Page:Frank Owen - The Wind That Tramps the World (1929).djvu/96

 "Why did you drag me away?" he demanded angrily.

Woo Ling-foh opened his eyes and smiled wanly. "To save you from being crushed by the dawn," he said slowly. "You are still a mortal. The terrific beauty of a rose-dawn in the Blue City would crush you to death. You would be blinded, dazzled by the light, scorched by the glory of the sun. Would you want such a hideous death of beauty? To be blasted by beauty, what more awful fate could ever be devised?"

"But the girl," pleaded Hwei-Ti hoarsely, "what has become of her? Has she been burned beyond recognition? Did we sacrifice her to a death so frightful?"

"No," replied Woo Ling-foh, "we did not leave the girl in danger for she was in truth but a spirit and therefore she was safe in the spiritual Blue City. It has been given you to see that which few men have ever witnessed during their natural lives. You should be content. Because one cannot always see the Blue City does not prove its non-existence. For neither can one see with the unaided eye the ultra-violet ray. But enough. Do not dwell too much on the happenings of the night that has passed. It would be unwise. It might unbalance your reason. Too profound meditation has its dangers. That is why no philosopher is entirely sane."

During the weeks that followed Hwei-Ti sat long in his garden. He brooded over the Blue City. A great melancholy descended upon him. He was in love, in