The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-12

found. She never wearied Of her studies.
The Mahetma's method OF instruction
was almost purely oral. He had begun
by training the memory Of his pupil until
1t was only necessary to tell her fact
to have her retain il ever after in her
mind.
1t was his daily custom to take her for
a long walk about the extensive grounds
Of the women's palace, and in the course
Of these walks he usually told her stories
that conveyed some instructive moral
lesson in an entertaining form.
They stopped TO rest enc day upon
rustic bench in the shade of a magnifi-
cent arbor. In all directions spread the
radiant gardens of the Rajah. where
bright hued flowers OF a thousand varie-
ties glowed and blushed in the sunlight.
Fountains casting crystal water into the
air were placed at the intersections of
the many paths.
the garden to admire the loveliness OF
the little princess. At twelve she was
just budding into young womanhood-
Her face was oval I'm shape. with a fore
head Of remarkable height. Her olive
complexion glowed with the hue Of per-
feet health. and her sparkling eyes had
little OF the look Of study. Her radiant
hair glistened in the sunlight as she
turned to Sankara with an expression OF
perfect contentment.
Tell me funny story this time" she
said. smiling.
Sankara responded with tale that he
had read in q Tamil classic.
Il will tell you how King Ramara
conquered the obstinacy OF the Princess
Peshama," he said. THE princess, who
was beautiful and had q will of her own.
had made VOW never TO marry any
body who could not master her INTEL
lectually. The king, although he lived
a long way off, fell I'm love with her
merely upon hearing of her great beauty.
He went in person, accompanied by his
librarian, the sage Bheta, TO demand her
hand in marriage. Upon arriving at the
palace Of the princess the king and his
companion were ushered into her pres
ence with little ceremony. She treated
them with naughty Indifference, pre-
tending that she did not see them, and
chatting with her companion, a plain
looking young woman of noble birth.
Your Highness,' began the king.
mo attention was paid TO him. He
began again, but without success.
What shall / do?' he asked, turning
to his companion.
"'Let me manage this for YOU said
the sage. who proceeded to influence the
companion OF the princess with his will
power through the eyes. The young
woman, obeying the mental command of
to the king, and praised his good looks
to her. The princess became angry and
ordered her companion from the room.
Still continuing her silence, she drew
curtain between herself and the king as
an indication OF her displeasure. The
sage, by means Of his magic powers, set
the curtain to talking in the kings favor.
The princess angrily tore the curtain
down, whereupon her robe took up the
conversation and she cast that aside.
Then her petticoat was made to speak,
then her undergarment, but the stubborn
princess still held her tongue. Finally
the sage, changing himself into parrot.
told her that she was possessed by the
genii of Ill luck The superstitious prin-
cess was overcome by this, and, throw
ing herself on her knees. confessed that
she was vanQuished. So the king and
the princess were married and lived hap
PLY ever after"
: The aged Rajah entered the arbor just
as the story was ended.
What Is love, Sankara?" asked the
princess.
Sankara hesitated, turned pale and
trembled.
Whats this; can't answer the ques-
tion?" demanded the Rajah.
Most gracious sovereign" cried San
kara, throwing himself on his knees, II
have been devoted to study since my
early childhood. i have lived apart from
women all my life"
You must answer the question of the
princess" said the Rajah sternly. RE
member our agreement"
Twill your Majesty give me timer
pleaded the sage.
THAT may be decided by the prin-
cess" said the Rajah.
"Of course you may take all the time
you like" said the princess, calmly,
onvlx L N know
really is"
Give me thirty days and 1 promise to
answer your question fully" cried San
kara, throwing himself at the feet Of the
princess.
Go at once" said the Rajah. land re-
turn promptly"
The sage bowed his forehead to the
earth. arose and departed. Upon leav-
ing the palace he went to a small inn
upon the outskirts of GoCrinam, where
he hired room under the roof for thirty
days. He bought lock from a neigh
boring locksmith, which he fastened on
the door, leaving orders that the room
was not to be entered by any one. Then
he locked and double locked the door,
lay down on a pile of straw in a corner
that served fer bed and cast his astral
spirit loose.
The vital principle Of Sankara as
cended into the air to the tops of the
highest palms and scared away to the
southwark with the speed of light
Presently he saw a great procession
winding among the trees of a large plain
a few miles from the gates of populous
city.
This may teach me what love isl he
said.
The assemblage was the funeral cor
tege of a rajah. The body Of the poten-
tate lay upon bier carried at the head
of a line composed of thousands of his
mourning subjects. The Rajah's three
hundred widows. who were In closed
palanquins on their way TO the funeral
pyre, where they were to be forced to
accompany their late lord to the other
world, were among the most vociferous
of the mourners.
Sankara decided to enter the body or
the Rajah. His astral spirit flashed In
at the nostrils, and he allowed himself
a quarter of an hour to become accus-
toned to the physical mechanism of the
body before arousing it. Just as he was
about to rise the bearers OF the Ra5ah's
bier arrived at the scene of the proposed
cremation, where a great funeral pyre
had been erected In the middle OF an
open space The mourners ranged them
selves in a circle, in the center of which
the bier and the palanquins OF the
screaming widows were deposited.
Sankara sneezed and arose to a sitting
posture. With a general shout of joy
the recent mourners gathered about the
resuscitated Rajah. His
vyivao wera released and they bathed the