Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-05

gray, twitching lips into the far shadows
And as he gazed, something white and
luminous detached itself from the dark
ness; and in the CLEAN Of the lamp 1T took
form and shape of a mana native in
Sumptuous dreSS-whOSe robes glOwed and
glimmered with strange, unearthly light.
The bunnia's breath came in short,
wheeling gasps as he backed step by step
before that awful august presence till the
wall was reached and stopped him: and
then he began to crawl sideways. like some
great bloated crab. but ever with his eyes
fixed and staring dreadrully. And step by
step that great light-clad figure followed
on, till with sudden courage born of sheer
despair the Hindu held his going and the
figure halted, too.
full minute the two STOOD thus face to
face-a horrid Fear and a dreadful Might;
and then there came again sigh ike TO
the one that had first startled the man, and
this, as the other seemed to fill the tapes
tries with curious rustling echo. Later
a voice, cold, distant, infinitely sad, broke
the silence:
"Juggi BIN Chundra. thy cup is full,
and thou must even drink and go hence
And the burma found his voice whimper-
ingIy: MY lord. II Who art thou ?
What have / done? Lo. am poor man
and full of years"
And the low, even voice answered: Il
am Rama Lalkura Of Bhaitypore, and by
this sign on my breast and that which thy
fingers hold thou shalt know me-"
Slowly the stranger drew aside the flap
of his breast-coat and barred his chest,
and there. pulsing with the same curious
light that shone from his robes, was the
land was looked to with superstitfous awe
Ia very, golden moon!
Again came a sigh, and a rustling echo
which was half a sob ran quiverfng round
room.
Mercy. Mercy! will repay" shrieked
the wretched man; and the answer leaped
on his words In quick scorn. then sobered
to cold monotone again:
"Canst pay back the blood and tears
the agony and shame? Nay; am neither
sent to take thee hence TO where thine &C.
cusers wait. Haste! Thine hour Is come. y
The figure seemed to the bunnia to ex-
pand as 1t came toward him, and the phos-
gled to move, to defend himself. made a
desperate effort to scream and to heng the
lamp at that awful doom which was clos
ing on him. but his cry weakened to
suddenly, his whole body sagging and sway
ing for an instant, and then down he went
crashing to the floor, his face striking hard
on the polished boards. The crystal shot
very feet Of the stranger. but the lamp in
falling broke, and the fame leaped quick
to near rug and caught at 1t hungrily.
On the instant. as the white figure
stopped to lift the crystal the tapestries
behind him flung back and four men
sprang into the room. led by Ben Alif. who
caught the burning rug and would have
cast II on the still figure lying limp and
pitiable now, but the stranger suddenly
lost his dignity and sprang nimbly forward
between the two and with a fierce gesture
stayed the dwarf
let be: who art thou that thou shouldst
slay him.
"Thakur?'' gasped the man. holding OF
in sheer surprise.
AYE. Are thine own hands cleanr
Quick! Leave him. and get out. He was
my enemy. not ttine-and / choose to let
him have his chance"
''Uccha, Thakur: but the tiger who has
bit will bite again..
mot this one. think. But hurry man:
where's the cloak? Here. take this pug