The Hayti herald. (Hayti, Mo.) 1908-1922, 1920-08-19


viewed the shadowy secrets of the Sha
Mo, and presently his eyes stopped
on point in the road, at the head Of
the ravine. He stared through the
twilight, and saw a motionless horse
man there.
He must know. Taking his former
path. down the further side Of the
ridge and around to the cut, he has
tened in the loneliness of that gray
dawn. Creeping near he could not
mistake the large, limp hat. the dis
tnctive fling of the cloak, the pony.
He stood up and ran toward Helen.
what is it?" he asked.
"They are coming for you at sun
RISE" she said. "They will kill you"
I'VE are ready to receive them"
he said. "rhe miners are not at work,
and are not sleeping. They are wait
ing, armed. The plan is to fall upon
the soldiers If they come into the
mines"
You have caused this?"
Yes" he answered.
'For what reason?"
Freedom, for your father and my
self; for the four workers who were
taken yesterday; for the whole under
ground city of miners; and for you"
For me? I do not ask It."
You want to be queen?"
Yes" And she implied that moth
ing could be so natural. She was sur
prised at the question.
You can be queen in America" he
said, with his soul llmping. And who
will remain here for your rule. when
we have done with your army?"
She did not know whether to smile,
or be terribly displeased. He dared
not be serious, lest his heart break. In
the gray Of the morning she was as
lovely as great moth in an enchanted
garden.
you would not be interested In rul-
ing here" said her lover, "if you really
belonged here. 1t Is your white blood
that gives you this strength. All Asia
is only stage-setting for you. Let me
fight today for you, let me lead in your
name. Is 1t so much to be queen of a
solitary city where strangers never
Gomez"
"Never?" she repeated.
After a pause, he asked: "What
brought you out so early this morn
ing?"
yesterday you were dlspleased be-
cause | rode in the full sunlight" she
parried him.
He saw at once that he could not
expect to be given any true reason for
her presence here now, unless
81 am thankful did not miss you"
he said.
"The dawn colOrs are full of Won
der" she replied, evading again.
THAT is true"
"Are you afraid to die?" she asked
point-blank.
"Yes, I'm not going to. i want to
live. Yesterday | told you why, but
you were asleep"
81 could not respond" said the prin-
cess, glacing away at the dark horizon,
"hut | heard distinctly-your words"
LevingtOn's cheeks burned suddenly
at the revelation. She continued to look
away from him.
~ meant my words, all of them,"
he said steadily.
Still she did not turn back to him,
and he asked, "Why do you allow them
to give you the drug?"
81 am not so lonely when / dream"
ut places you more securely In the
hands Of Chez Ming. and he Is no
mans friend"
"He has been my father, always"
| she said.
"This sleep of yellow men Is not
| life-not rulership-for you"
"Would you give me unhappiness
agaln2"
Again he felt the tremendous doubt
that she might be laughing at him
from behind her earnest, lovely eyes
She looked full In his face for hei
answer.
~ will not go away without you,'
said Lexington.
"You may not go at ALL" said Helen
"That is why came here. 1t wa.
| " ouI i Wuulct
to tell you"
"What?"
"If my soldiers kill you, 1T is-no
because 1 hate you"
'Thanks," murmured Lexington, F"
could have died for less"
"Come with my father, the way 70,
came yesterday. and / will do what
can"
"You humble me with so much hon
or" said the one who stood beloy
her, "but expect to be very busy wit
the miners"
The copper light touched her face
The pony blinked at the east, an
far away Con saw the purple mantl
slip from the city, line of faint gol
upon the loftiest tiles of the palac,
Sweetly across the empty world cam
the voice of the hour-gong from tb