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


for the taking; and only one young
white man, almost stranger, to draw
her away from it all. She had been
born to love, yet all her training was
toward power and queencraft. And
there was koresh.
"Helenl" he said softly.
"Speak"
He could not. The wave on which
he had ridden had passed. The old
silence was upon him, the wordless
intensity in the presence of beauty,
timidity before the woman who could
set him free II she would.
A quick sparkle crossed the dead
wilderness to the east. Twilight fled
away, and the world whitened. Still
the princess did not move. She too
was silent. Then from the distant
gate horseman stood forth. Leving-
ton waited.
Go" she said.
"There is only one coming"
ut Is the prince, Yekutoi."
'Will he lead your soldiers?"
ale will never lead anything" Hell
with weariness. Lexington reused
again to the joy of making her unhap-
py. 81 shall ride away" she threat
ened.
'Please wait. Let him come"
For what reason?"
81 won't hurt him." said Con.
"You have no weapon" said the
princess.
He may have enough for both of
,Is."
II see no others upon the road. They
are very sure. They do not haste. Il
is early"
Yekutoi came on. doubtless having
learned of the absence from the city
of his bride-elect. Lexington waited
beside the large stone, hidden from
the prince. A world of meaning came
to him from the fact that Helen re-
| mained. She was not unwilling to de-
coy her prince. Lexington himself was
| acting more upon intuition than by
any reason or plan.
"What would your" she inquired.
81 won't hurt him." he repeated. Il
don't know"
In her calm way, she was looking
straight at Lexington, and he had re-
| gained enough Of yesterday to return
| her gaze. His eyes were robbers, now
| boldly taking the slender curves that
| lay beneath the gray cloak. Another
wave was coming, that would carry
| him
The prince, as he rode along to the
| head of the ravine, was mere pale
| shoot of royalty with the sun dazzling
| his eyes. He was long-boned, languid.
| his slanty eyes peering from beneath
n white satin turban, ringed with
pearls. The pennon hung limp from
| his lance. He was brave with knives.
| His loose-sleeved arms were lax, evil
IDENTIFY weary with holding out the
lance. He made no bow of greeting
to his intended lady, giving her but
word Of Oriental speech. Helen scarce
ly noticed him, but continued to study
the sunrise. Lexington arose from
| concealment and took the jeweled
bride.
| The fright of Prince Ye''utoi was
painful. He poured rapid series OF
syllables upon the white man, who
grinned at him and took down the
lance. Then the waxen face, shining
In the new sun. was ObScured by
pair of upralsed hands. Yekutoi dared
not face what had befailen him. he
forgot the princess. Soft moans came
from behind the fowered sleeve. Lew
ingtop lifted him down from the sad
die. a relaxed form. The prince had
tainted.
Con led the diademed mount down the
rayine to the valley floor beyond and
started the animal away to the south.
He shouted and hurled stone. In
panic, Yekutors horse ran, with one
sparkling bit of color in one stirrup
dangling. Still Helen had not changed
her position. The prince lay upon
the sand.
Lexington said to her: '+This Is the
story to tell them, when you gallon
back. Your father and l secured
horses from large party Of white mer
who came In from the south. You saw
them, a great number, all mounted
The wind Is coming up, so 1t can cover
the tracks they made. But they seized
Yekutol and bore him away. Eacf
moment the prince is being carried
further and further away, to thu
SOUTH"
"You wish me to speak falsely7"
Eyes" replied Lexington.
"It is no devising of my own"
ut Is for your choice" he sal,
simply.
Quietly Helen said, glancing dow
| at the fallen one, II will go and tel
: Them"
CHAPTER wv