The Key West citizen., 1940-11-21
1hf RQAD 70 SIAM LIN.
b. HRA Hphisr Hanson
B. ttttA Wohise Hanson

great, wide windows. He followed
and stood at her shoulder.
Lynn caught her breath. My
lilac tree!" She Swayed bit and
he slipped an arm around her.
''Temu," she accused, Il told
you my dream and you set the
stage"
''The tower was here and the
tree was here, assure you, Lynn.
Can't it seem possible to you that,
somehow, we have stood here be-
fore?"
IF I turn will you disappear?"
she asked wistfully. .
Neither / nor you this time.
Try it and see"
She turned in his arms. That
sense of exquisite bliss she had
felt in her visions, that sense of
rightness, of being where she
ought to be flooded her conscious
ness.
not let any one else bring you
across the desert -
She gazed deeply into his eyes
and with a little gesture of won
Presently some obscure associ-
alton in her mind caused her to
raise her head and ask, 'Is the
lilac tree the Prince of Shani
Lun?"
Final Surprise
LIE LAUGHED gently. tiara
II Lynn, l am the Prince, Roger
Cornwall, the missionary's son.
You might have known l could
derment put her hands to the
sides of his face.
'Temu, if you knew this thing
was true Of you and me, why
didn't you tell me so in the first
placer"
You were not ready to be
told" he said ruefully. II had
sancied that you would be pre-
pared; that the instant our eyes
met, you would realize that in-
deed, you belong to me and / to
you You would fall into my arms.
But you came to my house in Pal
Shu as a stranger. You distrusted
me and doubted my intentions.
Your brother had deceived you
and put me in a difficult position.
l could not tell you anything. I
could only bring you here and let
you see for yourself"
Her hands had dropped to his
shoulders. She drew back in mock
seriousness.
Il had forgotten, MILFORD. have
a report to make to the Prince of
Shani Lun."
He drew himself up in mock
solemnity ''We are listening"
1T concerns the soldier, Temu
DARN"
The Prince nodded gravely.
My representatives loyal sub
ject."
$50 I had thought" she
paused, "but now see that he
made love to me on the journey
across the desert by every look,
every gesture, every indirect
word he uttered"
The Prince frowned ferocious-
ly. "The scoundrel! We shall be-
head him at once"
They broke out laughing and
he drew her into his arms again.
You shall have ten thousand
husbands" he declared. Il prom
ise to be new man every day of
our lives" He lifted her chin and
kissed her slowly. The sound of
distant cheering came to their
ears. They listened and smiled at
each other.
The people are rejoicing in
this hour of ours" he said. 1--WE
shall be undisturbed until morn
ing when the Princess Mother
will come and inquire if you are
content with me. II is the custom
IN China where a bride, having
known no previous wooing, is
placed in the arms of stranger"
He took her hand in his and drew
ring from the big cuff on his
sleeve. It was the pearl cluster in
the dragon setting.
TO Lynn with love-" he said,
placing the ring on her finger. It
had been cut to fit.
Her eyes met his, smiling ten
derly. MY motto has been full
filed" she said. Three joyous
reasons-you, me, the ring"
They turned once more to the
tree, giving themselves to the
spell of its beauty and promise.
the past and future made present.
Temu pressed a bell and an at
tendant appeared carrying the
golden chalice of the wedding
ceremony. Twin cups tied to-
gether by a red and yellow rib
ben, filled with the rice wine of
good fortune and happiness.
Without untyihg the ribbon or
spilling the contents, they ex-
changed cups according teTthes
ancient ritual and drank to each
other the pledge of love, having
come to the end of the desert
road to Shani Lun.