The Hayti herald. (Hayti, Mo.) 1908-1922, 1920-07-01
was. and If they would be able to e.

along dim. dusky corridors. Standing
at intersections were bowls of ala
baster. each with swimming. flaming
wick in oil. Many other figures in the
semi-darkness appeared to be going
In the same direction. Racial char
acteristics puzzled hin.
He found himself in great vauited
chamber. Inside lofty pyramid Of
glass. The gray slave made abase-
ment previous to entry. repeating the
gesture every five PAGES. all others
of inferior cast did likewise as they
proceeded deeper into the room.
Huge silkcn curtains were swaying
| in the breeze The lower walls were
indistnct with rich, deep tapestry
covering bare rock. He heard purr.
| ing like the echo Of many distant bells,
| wind-borne. A hundred, censers of
| Jade were cloudlng the royal twilight.
Human figures, grouped in back
| ground along a further side. seemed
| insignificant. Levington's boyhood
| dreams were freshened before his eyes.
| He forgot he was prisoner. His at
tendant guided him around the border
Of a dragOn-rug toward the waiting
| group of men. He saw that they were
| warriors in council.
They had forsaken the leathery gear
of the desert, and were cleanly ap-
parcled in silken tunics. but they re-
| tained their swords. He glanced in
stnctively in the direction in which
all eyes were turned. and noted a large
dais. its canopy reaching out above.
He was standing before throne.
Three heavy chairs were upon it,
narrow and high-backed, with carven
dragons for their arms. The central
throne was vacant. A human form oc
cupied the place of state on each side
The one, prince, sat motionless,
his black hair woven with strands Of
silver, green diadem upon his fore
head, from which jewels shone like a
far cluster Of stars. His face was
narrow, yellow as wax, and blank.
| Long, tapering hands rested upon the
dragOn-heads His robe was worked
with silver and emeralds, and the
royal sandals were bright upon mat
of raw silk.
But Lexington was looking at the
other figure. princess. who likewise
waited very quietly upon her throne
with hands folded in her lap. The
brown tresses that yesterday had
streamed down the gray cloak of the
supposed sentinel were now bound
high and stuck with jeweled pins. Her
throat was closely wound with da-
monds. The body of the princess was
small. Upon her countenance was an
expression of untried powers. or so
Lexington imagined. for he could not
look away from her face. which was
dark but not yellow. Her eyes. which
seemed all the while to study the rug
had no upward line, although her
brows sIanted delicately. She was
very unlike the prnce-unlike any one
else. The white prisoner was troubled
He had an impulse to cross themarble
tagging, and kneel at her feet.
From further portal Andrew
March was brought in, and halted
near his companion. The group OF
warriors stood behind the prisoners,
who had no opportunity for exchange
| vi NoiiS. utll II SUN Suultli WilSDtT
passed over their heads. followed by n
sharp silence. Chez Ming had entered
the room.
In his pearl-broidered robe, which
was more voluminous than that of any
other person in audience, he carried
himself with solemnity before the
assembly, bowed with feeling at the
np ho IoiC of fai ipt
stirring of the princes hand, he
Strengthened himself mounted the first
level of the dais. and began to speak.
He disregarded the princess. Levng-
ton thought of the night Chez Ming
had served the coffee in the Wedger
dining-room. and of his first impress
sion of that small head. stony face
, and lean, everlasting body. Cecil
Wedger, In his gold.tipped ignorance
had seen nothing more than a Chinese
coolie who could cook. Now the same
thin arms were gesturing before roy
. atty, and seemed much more at home
: The talk was meaningless to Leving
ton. although II bore upon his fate
f, for the speakers glance turned agair
2 and again to the slender, dark prin
], cess. Once-Or was II only q trick
5 of his sun-racked vision ?-she lifted
;. her eyes to meet his and her lips
4 moved silently. II was done too quick
: ly for him to he certain. He tremhled
e Chee Ming was making a speech o.
( some length with his little bacl
q toward the assembly.
I Before ii was finished. the princess
g arose and. with n stir among he
\ retinue. stepped down from the dais
C Her feet were small and perfect. he
s ankles bound with gray ribbons
s Through the haze In the room he
h jewels cleaned. and the whisper q
n her robe conveyed more TO Lexington
e than MI Chee Ming might be saying
+ A curtain near the throne was draw
q aside, and she was gone.