The Morris County chronicle., 1908-06-02

overcome the eight great crimes,
fasting in silence (even as did the
blessed Mahavir, who for months
kept his eyes fixed upon the tip of
his nose); he had yanquished ali
human passion and infirmity, and
now therefore that he has crossed
the ocean of existence, his life re-
mains to us for an example,
The Brahman made a gutteral
sound Of intense contempt "An ex-
ample truly!" he exclaimed; and then
coming nearer, and lowering his
voice as he bent his cold keen eyes
upon the others face, he asked:
Know you how he died-and why?
Hear then!'
It was wild story, that was
poured into the jams unwilling ears,
story of stolen joys, of detection,
hideous punishment and fierce des-
pair; it was small wonder that
Acharya Chick utterly refused to be-
lieye it,
Where is this perjured dancing
girl of yours" he said. ! would
fain question her"
The girl?" said the Brahman.
dryly. Where not you, Acharya
Chick, nor any man, will see her
more. And this man, forsooth, is to
take his place among our divinities
his shrine is to be decked while the
idol of sacred silva Graves garlands
in vain! Nay, this shall not be. /,
his unworthy priest, protest against
this last outrage. Let this image de-
part, which you know not how to
honor-let it depart, / say!"
Mild as the Jain was, he was not
going to be bullied in his own temple;
the attack on Chalanka had aroused
his tagging enthusiasm, besides, the
Brahman's demands was too uncon-
scionable to be treated seriously
i have spoken, 0 Ram Chunga,"
ne said; leave me to administer my
own temple and go in peace. ~
You refuse?" said Ram Chunga,
and his brows grew black.
Il refuse!" said Acharya Chick.
Then hear my warming. Not
long can such obstinacy go unpun-
ished. Our gods at least have not
dreamed themselves to eternal
apathy. They can reward, and. what
is more, they can punish. Quick are
they to feel a slight-yea, and to re-
venge it,
He turned and strode down tho
path, with his aquiline nose high in
the air, while the Jain stood in the
portico for few moments, watching
the Brahmans scarlet cap as il
burned in the sun every time he
passed out of the shade, before he
went into his temple, with a new
reason for disquietude.
He could not, he would not believe
so terrible SANDER. and yet he
wished more than ever that the head
guru had not been so positive about
the new idol. He was more deter
mined than before to observe q
marked moderation in the offerings
he laid before it.
Thus resolved, he shook off hjs
slippers on the marble pavement Of
the vestibule under the central dome.
and unfastened the heavy and richly
iniaid doors which communicated
with the idol chamber, large, cool,
and dimly lighted place, where tina
air was charged with the accumu-
lated fragrance of constantly renewed
blossoms of the champaok and kind
of oleander
The gloom when the priest entered
made it difficult to distinguish OBJ
jects very clearly for a time, but as
his eyes became more accustomed to
1t he made startling discovery.
Some impious person had entered
during the night and stripped the
idols of their jewelry, The robber
had even dared to carry off the fresh
ly dedicated flowers and fruit, for
the affairs which Acharya himself had
seen heaped the night before were
barred.
But the next moment brought a
certain relief. 1t was not sacrilege
after all; neither jewelry, fruit, nor
flowers had been actually removed!
The earrings and necklaces loaded
the idol of the new tirthankar, be-
fore which the whole of the previous
days offerings were heaped in pro-
fusion.
The sight made Acharya extremely
angry notwithstanding; the temple
ministrant (for Acharya himself
merely superintended the ceremon-
ies) was youthful and fervid, but
still it was ill-judged of him to give.
this invidious welcome to the idol of
local celebrity.
To be Continued.