The Tupelo journal., 1909-02-26
CHAPTER vIlI.-continued.

~ NOpbo IAh SbhA .
CHAPTER VIII.-Continued.
No animal swimming out in the
darkness along the shore, ne heavy
salmon ~surging, could have set the
whole shore a1ood as though the
wash from a great boat were rolling
in. Could it have been the overflow,
through the Weir Brook, OF some
cloudburst far back. in the forest?
This was the only way l could account
for it, and yet when l had crossed the
Weir Brook | had not noticed that it
was swollen.
And as l lay there thinking, a faint
breeze sprang up and | saw the sur
face of the lake whiten with lifted
lily pods.
All around me the alders were sigh
ing; / heard the forest behind me
stir; the crossed branches rubbing
softly, bark against bark. Something
it may have been an owl-sailed out
of the night, dipped, scared, and was
again engulfed, and far across the wa
ter I heard its faint cry, Ysonde.
Then first. for my heart was full. /
cast myself down upon my face, call
ing on her name. My eyes were wet
when I raised my head-for the spray
from the shore was drifting in again
and my heart beat heavily: NO more,
no more" But my heart lied, for even
as | raised my face to the calm stars,
| saw her standing still, close beside
me; and very gently l spoke her name,
1Ysonde. She held o u both hands.
Il was lonely" she said, "and l
went to the glade, but the forest is
full of frightened creatures and they
frightened me. Has anything hap
pened in the woods? The deer are
running toward the heights"
Her hand still lay in mine as we
moved along the shore, and the lap
ping of the water On rock and shallow
was no lower than our voices.
why did you leave me without a
word, there at the fountain in the
glade?" she said.
Il leave you.-'
Indeed you did, running swiftly with
your dog, plunging through thickets
and brush-oh-you frightened me-"
Did l leave you so?"
"Yes-after-"
After"
"You had kissed me-
Then we leaned down together and
looked into the black water set with
stars, just as we had bent together
over the fountain in the glade.
do you remember"
Eyes. See, the water is inlaid with
silver stars-everywhere white lilies
floating and the stars below, deep,
deep down."
What is the flower you hold in
your hand?'
white water-lotus."
'Tell me about Yue-Laou, Dill Nbu
of the K~uen-Yuin," l whispered, lifting
her head so | could see her eyes.
Would it please you to hear"
Eyes, Ysonde."
"All that / know is yours, now, as
I am yours, all that l am. Bend
closer. Is it of Yue-Laou you would
know? Yue-Laou is DzilNibu of the
Kuen-Yuin. He lived in the Moon.
He is old-very, very old, and ono
before he came to rule the Kuen-Yuin,
he was the old man who unites with
a silken cord all ~predestined couples,
after which nothing can prevent their
union. But all that is changed since
he came to rule the Kuen-Yuin. Now
he has prevented the Xin-the good
genii of China-and has fashioned
from their warped bodies a monster
which he calls the Kin. This monster
is horrible, for it not only lives in it's
own body, but it has thousands of
loathsome satellites-living creatures
without mouths, blind, that move when
the Kin moves, like a mandarin and
his escort. They are part of the Kin
although they are not attached. Yet
if one of these satellites is injured the
Kin writhes in agony. 1t is fearful
this huge living bulk and these crea-
lures spread out like severed fingers
that wriggle around a hideous hand"
Who told you this"
my stepfather."
do you believe it?"
yes. / have seer one of the Xin's
creatures"
Where, Ysonde?"
Here in the woods"
Then you believe there is a Kin
here?"
There must be-perhaps in the
lake
ooh, Xins inhabit lakes?"
Yes, and the seven seas. I am not
afraid here"
"Why?"
Because YEA the symbol OF the
K~uen-Yuin."
Then / am not safe" | smiled.
Eyes, you are, for | hold you in my