The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-19

GREATNESS, he fixed his glowing eyes
full on the startled captain, who at
sight Of the lifted shap steel had re-
coiled, and pointed imperiously to the
door.
Col" he said.
And without another word, another
look, lie Marchant went.
Two hours later the M~aharajah and
his suite had departed, with many
teous farewells to Colonel and Mrs.
Annesley. and profuse thanks for all
the hospitality enjoyed. No special
message of any sort was left by the
Indian prince for Mrs. lie Marchant
beyond a formally expressed regret at
| her continued indisposition. Nothing
ambiguous was said or even limited, and
the society" that circled round the
brilliant Lolly was speedily left to it
self to discuss the events of the past
evening in the usual way that society
does discuss things everywhere. pro-
pounding utterly erroneous supposftiohs
and arriving at totally wrong conclu-
sions. All the gossips, however, were
unanimously correct in observing that
Lolly herself was slngularly silent and
subdued, and that What was still more
wonderful was, that she appeared to
nave grown suddenly fond Of her u
band the colonel.
That same night, OF the shining
fiat roof of his own palace q roof
which resembles a broad open terrace
decked with creepers and flowers. after
the style of the ancient B~abylonian
Hanging gardens" the Maharajah sat
alone. Above him the dense blue of
| ~ -I-. n.NtA1 tf1nlf ill., a d0nan
pierced through by the golden ire-balf
of the indian moon that sailed slowly
along her course with a lazy, lansslid.
movement, suggesting vo%luptuous Idle
ness and sleep. Close by him a great
telescope was set up-man's peephole
Of inquiry at worlds inscrutable; but
he did not turn to consult this, h
favorite companion of his studies,
as was his nightly habitude. He re-
clined restfully In q low chair, the
ield-shape back of which vas carved
curiously, and studded here and there
with turquois, on which now and again
the moon-rays flashed with a greeH-
ish-white glitter. His attitude was
one of calm meditation; his eyes
dreamily watched the solemn splendog
of the midnight heavens. The diamond
clasp of his turban scintillated In the
moonlight like a stray star fallen out
of the clear ether, and the priceless
ruby, set as in a ring on his right
hand. glowed warmly with the u of
blood. He was thinking deeply, and
his thoughts were of love, thoughts
widely different from those OF most
men on the same subject. r.,
Let me not hide this thing from
myself" he said, a aloud. at Is a
sin and 1t is a glory. It is a sin to
love her whom I may not love IL I
live on to bear that guilty living love
toward her. but 1t Is a glory to love II
1 die, and with myself kill all my
erring passion. He-he husband-has
guessed, and will most surely tell her
of my folly. I saw that In his cruel
face. She. in her gentle nature, will
be grieved and panied, perchance she
may be offended. and rightly, to think
that I should dare to love her n live
on. With his fever in my soul, this
desire in my blood. my very life in
suits her. Dead, she will think kindly
of me If she thinks at all. Moreover,
love is life; without love life Is death.
What we shall therefore do now, my
soul, Is to leave this world: we Shall
learn the news of other worlds. hest
81. IL hNe VII dIlu lliinh ia nCIs ~
pearl. my white lily!-yes, let me call
her so once In secret, as IL she We're
indeed mine-to think of her In the pitt
less possession of the man who Is her
husband-this would drive me out of
sober reason. Better to forget It and
go elsewhere. Love Is a mystery
which God or the gods only a ex-
plain. But of this / am sure-that If
a man loves once and truly, he must
so owe always. Custom and law and
creed cannot control 1t; nothing can
change 1t, nothing can pacify 1t, moth
ing can quench the fire burning here"
and he laid one hand on his breast
except the full possession of the one
beloved, and-the other alternative
death. And after death? What shall
I find? Myself again with all my sor-
row? or God?'
He raised his eyes with a wondering
look to the bright moon n stars.
Worlds UNEMPLOYED, universes un-
guessed, mysteries unfathomedi" he
murmured-"all vague and vast and
inexplicable. yet surely full of prom
Use. There must be something-somes
thing behind the veil. when spirits are
stripped of mortality and front each
other unafraid! There must be Lover
there should be Peacei God in Thy
unknown deeps of Life, let me lose
myself and ind-thee!"
Still keeping the same ~restful. half
reclining attitude, he slowly raised his
right hand, and looked thoughtfully at
the ruby ring that shone there: then
he deliberately placed the splendid
jewel between his lips, drawing 1t In
with the lingering delicacy of one WHO
is tasting for the first time some rare
and precious cordial. A minute
or 80 elapsed. and he let his
hand drop gently again at his side. The
ruby centre OF the ring was open and
showed a small cavity within. a cav
ity now quite empty. .s2
yse
(To BE Continued on Monday