Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-04-11
Copyright by the Century CO..

In the middle distance was a CITY
Of red stone, it's battlemented wall
enclosing roofs that cleaned. There
was, rising above all, a palace. its
many-angled roofs and long ea-es
blocked against the west; suns fire
fared back from its lofty embrasures
1t was mansion set upon mansion.
each with the stonecraft Of it's own
age, maze of narrow walls in irreg-
ular layers, pagodas pointing in the
mist, all in a mad, dreamy harmony
of architecture.
The white men logged behind their
captors, and accepted the city and
palace as noble illusion. The
beauty was bitterness, for they dared
not believe, they had not the strength.
"It's all overt" cried Con. "My eyes
are gone"
"Too far" said March, "too far"
The bitches were cool. The main
road passed between patches of un-
familiar vegetation, pale green. The
palace seemed to leer from narrow
eyes, a thin smile that was evil and
secret. It's mass had a strange red
dish cast, like the rust of the desert
At the southern end of the Enclosure
was a grove of trees, nothing less than
North American white oaks, somewhat
stunted, their tops showing just above
the rim of the city wall. Lexington
looked again over the shoulder of his
captor, and was even further from adj
fhnCn &hfn0c RI hfrncoIF
western plains were beginning to veil
under the violet mists of evening.
Higher the palace lifted as they ap-
preached, like an unnatural hill of
bright roofs, and many apartments
perched in fantasy, to be reached by
some inner miracle of stairs Now
from the city itself a murmur ran
around the white men, like invisible
bees.
THE notched wall had but single
broad gate. Beneath it's masonry, an
cient and perfect, they rode FIVE
abreast. A crowd was gathered, to
witness the arrival of trespassers from
a strange world. Gray and brown
faces stared up at Lexington. In them
furt1Ve malice showed.
Some Of the people wore sandals,
but most were barefoot, and not every
man showed q queue. Faces at latticed
windows were heavily yelled. Children
ran about naked and screaming. Old
men, large Of frame but failing and
spent, stood over their sticks and gaped
in ugly amazement. The common
dwellings were close packed under the
Notifications, while the palace was set
further within, a wide lawn separating
1t from all else. Three white fOun.
tains were letting, and the grass was
spread with Observation-Disclosures. A
white-faced monkey grew frightened
at the approach Of the company, and
leapt from the rim Of the nearest pool
to the silver stem of fountain, ana
chung there, watching with haunted
eyes the tattered, uncouth men behind
the warriors.
Here along a marble curb, canop1eo
litter approached from the palace. 1tS
six bearers came gliding swiftly. Inc
curtains we're satin, embroidered In
design of pearls, and the pole was
ringed with silver. The crowd gave
way before it, The black runners were
clad in short white tunics and SATIN
turbans. AS it came opposite, the car
riers halted. and likewise the morse
men and captives. The curtains were
parted heavily.
Con could not for a moment looA
down into the litter, but he heard the
voice. and shivered. The leader OF the
riders raised his land in salutauon'
and it was clear that his reply TO the
voice was one of contrary opinion. a
momentary silence followed this aus
agreement. The people held sun
Then the litter and the horsemen re-
sumed their opposite course. AS tne
white curtains were being drawn Ley
ington forced an instant OF vision INTO
his swollen eyes, and saw, reclining
beneath a soft white robe, the eminent
parsonage Chez Ming.