Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1914-03-06

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AS he spoke, the women stopped
walllng; I saw their faces light up for
moment, and then the impassiye
oriental calm fell upon them as a
mask. But the Brother of the Moon
and Nikolai were now in earnest con-
versation, and presently the prince
signed to him to come upon the car
pet and sit down at his side. Then he
pointed one of his claw-like fingers at
me, raising his eyebrows. Nikolai re.
sponded with nod and poured forth
a flood of impassioned speech.
After five minutes Of this, Nikolai
called to me and began to translate
their conversation.
You know, my dear Summers" he
began. "that China is the land Of con-
trasts. It appears that we have come
here at a most fortunate moment.
The prince, who was somewhat out of
favor with the empress, has been COM
pletely forgiven and promoted. Hence
forward he is to have the privilege Of
wearing two yellow buttons instead
of one"
HE doesn't look as though it pleas
ed him any," said.
That" rejoined Nikolai, els part Of
the Chinese system of etiquette. By
all this lamentation it is the princes
design to show how wholly unworthy
he considers himself Of this honor
that has accrued to him. Well, Sum-
mers, I've taken the bull by the horns
and told him about the object of our
mission-the vase. And he will give
1t to us-upOn one condition"
"What?' I exclaimed eagerly.
THAT we go to the empress palace
| at Pekin and, as deputation, thank
her for the honor which she has be-
slowed upon him"
''Why should he select two foreign
ers?" asked suspiciously.
Because" answered my companion,
eve are to go in the guise of emissa-
ries from the British government.
You must know that it was the favor
of Great Britain alone which has pre-
vented him from having been put to
death long ago. Now the yellow cord
is the symbol Of promotion, yellow
being the royal color of China, and
we are to take back the cord as a
symbol Of the princes gratitude, at
the same time conveying quiet hint
that the British government finds the
promotion peculiarly pleasant"
I began to see. Twisted as it was,
the Chinese mind seemed, at the bot
tom, much the same as ours. I could
imagine an American, under such GUS
toms, resorting to much the same
strategy.
eyes, our presence will be at once
an acknowledgment and a threat, ;"
said Nikolai ct, of course, shall be
the leader Of the deputation and you
my subordinate"
"And the vase?" I asked.
'The vase?" asked Nikolai Of the
prince.
The Brother Of the Moon looked up
and gabbled off something.
"He says it will be here within three
days. said Nikolai II have told him
frankly that we must have the dupli-
cate of Prince Soltykoffs. We shall
remain here until it's arrival-and
take it with US"
On the fourth day the vase arrived,
and with that my skepticism departed.
For this was, in very truth, the dupll-
cate of the peach-blow vase whlcn
Soltykoff had showed us. Surely
none but the skilled Chinese artificer
could have made two vases so similar
There was the same iridescent sur
face the same delicate dimensions
the same fading, appearing, translu-
cent glow. Indeed, had the two been
placed side by side, doubt wnetner
/ could have told one from the other.
And with the arrival Of the vase
came a couple Of magnificent palan-
uuins and a whole retinue of servants.
We were attired in silken robes; COST
" gifts were showered upon us, and
at last we set off again along the road
to Pekin. in very different style from
that which we had displayed Wnen we
departed.
The report of our mission had evi-
IDENTIFY spread among the natives, TOT
everywhere we found crowds lining
the roads. strewing them with lowers
LAUGHING and kow-towing and beatlng
drums: the whole countryside was en-
fete for us. But little did we care
for these things, for in an inside pock-
ct of Nikolai's superb sable CLOAK re-
posed the peach-blow vase. ;.
Thus. in royal state, we entered
Pekin and lodged in the west wing
of the empress palace. It was a CITY
in itself-a fair city set among spien-
did gardens, through whose blossom.
ing cherry trees 1 saw the maidens OF
the court strolling among rustic
bridges and little trout brooks.
seWell. Nikolai," said that evening.
~at last we have achieved fame ana
riches. That was the oldest e1pe-
r;ence / ever encountered we
samed to happen in at the psychology
cal moment" :.
He flushed a little and looked al
me guilty.. ad