaux, very
much at my ease.
Pierpont sighed his relief.
80" he said pleasantly, 1T was a
mere case of ten dollars or ten days.
thought you had been stabbed"
II was not intoxicated" I replied,
serenely picking up a bit of celery.
only jagged?" inquired Pierpont,
full of sympathy.
Nonsense" said Barris. "let him
alone. Want some more celery, Roy?
it will make you Sleep"
Il don't want to Sleep" I answered
when are you and Pierpont going TO
catch your Goldmaker?"
Barris looked at his watch and closed
1t with snap.
TN an hour; you don't propose to go
with us?'
But L do-toss me a cup of coffee,
Pierpont will you-that-s just what
propose TO do Hewlett, bring the new
box of Panatellas-the mild imported
and leave the decanter. Now, Barris,
I'll be dressing. and you and Pferpont
keep still and listed to what / have to
say. Is that door shut tGsht?"
Barris locked it and sat down.
Thanks" said 1. 'BarTis, where is
the city OF Yian?'
An expression akin to terror flashed
into Barris' eyes, and 1 saw him stop
breathing for moment.
There Is no such city," he said at
length, '-have 1 been talking in my
sleep?"
1T is a CITY," 1 continued clamly.
where the river winds under the thou
sand bridges, where the gardens are
sweet scented and the air is filled with
the music of silver bells"
Stop" gasped Barris, and rose
trembling from his chair. He had
grown ten years olGer.
Roy" interposed Pierpont coolly,
what the deuce are you marrying Bar
ris for?''
7 looked at Barris and he looked al
me. After a second or two he sat down
again.
Go on Roy" he said.
II must" 1 answered, "for now 1 am
certain that ] have not dreamed"
[ told them everything; but even as
I told it, the whole thing seemed Sc
vague, so unreal. that at times
stopped with the hot blood tingling In
my ears, for it seemed impossible that
sensible men, in the year of our Lord
1896 could seriously discuss such mat
tiers.
| feared Pierpont. but he did not even
smile AS for Barris. he sat with his
handsome head sunk on his breast, his
unlighted pipe clasped tight in both
hands.
When had finished Pierpont turned
slowly and looked at Barris- Twice he
moved his lips as If about to ask some
thing. and then remained mute.
''Yian is a CITY," said Barris, speak
ing dreamily; was that what you
wished to know. PierpOnt?"
We nodded silently.
''Yian is a city" repeated Barris,
where the great river winds under the
thousand bridges-where the gardens
are sweet scented, and the air is filled
with the music of silver bells
My lips formed the question, Where
is this city,"
1T lies" said Barris, almost queru-
the river which is longer than from
the earth to the moon"
What do you mean?" said Pierpont
"Ah" said Barris. rousing himself
with an effort and raising his sunken
eyes. IT am using the allegories of an
other land; let it pass. Have not told
YOU of the Kuen-Yuin? Yian is the
center OF the Kuen-Yuin 1t lies hidden
in that gigantic shadow called China,
Gf ma mid o
heavens-a continent unknown, impen-
etrable."
''Impenetrable," repeated Pierpont
below his breath.
'T have seen it," said Barris dreami-
Iy. II have seen the dead plains OF
Black Cathay and / have crossed the
mountains of Death, whose submits
are above the atmosphere. have seen
the shadow of Xangi cast across Abad-
don. Better to die a million miles from
Yezd and Alter Quehad than to have
seen the white water-lotus close in the
shadow of Xangf, 1 have slept among
the ruins of Xaindu, where the winds
never cease and the Wulwulleh is
walled by the dead.
And Yian," I urged gently.
There was an unearthly look on his
face as he turned slowly toward me.
Ss"Yian-I have lived there-and loved
there. When the breath of my body
shall cease, when the dragons claw
shall fade from my arm"-he tore UP
his sleeve and We saw a white cres-
cent shining above his elbow-"when
the light of my eyes has faded forever,
even then I shall not forget the city
of Yian. Why, il is my home-minel
The river and the thousand bridges,
the white peak beyond. the sweet
scented gardens, the lilies, the pleasant
noise of the summer wind laden with
bee music and the music of bells-all
these are mine. Do you think because
the Kuen-Yuin feared the dragons
claw on my arm that my work with
them is ended? Do you think that be-
cause Yue-Laou could give, that I ac-
knowledged his right to take away? is
he Xangi in whose shadow the white
water-lotus dares not raise its head
MOI MOI" he cried violently. ''it was
not from Yue-LaOu. the sorcerer, the
Maker of Moons, that my happiness
camel 1t was real. II was not shadow
TO vanish like a tinted bubblei Can a
sorcerer create and give man the wo-
man he loves? Is Yue-Laou as great
as Xangf then? Xangi is God. In his
own time, in his infinite goodness and
mercy he will bring me again TO the
woman love. And I know she waits
for me at Gods feet
In the strained silence that followed
7 could hear my hearts double beat
and and I saw Pierpont's face.