El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-10-23
THE SECRET
BY Wender Fauteau.

~HE great desert lay burning hot
in the sunlight The small springs
\ we're almost dry and looked more
like swamps, but crowds of people were
hurrying along the heavy trail until
tbev caught sight far away Of the holy
city. glistening in the sunlight with Its
don7es and minarets. The streets OF the
CITY were crowded with pilgrims who
had come from near and far for the
next day was the day Of holy sacra-
ment
The CITY slept little that night Dur
ing the long hours the priests WaIkeo
I'm procession and long before dawn tAS
rocky path leading TO the main gaze on
the temple was black with people
sunrise the massive copper doors sm 4Al5
omen and the immense crowd moved
slowly through the vast halL Lne Loot
Of which was supported by hundreds OF
marble columns, and into the great
When the sun was entirely above the
horizon priest dressed In blacA dp-
Deared on the gallery SURF ouIi4lLls -
highest tower and EXTENDED ms Lanls
towards the east he spoke 1ou4s DU-
only as a soft murmur did his voice
reach the praying thousands DeIo"-
From the interior of the temple came d
melodious murmur Of voices. Inc Ger
monv had begun. The suIllng NOT Gay
Dsssed. but nobody moved evening
came, but nobody noticed the IllsAI u
In gallery above a priest appeared
dressed In q white robe, gnsteu-n6 I'D
the moonlight. He spoke to those De
low ana a whisper went through me
crowds. THE Lama is entering tne
Most Holy" - -;-,--
ing of thousands Of voices, increasing
in strength and volume until II was
ike the roar Of the sea suddenly y
stopped and everyone present I-IS"
himself face down on the grouhu-
At mis- moment a black cloud ap-
Droached the fun moon slowly gudlng
across it until the shining DISK was
fully covered, and darkness 1e4l-
Then from the temple came the sOunu
Of a wonderfully clear voice uIlerlns
strange melodious~words IN an uIlAIo w
Ia0Vuage The voice stopped ana tn5
an was filled as if with the peat OF
4 soft song was heard from the high
est tower. and another voice fell IN from
the interior of the temple more aLu
more voices Joined until lhe soLs
sWelIed to q hymn Of triumph anu n LI-
1o7-v and the fun moon shOne as bright
as ever. ,, A.
one of the pilgrims went through the
hall Of the temple prlesI dressed Lu
black appeared from behind one OF Lhe
marble columns and pointing to boy
walking at the older man sldei ne
said.
aThe gods need him, follow me-
Silently they walked through the
endless corridors and magnificent halls
glistening with silver, then they entered
the interior Of the mountain ana az lasl
reached row Of rooms neWn INTO pne
rocks In the largest OF these on a
rafsed platform nine priests were sit
ting dressed in scarlet ana the 1eaoer
among them stood up and said 70 the
boy: 49,. -,s-o,,
-
said Yes" and the priests also sue
ceeded at last in getting the consent OF
his trembling father A snort 4aIe"5Ih
and the heavy doors changed behind the
sad parent
Years passed, and the youth was far
ahead Of all his comrades IN knOWL-
edge and piety. During long, long days
he searched for wisdom in old docu-
meuts and books bound in gold me
I nights he spent kneeling IN 'front.' OF
the holy wax candles lie already knew
l every. corner of the human heart Inc
world and all il had to offer lay open
to his soul. AS the years passed ne
came closer and closer to the fountain
head Of divinity, until he was next 70
the Lama, the great nigh priest
Again the desert was full OF caravans
again the copper gates swung open
! again the ceremonies were repeated
Inside the temple all the priests were
gathered The time had come Tor the
| Lama to choose his successor The eyes
7 Of everyone were directed toward the
throne of the Lama, whose jewels scln-
tiUated in the darkness. The Lama
] spoke softly but no word was lost Dy
/ his attentive listeners.
Then he said in a language which
only one of those present understood.
"He who hears these words bends his
/ knee before my throne.
| A moments silence followed; then the
/ young man stepped forward, who was
I boy 80 years before, and kneeled down
| In front Of the throne. The color came
/ and left his cheeks, but he did not
| tremble. With a regard of kindly pride
/ the Lama looked at him as he went on
/ In the same language:
You have earned a great reward,
! therefore viii put you to a test to see
/ If you deserve all that I have to give.
( When you pass through this door be-
1 hind my throne, you viii find num-
! Der of rooms and in each Of them you
/ viii find symbOliZed a certain career.
/ You may choose the one you think tie
| most attractive. II you make the right
| choice, my most holy will be revealed
] to you and you shall know the highest
| truth If you choose wrong, you shall
| be enabled to follow the path you have
! chosen during the remainder Of your
life"