Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-23
LINE OF suoYs BEARING THE CABLE.
HE SECREI -: 4 Short Story Complete

TIME great desert lay burning hot
in the sunlight, The small springs
Il were almost dry and looked more
like swamps, but crowds of people were
hurrying along the heavy trail until
they caught sight far away of the Holy
City, gIistening in the sunlight, with its
domes 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 the Holy Sa-
crament
The city slept little that night. Dur
ing the long hours the priests walked
in procession and long before dawn the
rocky path leading to the main gate
of the temple was black with people.
At sunrise the massive copper doors
swung open and the immense crowd
moved slowly through the vast hall,
the roof of which was supported by
hundreds of marble columns, and into
the great courtyard within.
When the sun was entirely above the
horizon, a priest, dressed IN black, 6p-
peared on the gallery surrounding the
highest tower and extended his hands
toward the East, He spoke aloud, put
only as a soft murmur did his voice
reach the praying thousands below.
From the interior OF the tempe came
melodious murmur Of voices. The cere-
mony had begun. The sitting hot day
passed, but nobody moved. Evening
came. but nobody noticed the Eight Of
tha hours. .. -,
dressed in white robe, gllstenlng in
the moonlight He spoke to those be
low and whisper went through the
crowds: 1.-The Lama is entering the
Most Holy"
From the temple was reard the sing
ing of thousands OF voices, increasing
in strength and volume until II was like
the roar of the sea Suddenly II stopped
and every one present threw hlmSef
face down on the ground.
At this moment Dlack cloud dp-
preached the full moon slowly gliding
across II until the shining disk was full
ly covered. and darkness fell.
Then from the temple came the sound
of a wonderfully clear voice ultering
strange lnelOdiouS words in an unknown
language The voice stopped and the
air was filled as If with the beats of
mighty wings
A soft song was heard from the high
est tower, and another voice fell in
from the interior OF the temple. more
and more voices joined, until the song
sWelled to a hymn of triumph and VIC
tory and the full moon shone as bright
one of the pilgrims went through the
hall of the temple, a priest dressed in
black appeared from behind one Of the
marble columns and, pointing to a boy
walking at the older mans side, said:
1.-THE gods need him; follow me"
SILENTLY they walked through endless
corridors and magnificent halls g listen
| ing with silver; then they entered the
| Interior OF the mountain and at last
reached a row Of rooms. hewn into the
| rocks In the largest Of these on a
| raised platform nine priests were sit
| ting. dressed in scarlet. and the leader
| among them stood up and said to the
| boy:
'Is II your wish To serve the gods p
| Though the boy was frightened he
| said, Yes" and the priests also sue
! ceeded at last in getting the consent OF
! The trembling father. a short farewell,
! and the heavy DOORS Changed behind the
| sad parent.
/ Years passed and the youth was Tar
ahead Of all hts comrades in knowledge