The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1909-02-24
CHAPTER YI.-continued.


CHAPTER VI.-continued.
Where is this city, asked,
family
"Yian? don't know. 1t is sweet
with perfume and the sound of silver
bells all day long. Yesterday | carried
a blossom of dried lotus buds from
Yian, in my breast, and all the woods
were fragrant. Did you smell it,"
Yes.
81 wondered, last night. whether you
did How beautiful your dog is; love
him. Yesterday / thought most about
your dog, but last night"
Last night" repeated, below my
breath.
the dragon-claw?"
raised my hand impulsively to my
forehead, covering the scar. What do
you know of the dragon-claw?" ! NUT
tered.
1T is the symbol of Yue-Laou. and
Yue-Laou rules the Kuen-Yuin. my
stepfather says. My stepfather tells
me everything that | know. We lived
in Wan until | was 16 years old.
am is now: that is two years we have
lived in the forest. Look!-see those
scarlet birds, What are they? There
are birds of the same color in Yian.''
Where is Yian. Ysonde?" | asked.
with deadly calmness.
"Yian? | don't know
But you have lived. there?'
Yes. a very long time"
.'ls it across the ocean, Ysonde?'
1T is across seven oceans and the
great river which is longer than from
The earth to the moon"
who told you that"
who? My stepfather; he tells me
everything
"wnl you tell me his name,
Ysonde?'
Their that is ALL
And what is your name?"
you know it. Ysonde."
Yes, but what other Nance"
THAT is all, Ysonde. Have you two
names? Why do you look at me so
impatiently?"
Does your stepfather make gold?
Have you seen him make it?"
"Oh. yes. He made it also in Eian,
and ! loved to watch the sparks at
night whirling like golden bees. Yian
is Iovely-if 1t is all like our garden
and the gardens around. / can see
the thousand bridges from my garden
and the white mountain beyond"
"And the people-tell me of the peo-
pie. Ysonde." urged, gently.
1.-The people of Yian? 1 could see
them in swarms like ants-oh, many.
many millions crossing and recfossing
the thousand bridges"
But how did they look? Did they
dress as l do?"
81 don't know. They were very far
away. moving specks on the thousand
bridges. For 16 years l saw them
every day from my garden, bur never
went out of my garden into the Atreets
of Yian, for my stepfather forbade
me-"
You never saw living creature
near by in Yian?" l asked in despair.
"My BIRDS oh. such tall, wise-look
ing birds, all over gray and rose
color
She leaned over the cleaning water
and drew her polished hand across the
surface.
why do you ask me these ques-
TONS" she murmured; are you dis
pleased?"
Tell me about your stepfather."
insisted. Does he look as do? Does
he dress, does he speak as l do? Is
he American"
american? l don't know. He does
not dress as you do and he does not
look as you do. He is old, very,very
old. He speaks sometimes as you do,
sometimes as they do in Yian. 1 speak
also in both manners"
Then speak as they do in Yian,'
urged, impatiently. speak as-why,
Ysonde! why are you crying? Have
/ hurt you'll did not intend-I did
not dream of your caring! There.
Ysonde, forgive me-see, beg you on
my knees here at your feet"
1 stopped. my eyes fastened on a
small golden ball which hung from
her waist by a golden chain. saw it
trembling against her thigh. l saw it
change color, now crimson, now pur-
pie, now flaming scarlet. 1t was the
symbol of the Kuen-Yuin.
She bent over me and laid her fin
gers gently on my arm.
why do you ask me such things?"
she said, while the tears glistened on
her lashes. ut hurts me here she
pressed her hand to her breast-'1t
pains-I don't know why. All, now
your eyes are hard and cold again;
you are looking at the golden globe
which hangs from my waist. Do you
wish to know also what that is?"
YES" l muttered, my eyes fixed on
the Internal color flames which sub
sided as I, spoke. leaving the ball a
pale gilt again.