Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1918-08-01

ing OF ity Hpcs. His Roman nose m.
steady, dark, full eyes suggested no
compromise. Yet he was good to look
at. She had not lied when she said
she loved him, and he understood her
and was sorry. But he did not look
sorry, nor did he offer any argument to
quench her love. He was a servant OF
the raj his life and his love had been
midas since the day he first buckled
on his spurs, and Yasmini would not
have understood that.
Nor did she understand that, even
supposing he had loved her with all his
heart, not on any conditions would he
have admitted 1t until absolutely free,
any more than that II she crucified him
he would love her the same, suppOsing
that he loved her at all. Nor did she
trust the "Old gods" too well. or let
them work unaided.
Come with me. Athelstan !" she said.
She took his arm--fOund little jeweied
slippers In closet hewn In the wall
put them on and led him to the cur
tains ne had entered by. She led down
the steps, and at the foot told him to
put on his slippers, as IL ne were a
child. Then, hurrying as IL those opal
eyes OF hers were Indifferent to dark
Or daylight, she picked her way among
powders that he could feel but not
see, along floor that was only smooth
In places, for distance that was long
enough by two or three times to lose
him altogether. When he looked back
there was no sign of red lights behind
him. And when he looked forward,
there was dim outer light In front
and Whit Of the cool fresh air that
presages the dawn! @-s.,-:1,a 1880.
She led him through gap on to q
ledge of rock that hung thousands of
feet above the home Of thunder, q
ledge less than six feet wide. less than
twenty long, tilted back toward the
cliff. There they sat, watching the
stars. And there they saw the dawn
come. ''a~.,s .S,~
Morning looks down into Khinjan
hours after the sun has risen, because
the precipices shut 1t out. But the
peaks on every side are very beacons
Of the range ut the earliest peep of
dawn. In silence they watched days
herald touch the peaks with rosy jew.
eled fingers--she waiting as If she ex.
pected the marvel Of 1t all to make
King speak.
MN no
gled close to him. and 1t was so they
watched the sparkle of dawn's jewels
die and the peaks grow gray again, she
with an arm on his shoulder and
strands Of her golden hair blown past
his face.
"Of what ara you thinklngT' shs
asked him at last.
"Of India. pripcess."
'What Of Indian"
"She lies helpless"
"Ah! You love Indiai"
'Yes."
"You shall. love me better! You shall
love me better than your life! Then
for love OF me, you shall own the India
you think you love! This letter shall
GO" She tapped her bosom. ut Is
best to cut you of from India first
You shall lose that you may winl"
She got up aud stood In the gap
smiling mockingly. framed in the dark.
ness of the cave behind.
II understand" she said. "You
think you are my enemy. Love and
hate never lived side by side. You
shall sect"
Her hands slipped into his, soft and
warm; her eyes fastened on his and
held them. And as they did SO King
sank, like sack half-empty and top
pied over sidewise on the floor asleep
He neither dreamed nor was con-
scious Of anything, but slept like q
dead man, having fought against hel
mesmerism harder than he knew.
Statesmen, generals. outlaws, all
make their big mistakes and manage
to recover. Very nearly always 1t II
an apparently little mistake that does
most damage In the end, something
unnoticeable Mt the time. that grows
In geometrical proportion, minus In
stead Of plus.
Yasmini made her little mistake that
minute In believing King was utterly
inesmerized Mt last and utterly In hel
power. whereas In truth he was only
weary. 1t may be that she gave him
orders In his sleep, after the accepted
manner Of mesmerists; but II she did
they never reached him; he was faI
too fast asleep. He slept SO deep and
long that he was not conscious Of mems
voices, nor Of being carried. nor Of
time, nor Of anxiety. nor Of anything.
Ito be continuedD