The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-02-10
The Supreme
Sacrifice
By CLAIRE SMITH


pINh '''ND c o.
den redolent with lilac bloom. Her
hands were clasped, her eyes fixed
upon the full moon sailing on in silver
state, her souls thoughts going forth
TO her lover at the other end Of the
world.
She was Agnes Norton, and the per-
son upon whom her heart conferred
was Wade Latham, author and art
LIST. Once he had been a law reporter,
and quite incidentally had acquired in
formation upon which rested the vital
issues Of the great Norton will case.
The Norton family rose or fell on the
final decision upon that noted litiga-
ton.
1t was natural on account OF this
that Agnes and Wade should meet.
Ii was just as natural that they
should love.
The Norton case would not come
up for a year. Wade had an offer
from a publication TO invade central
China and bring back something new
from pen and pencil TO give TO the
NOI GSuCCtSS III liio Vlloit N"i
further, a recognition by tie Academy
of Design. 1t was a great commission
for a young man and Wade ambitious
~ understood It's execution.
A year had nearly gone by. Agnes
had not heard from her lover for near
ly three months. The will case came
up in thirty days.
She pictured him among great tenn
pies, far extending mountain chains,
amid splendid p%ageants Of richly
CARRIED mandarlns-only the glare and
glitter Of a vast empire filed her mind.
At that very hour the man she loved
was at the crisis OF his llfe-a lone
figure amid a lonely, lonely scene. He
crouched behind the figure Of an idol
in a Chinese burial ground, pale.
Thousands Of miles from civilization,
a friendless hunted fugitive, he was
lurking in this forlorn retreat, cling
ing with a natural love Of life to q
mere thread Of hope.
He drew further into the shadow of
his refuge as he made out two forms
approaching. Then at a glance he
made out friends, and spoke to them.
Both the new Corners were MOngoli-
ans. One poorly dressed advanced,
kotowed humbly to Wade, and ven
kissed his feet-reverently, gratefully.
"See," he said, arising and waving
his companion forward as though he
were some supreme person-"it is the
high one of u family-Kwang Lo."
Wade welcomed the 1.-THE, erect
young man introduced. There was a
quiet dignity that attracted.
II am the sacrifice" he said simply.
"The sacriice?' repeated Wade III
wOnderment.
1T is So" was the quiet reply. at
Is you who q month since found the
mandarin at the home of my kins-
man. He was about to be beheaded
for an infringement OF the law. 1t
was that or the payment of LOO
taels.
Wade we'll remembered the circum-
stances. Sheer pity for the unfortu-
nate family had, indeed, induced him
to part with nearly all his surplus
stock Of money.
"Since then" continued Kwang Lo,
"the evil mandarins, thinking You had
money, have imprisoned you in the
hopes Of winning the bride ransom
you could not pay. Last night my
kinsman here enabled you to escape
from Jail. They will seek you every
where. They have sent for me, the
high one of the family, TO get you be-
yond peril, and because for some great
reason hat Is not our affair you must
be I'm your native land speedily"
But l have no means to pursue my
journey from Beiro to Canton" sug-
gested Wade.
"They shall be provided" quietly as
sured Kwang Lo.
True TO his promise Kwang LO re-
appeared shortly with a two-wheeled
pushcart holding a close wicker box
top. Across this was a broad sheet
Of bamboo bearing some Chinese let
ters in bright vermiuon.
In an instant Wade knew what this
meant. The royal sign manual was
always written with a vermilion pen
ell.
Within that wicker covert Wade
Latham was conveyed to Beiro. When
1t was opened he found himself In the
rear room of q Chinese pawnshop.
Kwang Lo had disrobed to the waist.
Encircling him was a band Of gold,
heavy and %unbroken, bearing native
characters. There was some talk be
tween him and the keeper Of the shop.
Then money passed, and Kwang LO
came forward and placed In Wade's
hand a sum equal to two hundred
American dollars.
IL have agreed to remain here the
slave of the shop keeper until I aim
redeemed" said Kwang Lo. 'The
family ~circlet. sacred for generations
surely my family will not allow 1t to
pass TO others at my death! But that
Is naught to you. / am the sacrifice
glory In thus doing for the man who
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