The Hayti herald. (Hayti, Mo.) 1908-1922, 1920-08-12


dens, especially one. He moved into
the hall, keeping close to the inner
wall He came to the familiar door.
There was no time to knock.
The victrola was still there. With
little cry of dismay the servant Of the
princess arched his back and ran for
ward quite hideous in haste and hate.
Lexington stopped him and picked up
the knife that fell from the yellow
hand. There was further brief busi-
ness of wadding the mouth Of old Flu
All and securing his enraged members.
Then the white man, his heart pound
ing, ran to the raised couch. She was
there. He closed his eyes a moment,
because Of her lovellness, his own re-
lief and the strange hurt. Her race
held the calm of that shadow of sable
wings Con knew the satiny black be-
meath her eyes. In fact, the yellow
bowl had been left here within her
reach when she wakened. He bent over
and stared into her face.
Helen" he whispered. "Helen.
wake up! They are giving you death.
do not mean to make you unhappy.
Do not sleep, 1t Is poison, you must
not! want you to live. Oh, princess.
there Is America"
He did not know what he was say
ing to her Her arms and shoulders
were limp as he touched her, lifted her
| little from the colored cushions.
| Without opening her eyes, she smiled
| family. and 1t maddened him to think
| that she was pleased with some phan-
tasm in a subtler world, perhaps en-
tirely unaware of his own presence.
| The deep shadows about her eyes
| seemed to stab him. He raised her
| closer to him. He was pleading. He
smoothed her temples. His hands
shook as he breathed the full story of
his heart. The universe was only this
| that she lay faint in his arms, that
her white beauty possessed him, that
he could not reach her, web always
between, delicate yet unbreakable. She
sighed, as a child who enters new
depth of rest. and it punished him.
She had not opened her eyes.
The leaves rustled outside the case
ment. From silver vase on q taboret
white rose petals drifted down to the
rug. Curtains Swayed gently in the
movement of the air Afternoon sun
light crossed golden through the oaks.
Out of the age-old secrets of the heart
Lexington knew the mystery of high
desire, as If q race of men, stalwart,
tender, true, had gone before him, lived
and loved and perished, that he might
breathe the same air with his princess
in this hour, might feel the softly rush
ing storm within himself, and pledge
his all to the beauty Of one who did
not speak,
Again he leaned over her, and whis-
pered rapidly-Only the great hazards
mattered now-'Tell me. tell NE"
IIelens throat trembled, beneath the
smooth skin a ripple of effort, but she
did not unseal her lips. Con covered
, his eyes with his arm,
Out of this moment Of intense quiet
he heard footsteps great leaping falls
He turned, crouching. A Nubian. 9
giant, passed, his dagger steady as
bronze, his eyes red. He rushed, anC
Lexington stepped aside. The fray
must be led away from Helen. The
negro also reckoned on this. Con mad,
sure of the knife he had taken from
the servant, Flu All, who was still
tightly bandnged, lying near the door.
They faced each other. The grea
black rushed again. Lexington crap
pied, parrled, and they swung around
He could do nothing with his knife
Another wild down thrust from tn
Nubian, lunge with lion power in II
Gray foam stood out upon the negro
lips. A mighty hinge of ebony was clos
ing upon Lexington, who felt his leg
giving way, and the borrowed knit
pried steadily out of his hand. Hi
head was gradually being forced bacl
. ward. CatlIke, he wrlthed loose hi
right arm, and flashed blow to III
black neck, but II was like hitting
rug. The African was mouthing no
Iy. For all that life meant, Con clun
: 10 the dagger-arm. He was lifted clea
of the floor, to enable the black to az
lust him at his leisure for the fin;
stroke. All the agony of life's untas
l ed cup came to Lexington as b
4 thought of Helen. He could see her.
4 Suddenly the Nubian cried out an
4 seemed to lose control. He dropp'
Lexington who snatched the weapc
from him. He was screaming al
| stamping. Upon his shoulders clur
i, a small white-faced monkey, his tee,
NJ holding deep, eyes staring out at not
ing. The infuriated black would SUI
mon the entire palace with his how
le Con drove the dagger twice below Il
Il: ribs. and the giant toppled into silenc
le while the little beast bit and bit, dout
at less repaying black cruelty and whi
m friendship at the same time. Bes
le turned inquiring eyes up TO Leyingto
iy who had no time to express thank
" Retaining the Nubian's weapon, he fl
g. past the gagged and fright-ridden
A All, and out of the apartment, dodgil
ed down the corridor. There were ru
tn ming shuffies behind him. He gain
- A nd OF.