Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-11-14

Death! Parameshwar! Forgive the
sin Of Christian"
Aurora's red lips paled as the fateful
words reached her, but she was not
sure she had heard Alright. 1t must be
her conscience that affrighted her
Did you speak, Prince SanyakaT
she asked in low voice.
mo, Light Of the World, spake not.
What has disturbed my Pearl of the
Occident?"
Anita Lynde was playing a desperate
game to save her old father from the
disgrace of failure in the great finan-
cial scheme of which he was the pro-
moter. 1t was not the prospect of pov-
erty that appalled, her for herself, but
for her loved ones. 1t was not true
that she had rejected the Hindu prince
he had not asked her hand in mar
riage, and she feared that her lack of
fortune would remain a barrier be-
tween them. And she was perpetrating
crime for his benefit that should have
sent him back to Indian had he known
it to grovel at the feet of his gods.
Not that she believed 1t crime. She
was but following the example of
lady of high degree who had done the
same thing, Now her one fear was
that her prince might gain an inkling
of the truth, when her pretty conceit
would in his eyes become a deadly
sin.
At the height of the revel the beau
tiful Aurora vanished as suddenly as If
she had been translated. Her Hindu
prince did not accompany her, but at
the moment of her sudden departure
he stood in the centre of the ballroom
waving his jeweled hands in semi
| circles in the air. and after a revolu-
tion or two like a whirling dervish he
laughed, declaring that he was for
saken by his goddess and Joined with
the rest in the further festivities of the
| night.
Aurora's diamonds and the peculiar
actions of the Hindu furnished food
for much speculative gossip after the
ball. The rumor went forth that the
young American girl had been followed
on that occasion by armed detectives,
who We're present to guard her da-
monds, that they really We're a be-
| trothal present from the Hindu and
were worth kings ransom. But they
We're all wrong. The diamonds were
her own, and her scheme had worked
so well that confidence in her father
was restored and she had piloted his
plans to success. And Anita was be-
trothed to the Hindu the week succeed
ing the ball
The annual American ball which has
just been held in Havana was graced
by the presence of the Princess San
yaka, more lovely that when as Aurora
she appeared there the preceding year.
Gems of great value and diamonds like
drops of light decorated brow and
bosom, but they had not the subtle
radiance of those of year ago. The
prince was dressed in the evening
clothes of an American gentleman and
looked especially bright and happy.
Before coming to the ball they had
each made some admissions.
Light of my Life" Sanyaka had
asked, why not wear the diamonds
that made thee queen at the last
, ball?"
The heart of the princess throbbed
violently. Il cannot, my prince. They
-they-1 no longer possess them"
Il would see thy costume, my Anita
5 Send the maid for it, my hearts de
r light"
The beautiful head of the Princess
Sanyaka dropped. "My sin has found
r me out" she said, but she sent for the
dress. When the maid unfolded II
/ from the tissue paper in which it was
. wrapped in careful layers there was
l visible only a mildew of tiny BLACK
spots, which covered the whole rose
y and white fabric.
a ''These were my diamonds" she said
s in low, broken voice. and then sh,
a took her princes hand in hers and let
y him out on the balcony. The perfec
Cuban night was aglow with millions
d of tiny lights corrugating the atmos
= phere like hosts of electric sparks.
z "We caught them in nets-my mai,
|. and Thousands and thousands o
S them-the pretty glow-worms that di
e in a night, and we tied them in littl
l. bags Of rose gauze, and, struggling t.
e be free, they emitted that wonderful
J. light and every flash of my diamond
cost llfe-and l know the Hindu doc
# trine that souls might be in transml