Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-01-21

far from cheering to remember that
Andrew March had lost his nerve.
Con looked at himself In the clear
shield. and did not recognize the hard
brown face reflected. The sun that
had darkened his skin had bleached
his soul. The garb of q Tartar trans
formed more than mere appearance
white blouse above a wide SASH legs
wrapped from hip to knee In white.
He removed the snug turban, and
glanced again. to see II any semblance
remained of himself. He saw In his
own eyes the tension of one who
knows death to be near.
Impatience seized him, and he
crossed the roof to the stairway. No
one prevented his going down. To the
left were walled garlen. the sing
ing of bird. and dull rhythmic
sound like pumping. He went to the
open gate. The garden. close walled,
was rooted with vines, which con-
cealed the bird. bronzed slave,
nearly naked, lounged against the
arch at the gate. A radiance. soft and
cottony, was reflected upward from
the smooth 'fiagging Of the path. Lev
ington did not Immediately understand
the persistent beating.
This garden was n green and frag-
rant stiffness In which rested a palan-
quin with curtains parted. Beside
this. on the gray stones, men were
kneeling. five OF them, old warriors
whose day was nearly done. A second
slave stood near. humping bone
drum. The guard at the gateway did
not trouble the white intruder, for his
chin was nodding with the drum.
Again the hidden bird spilled melody
like shattering crystal. The robes of
the five who knelt were varIcolored
The palanquin was canopied with pur-
pie and silver and pearls.
Within 1t, squeezing the cushions, was
thick. soft bundle of a man. The
bird and the gentle drum had lulled
him. His cheeks were the pallld yell
low Of lemons over-ripe. but his closed
eyes were overcast and gray. He was
fat and royal. The line of his mus
taches was thin black, and long down, \
like dropping floss. His queue was a
black rope. A hand, wide and pale,
rested limp upon the silken arch of the
abdomen. Something of ancestral
quality was hid in the fat of his face,
an essence of dominion and bitter
statecraft; narrow regal brow.
sharp nose, a besotted jowl-all the
splendor of his Inheritance now
dimmed under a perfumed monotony.
He had paid the full tribute to drug
and food and senile pursuits.
Lexington was free to gaze The at
tention of all present had vanished.
The drumming possessed their senses;
also they were totally unaccustomed to
strangers. Perhaps they mlstook him
for another slave, not regarding him
directly. There was soothing cool
ness in the blossomed air, an overmas-
tering scent of honey and cinnamon.
One of the robed figures rose slow
ly and moved to the head Of the
drowsy monarch. From yellow bowl
he extended his fingers to the mon
FOULS eyes, and caressed the lids with
reverent, poisoned tips. The other four
in the party rubbed their own eyelids.
in catlike delectation, then bowed
again at his feet The bird hesitnted
in his song. but the sober pulsing Of the
drum went on and on, until It seemed
part of the planetary life. Con leaned
near the outer guard, who had not
turned. Sunshine trickled through the
matted vines. Cons foot began to press
the stones in rhythm with the drum.
From screen of flowers appeared a
girl, to dance. She was 1.-THE and dark,
her glistening hair bound up with
gems. Sun-amber mottled her shoul-
ders and body as she swayed before
the monarch, and the treble Of the bird
again colored the air; or Mt least Con
saw 1t that way. AS the maiden
danced. she touched the yellow bowl
with her finger-tips. Her arms were
shining serpents of grace as she anoint-
ed her own eyes with sleep. A slow
sigh Of pleasure floated up from the
cushions of the palanquIn. There fat
hand trembled, started, then failed
dreamily. The monzoul was thorough
ly under.