Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-10-11
The Mystic
Red Lotus
Story Of a Visit to an East
indian Temple.
By CLARlSSA MACklE


1t was twilight when Harry Ayers
and his guest found themselves out
side the Temple Of the Five Signs
They had visited q dozen ancien,
Calcutta temples that afternoon,
and now the dusk had suddenly
fallen.
"Have you the courage for an
other one before dinner?" asked Ay-
ers, pausing at the foot Of the stone
steps.
Certainly" returned Longwood.
"The dozen we have seen this after
noon have not left the impression of
antiquity and mysticism for which l
was prepared"
Ayers laughed. II prophesy that
you meet your Waterloo here, Dick.
I have never visited this shrine, but
Lester has. You know Lester Of
the India bank p
Longwood nodded. "Chap with
white hair-met him at your club"
Lester claims his white hair was
the result Of a night spent in this
temple" said Ayers over his shout
der, leading the way up the steps.
The other made no reply, and to-
gether they passed through the door
and stood in the outer court Of the
temple. Here mendicant priests
squatted about the door Of the in
ner shrine, presenting skinny hands
for aims.
Once past these birds Of prey,
they were engulfed in q pale blue
cloud Of incense, and through it
they dimly perceived large image
Of the Buddha, gay in rich vest
ments and sparkling with gems.
The massive head looked down upon
them with expressionless eyes and
calm, inscrutable face. Behind the
sealed bronze lips were locked Sc
crets of the centuries.
A solitary shaven priest adjusted
q prayer screen and arranged ON
long teakwood table row of porce-
lain bowls. Then he vanished, lcav-
ing the Americans alone in the
sanctuary.
They drew together and moved
nearer the idol. Down in the radi-
ance cast by hanging bronze lamps
their momentary depression fled,
and they examined with interest the
rich carvings and inlaid work with
in the great niche.
As they fingered the silence seem
ed to close in about them like a
wall, and with one accord they turn
ed toward the door, but the door
way was obscurcd in heavy swirlins
clouds of incense, and through the
blur they could scarcely discern
each others pale features.
Ayers opened his mouth to speak,
but the words were never uttered,
for at that instant a low, signing
whisper stirred the silence until the
very air seemed to .vibrate with its
intensity Of sorrow and then died
away.
The two Americans scowled at
the impassive idol in the niche as If
seeking some explanation of the
mysterious sound and the strange
influence that seemed to rob them
of all vitality--to leave them help
less and inert before the inscrutable
face.
Between the feet Of the squatting
god was small bowl OF some
strange substance in the form of
the beautiful red lotus flower of the
east. In turn they touched it with
their fingers and admired it's beauty.
When it was again on the altar their
gaze chung to it, and as they looked
the petals seemed to expand and
float on the misty vapor rs on some
quiet, gray bosomed lake. Again
the long sigh swept over them and
with it breath Of exquisite per
fume from the lotus flower.
With a mighty effort Longwood
tore his gaze away from the flower
and made toward the place where
he believed the door to be. Ayers
followed with laborious painting
hreaths us one who battled against
heavy waves. Solid walls evadcd
their eager search--always the curl
ing, clinging vapor, receding, ad-
vancing in larger pillows until
choking and gasping. they found
themselves once more at the feet OF
the god, where petals Of the lotus
flower writhed and twisted like
tongues Of rosy fame.
Once more the strange whispering
sigh swept over them, sigh heavy
With ominous foreboding. 1t died
away and was repeated, and ther
fell the oppressive silence.
Ayers clutched his companion:
arm. "If it comes once more ] shall
60 mad" he breathed hoarsely.
x<Yt