Evening star., 1932-04-17

animals stirring in the underbrush, bat every
thing was still. Peace rested over all; even the
trees were silent, for there was no wind. But
it was all real, very real, to Henry Bicycle and
as he thought and wondered about it he
laughed aloud, for a solution had come to him.
He remembered the acci-
dent that had brought
him to the hospital. He
felt-with a throb of hor-
ror-his car skid and <~w
break through the guard = WI
rail of the embankment. MI Ak
1t had turned over and -
over but he had lost cor- II
sciousness before it had
crashed into the river bed
below. In the hospital he had few, very few con-
scious moments What he now believed was that
his brain had been injured. The doctors had
mended his body and sent him into the country
to revive his brain. And it had come to life
again in that beautiful lane, under that glo-i-
Gus sky, bathed in the violet rays with which
the air seemed full. The joy, the lghtness of
his spirit at the thought pervaded his whole
body. He trod manfully forward clarifying
God that he had been made whole.
When he reached the brow OF the hill he saw
below him on the other side an immense valley
edged with rocks and giant boulders. The steep
slopes on either side showed here and there
great patches of brown earth and the trunks
of tall trees naked and dead, which cast their
was green and fertile In the far horizon where
the valley ended it appeared to melt into
pulsating golden glow, warmer, more roseate
and beautiful than any sunrise he had ever
seen. 1t seemed to Henry Bicycle that the
great heart of God was in the sunrise, sending
a shaft of light over the plain, and seeking with
each beat to blot out the shadows of the dead
things that strewed the sides
[ IENRY Bicycle was tired Perhaps it was
] a reaction from the exaltation the sight
of the plain and eastern sky had brought him.
He was afraid he was losing his grip upon him
self, for he felt himself not walking but sinking
into the valley. He felt pressure on his lungs,
a sharp prick in his wrist. His eyes filmed and
he thought he the dim outline of the
doctors face. Then he let himself go.
Presently the pail that had settled over his
eyes lifted. He saw man standing beside the
rude bench upon which he himself sat The
man must have him fall and brought him
there.
He was tall man with white turban ar cund
his head. loose flowing robe, bound about
his middle with a silken sash, reached almost
to his bare feet. In his left hand he held
shepherds crook that as he swayed it to and
fro, took on gleam of golden light or darkened
to a purple shadow. He clearly Oriental
his skin olive, his eyes dark and deep set, a
semitic nose and kindly full-lipped mouth.
IL GUEOuBn HcHIy Digit ) HllIlO LlaC
he had been brought to some Eastern country
for regeneration. 1t would account for the
azure sky, the air, the glory of the sunrise, the
peace and quiet over all. Perhaps he was not
far from the birthplace of the Christ He
thrilled at the thought. The man would know.
Presently he would ask him
'Do-do you speak Engish?" he ventured.
1t was the first time he had heard his own
voice for many weeks "All tongues are one
to me-" the man answered. What a wonderful
voice, Henry Bicycle thought. 1t reminded him
Of the chimes in the old church the
hospital, the chimes that had just pealed the
hour.
"Is that SOP" Henry Bicycle was a little
startled. Perhaps you helped me when fell
just now. You must have II thank you
1t was curious how awkward he felt before this
native. He hoped to get few facts from hin
about the place and people but in spite of hi:
good English there was something odd, some
thing unreal about the man. He had nevel
seen true Oriental in his proper garb before
The man evidently saw his embarrassment
and spoke.
Il am Sharda, the Shepherd of Dreams" HI
said. Il help all who come here
Shepherd of Dreamsl" Henry Bicycle repeated
the words to himself Glad to meet you" HI
said aloud. The words sounded lame ant
common in such place but he could not hell
saying them. 1t was what he always salt
when he met any one the first time. Here wa
man he had wanted to meet for-oh as lon
as he could remember one who could tell hin