The Washington herald., 1920-03-18
CHAPTER XXIII.

The urgent Mrs. Ames was ad-
mitted. horror rendering her
speechless. Out in the yestibule,
Fansa had thrown herself across
the body of her brother, and walled
softly. Stephen March was hasten
Ing down stairs. Lexington ex-
planned rapidly in a low voice.
Helen must never know" he con-
cluded. Stephen March nodded.
Together they stood for a mo-
ment in silence before the crumpled
body of the grand vizir. Then Mrs.
Ames wept aloud for the heather.
since they were dead, and Con was
quick to close the door, that the
sounds might not reach the girl in
her room at the head of the stairs.
He felt a peculiar warm satisfac-
tion over the impossible promise
he had given the vizir. After GER
tain telephone business with the
Chinese consul. involving two dead
bodies, he went out into the garden,
because he wanted to be alone.
1t was close to midnight The
lawn was cool. the rose beds fresh
from sprinkling. Lower down, the
pond lay like black glass under the
stars. Crickets were jigging mer-
rily in the grass, and veteran frogs
were in chorus in the sedge. A
nameiess sorrow came over him.
not connected with Chez Ming. He
was the wanderer again.
At first he believed he would re-
turn to Dowagiac, but a sudden
bitter memory of grasshoppers on
dusty lace curtains, and licentious
cats beside the front porch,
nauseated him. He realized that he
had no home.
Out of the road-wisdom of IN.
deserts, he regarded himself now.
The fancies of boyhood were still
with him. He had seen much, and
was not satisfied.
Andrew March had failed. The
stern destiny of the Sha' Mo had
overtaken him. The Empire of the
Yellow Sun had fallen by lust and
revolt, with Prince Yekutoi shocked
to the verge of idiocy, his royal
corpuscles denied. And Chez Ming,
the dreamer of supernal dynasties,
had made his final pilgrimage into
the brutal and bustling West
Lexington said to himself: I've
been taking it seriously. They all
did"
He resolved to go to his beloved
in the morning, mention his great
est and shining wish, accept in
evitable defeat from her, and de-
part with such remnant of grace
as he might retain.
Gently a hand touched his sleeve.
He turned to face Helen. Her robe
was pallid against the dark lawn.
Amethysts of Mongolia shone dark
ly upon her. bodice. Her eyes were
starry.
did they permit you to come ?"
She laughed low. why notT
You have not walked so far be-
FORE"
Tonight I begin. then"
He supported her arm gently
much alarmed and elated.
But"
She was magic upon him; his
voice was dry In a mutiny of
nerves. They walked slowly at the
edge of the pond.
These many days-why have you
been so silent?" He glanced away
to avoid her intimately inquiring
eyes. ''You seem to hold yourself
from me-" she added.
His covenant with himself was
as her words swiftly
altered his rtpint of view. He
recognized in Helen the westerner.
who perhaps did not so urgently
need the protection of a lovers
silence. She was bending toward
him. The gemmed hair of the grass
sent up its fragrance.
''why do you not tell me what Is
in your hearth" she insisted.
He could not say just when she
had drawn so very near, nor why
they paused together. nor how his
arms came to hold her fast. She
caught her breath. Close to his
lips. her laughter was barely audi
BILE.
Helen" he began.
I'VE must be going in" she said
THE END.