The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-01-06
vas, and II they would be able to ..


of bangles, moving always inward
at intersections were bowls of ala
baster, each with a swimming. flaming
wick in oil Many other figures In the
seml-darkness appeared to be going
In the same direction. Racial char.
acteristics puzzled him.
He found himself in great vaulted
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 silken curtains we're swaying
In the breeze. The lower walls were
indistinct with rich, deep tapestry
covering bare rock. He heard a purr-
Ing like the echo of many distant bells,
wind-borne. A hundred censers OF
jade were clouding 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 Rim around the border
Of 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 mp,
pareled in sllken tunlcs, but they re-
talned their swords. He glanced in
stinctively In the direction In which
all eyes were turned, and noted large
dais, its canopy reaching out above.
He was standing before throne.
Three heavy chairs were upon II.
narrow and hlgh-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, a green dladem 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 ana emeralds, and the
royal sandals were bright upon a 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 Hei
throat was closely wound with din
monds. The body Of the princess wni
small. Upon her countenance was ar
expression OF untried powers. or SC
Lexington imagined, for he could moi
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 slanted delicately. She was
very unlike the prfnce-unlike any one
else. The white prisoner was troubled
He had an impulse TO cross the marble
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
OF words. Then a stiff sudden whisper
passed over their heads followed by a
sharp silence. Chez Ming had entered
the room.
In his pearl-broidered robe, which
was more voiuminous than that OF any
other person In audience, he carried
himself with solemnity before the
assembly, bowed with feeling at the
foot Of the dais, until, at the faint
stirring of the princes hand. he
Strengthened himself, mounted the first
level of the dais, and began to speak
He disregarded the princess. Leying
ton thought of the night Chez Minis
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. Cecfl
Wedger, In his goldtipped 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
for. the speakers glance turned again
and again to the slender, dark prin
cess. Once-or was II only trick
Of his sun-racked vision Sshe lifted
her eyes to meet his and her lips
moved silently. II was done too quick
ly for him to be certain. He trembled
Chez Ming was making a speech OF
some length. with his little bach
toward the assembly.
Before II was finished, the princess
arose and. with stir among heI
retinue, stepped down from the dais
Her feet were small and perfect. heI
ankles bound with gray ribbons
Through the haze In the room her
Jewels cleaned. and the whisper OF
her robe conveyed more to Lexington
than all Chee Ming might be saying