Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-10


his ear: MY lord, my dear lord-!'
They got the horse off him. and Nicholas
examined his bones, but found them whole,
| though he was badly bruised and glad
enough of seat in one of the carriages
for the rest Of the day.
Well, Bettiah beat Motihari most shame
fully, the latter only scoring three clean
Kills to eleven, but Birkhana was not jul
bilant; there are other things in the world
besides, pig, and he felt, after Loda's gal
liant rescue, that in some curious manner
she was lifted beyond him; his compli-
ments and attentions suddenly seemed,
even to himself. futile and meaningless.
Loda was more gracious to him, more con-
siderate; but once, he saw her eyes wet
under the shadow of her turban, and there
/ was soft radiance over her face that he
did not understand and which awed him
somewhat He knew mserably these signs
were not for him, but like a brave boy,
hid his troubles. He had been so sure in
the morning-not that she loved him, but
that the way to it was clear-and now in
the afternoon a little cloud had risen, sure
ly no larger than a mans hand and
whence or why 1t came he knew not, but
his hope was suddenly dead. And the girl
was finding time from some deep emotion
to show him gentleness and give him aid
in the decent burial of his dead.
He left her later and went over to the
carriage where Meredith was, and sat and
smoked and talked with him, and when
they parted these two were friends-per-
haps for Lodas sake, though no one word
OF her had passed between them. Birk-
mana had pressed the hospitality of Bettiah
upon him, telling him how gay and worth
while visit it was, with all the pilgrims
passing through on their way to Holy
Fashupati. And Meredith, warming to the
young fellow. whose eyes were full of pain
despite his brave front, promised to ride
out two days later
And then Motihari and Bettiah parted
once more. Mahommed brought Loda to
the carriage and stood by while herewith
strove to thank her again. but she stopped
him quickly: mot now else you will
think you have paid all my dues and will
forget to come and see me when you are
well. Au revoir. Doctor Meredith
AS, As Mahommed rode home by the
Of the day by the head of the h.sI prophet.
child! l grow prouder of thy wisdom and
skill every day! That ride, and the way
thou didst handle the pig! Twas only
matched by thy skill in handling this young
Hindu Birkhana and Meredith. Truly, J
could not see how to hold them both yet
thou hast not only done It, but Joined them
together in friendship; how didst thou
manage it, child?'
Il did but tell him strongly In my
Thoughts that his desires were vain, and he
Is sensitive. receptive and-understood."
And thy doctor-man. what didst think
to him: or perhaps thou didst speak to this
one. chg, he asked railingly.
My lord, 1 have followed thy guidance
In my every thought and word to this
man." ~
And hep
HAS responded, even as thou didst fore
see he would"
us he prepared, dost thou think, to make
the change boldly now?"
MOSTLY surely he is. He will come to
Bettiah, and l. shall have gone on to
Girza-il-Kab with thee, leaving word for
him to follow If he cares to see me- Then
thou and he can settle thy plans together"
fc CIi
prepared to carry out thy part to the end
to follow this man to his house?''
Follow him? As what. my lord? Nay, l
did not understand: thought thou wouldst
take his body and fight his fight
NOT so. My men will not fight under
any other leader save me. and this man
cannot win without the aid of my people
So he must even go and fight his fight and
thou must go with him to hold him to ouI
will. while l aid him and fight this last
fight as Yah Mahommed Nay. child, listen
and be not so cast down. There is no shame
in this matter Thou wilt go as the priest
ess of his house. the heaven-born guide
and champion Of this wondrous avatar--
not as wife or concubine."
But, my lord. hast thou considered that
this man has come to be other than he was
when he lay sick at my house?'
Thou meanest-?-
''He is lover today"
''Tlc! Tic, So much the better He will
but the more readily bend to thy will
and his should overpower me?'
Nay, I will not suppose thy foolish
fSncies; thou art upset by the emotions Of
the day"
But. my lord, truly Il
But truly, child broke in Mahommed
testify, thou must let it drop! Thou didst
have these fears from the very first, yet
one by one the dangers have been passed
and l tell thee now as / told thee then
there is but one thing in the whole universe
that can foil this matter"
And that?" she questioned, fearfully.
''The will OF Yah Mahommed; there is
nothing else!'
So 1t came to pass that Meredith, at the
weeks end. rode into Bettiah and found
that LOda had gone with MahOmmed and
Birkhana up to Girza-il-Kab, leaving a dak
set for him to follow and Israel Ben Alif to
guide him on the way. And three days
later a runner brought letters for Mckenzie
and Nicholas from Allan begging them both
to excuse his sudden night, as business of
vital Importance had called him away from
Bettiah
Nicholas Immediately posted off to the
city and saw the maharajah, who told him
quite openly that both Meredith and Birk-
hama were up in the mountains with Yah
Mahommed and that he considered them
"beastly lucky; that he would be up there
himself If it had not been for very strong
hints from the resident that 1t would be
Objectionable to the people of Calcutta. He
did not know, nor care. which side Ma
hommed was going to take in the affair, or
even II he was going to take any at ALL
and he considered that il Nicholas was
anxious about his friend. the best thing to
do would be to follow him up there though
he acknowledged it would probably be a
hard journey without guides-with the pos
sibility of finding the people gone when he
got there.
Nicholas rode back to the station in a
very bad temper. He blamed himself for
not having spoken to Meredith after that
night at the ruined temple and obtained
some kind of an explanation, which might
have guided him now, but when he had
found Meredith comfortably asleep in bed
on his return that early morning he had
baked at the talk. seeing how unpleasant
1t might easily become IL Allan took offense
at his espionageIc 81
CTo be continued tomorrow.)
Hyattsyille and Vicinity.