The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-06-19

the writer Mr.. Comfort, and was told
new books to bring me. Chez Ming
says that Mr.. Comfort is the Root Of
Islam."
II suppose" said Con, "you would
need to have Chez Ming's mind to
know what that means"
But March only said to Lexington: !:
"Imagine If we had missed the old
devil on this last tripw
els Chez Ming an old devil2"
Both men turned to look at the
princess as she uttered the question.
Lexington found it wonderful to be so
near those eyes. He could not fathom
her. Perhaps she really did not know
what was meant concerning her teach
er and doctor; yet the light In her
eyes was almost provocative. Possibly
she was laughing at them. But to
March she was only his misguided
child.
"That is difficult to answer--to you."
said he. Perhaps he Is not devil In
the sense Of cryptic hierarchy. To do
him justice. I must say that he has
shown some taste in your education.
He has given you the highest mode Of
life In his kingdom. Also he has risked
a great deal in trying to bring Amer
lea to you. 1t was thoughtful Of him
to converse with you In English. so
you would not lose the mother tongue.
His plan to blend the races Of all man
kind into perfect empire is founded
upon a deep spiritual law. But he
does not understand that idea proper
ly. He does violence to the hearts Of
his people. If you were little older,
you would see at once what I mean.
1t does not matter that Tau Kuan did
not participate In the building Of
Babel, If that be a true story. Tau
Kuan Is false now, and Chez Ming's
notion Of blending is cold and out
rageous. He may be chaste and obe-
dent to his gods, but he Is terrible. He
is not human. he may not see himself
as q dew md there Is none to stop
him, but
March paused. and Helen reflected
moment, her eyes shadowed. She
glanced at Lexington, but turned away
hastily, as If he would divine some
thing too personal. She carefully re-
piled:
"When Tau Kuan had woven every
human element, and has become bal
anced. and a perfect race Of men has
arisen, they VIII go forth to the four
quarters. carrying new life and pure
tradition to all the world"
"Splendidw said Lexington, 'but the
United States Of America is doing that
now, has been making q success Of
that idea for hundred years, with a
hundred million people"
The princess was startled, and her
face seemed rather pale as she stared
at him. It was apparent that she cher
ished the plan Of the empire Of the
Yellow Sun. perhaps because she was
born to be an American. Lexington
wondered If she knew what the
Asiatic Interpretation Of this idea
might require. from herself In particu.
lar. In caliphate and khanate, there
can be NO plan Of priest. warrior or
king that Is not discussed behind the
lattices of the female courts, and no
girl is too young to know her place in
the scheme. Indeed, the statecraft of
the Orient often originates within
these fragrant sanctuaries.
Tau Kuan imprisoned much Of
beauty. Helen had been broadly edu-
Gated. Lexington was tossed unhap-
PLY between the girlish purity of the
princess and the probable depths Of
her sophistication. Something, per-
haps a masculine pride, limited to him
hat ho ctvr y <,ro
credulous white men. Something re-
minded him that she had Irish blood,
the spring Of sublety and grave humor.
The same faculty In Con reminded
him also how nicely she had concealed
, a surprise that would have been nat
ural upon meeting two Americans for
the first time in her life, and particu-
larly one Of them her own father.
Yet this might be nothing more than a
result Of Chinese training, the self
control that nothing can disturb.
"Yes," she said slowly. II have heard
OF the Melting Pct, but Csss Ming says
there Is no fire under It."
"He knows better than that, for he
has been scorched by It," said Con.
But a race does not rise to great
ness by fear and force" Andrew
March was saying ardently. "A city
cannot become perfect against its WIN,
There IL no love In Tau Kuan."
Helen was pensive. "That 10 what
mother used to tell me-" she said.
March sighed brokenly. Even Besur
halted his self-inspection, and turned
sad small eyes upon his mistress.
Lexington has told you the truth
about our country" March continued.
'"The fire that Chez Ming has over
looked is freedom. II Is not I'm his