Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-09
CHAPTER XIX-Continued.

ped with little cry a shot rang out
from the heart of the thirket to he fol-
lowed by another, and then by shrek
of agony and a great confusion of sounds
Shouts and oaths and noisy crashings in
the tamarisks as of many men laundering
hther and yon.
Silenced, with a slight shudder of APP
prehension. the girl drew to Amber's side,
as if instinctively. He took her hand and
drew it through his arm.
Run to earth at last, cried Laber-
touche. Il wondeT--
IF my hopes good for anything" Am
Der laughed. less because he felt like
laughing than for the purpose of reas-
surfing Sophia. this will be the gentle
man who trained the Hooded Death TO
dance. or else lie who
He was thinking with vindictive relish
of what fate he would mete out to the
manipulation of tine Bell, We're it left to
him to pass sentence. But he broke off
as a body of soldiery burst from the
tamarfsks. and. headed ny young Rowan,
hurried toward the three. bringing With
them silent and unresistins prisoner.
Il say the officer called. excitedly, In
advance. heres something uncommon
rum. III > n woman, you kIO"
Aha said L.abertouche, and 'All
said Amber, with click of his teeth.
while the woman on his arm chung to him
the closer.
II thought we'd better bring her to
YOU for she said y Rowan paused.
embarra Ssed. and took fresh start. My
men got to the ford just she was com
ing ashore with three other men. and
the whole pack took to cover on this side.
Two of the men are still missing. but
| ,,,ct ,
this-ah-lady. lie showed fight and got
bayoneted. But the woman-excuse me,
Mr.. Amber-she protests-by George, its
too ridiculous-.
II have claimed naught that is not
true.' an unforgetably sweet voice inter
rupted from the center of the group. II
opened out. disclosing Naraini between
two guards. in that moment of passion
and fear perhaps more incomparably beau
tiful than any woman they had ever
looked upon, save her who held to Am
ber's arm. a-auiver with womanly sym
patty and compassion.
During her flight and resistance Ma
rainis veil had been rent away: in the
| clear starlight her countenance. framed
in hair of lustrous jet and working with
uncomfortable rage and despair, shone
like that of some strange tempestuous
Aphrodite fashioned of palest gold. Be-
meath it's folds of tightly drawn, bespan-
ged gauze. her bosom swelled and fell
more softly beautiful than any Phidias
ever dreamed to chisel, the golden brace
| let's and bangles clashed and tinkled as
she Writhed and fought to free herself
| of the defiling hands Half mad with DIS
| appointment. she ragged amid the scat
| tered Shreds of her dream of power like
a woman hopeesly deranged.
AYE, / have claimed she stormed
II have claimed justice and the rights OF
| wifehood. the protection of him whose
T lo m /
that he must suffer with niche who
| hath played the traitors part tonight, be.
traying his Cause and his wife alike te
their downfall, I claim" she in.
straining hands, one small quivering arm
to single Amber out and point him to
scorn, that this Is the man who. welded
to me by solemn right and the custom OF
the land, hath deserted and abandoned
me, hath denied me even as he denies his
birthright, when it doth please him, and
forswears the faith of his fathers.
claim to be Narani. Queen, wife to Han
Dyal Rutton. rightful ruler Of khanda-
war coward. traitor renegade - who
stands there
For the love of heaven. Rowan. shut
her up cried Labertouche. ITS all 4
pack of lies: the woman s raving; Ruf-
tons dead, in the first place; in the sec
wife very well. whether he's alive OF
dead It's simply dodge of hers to gain
time. Shut her UP and take her away
she's as dangerous as wildcat!
NAY, I will not be gagged nor taken
hence till have said my say With q
sudden furious wrench Naraini wrested
her arms from the grasp of the guards
and sprang away, eluding with 1.-the and
snakeike movements their attempts &c
recapture her. Not. she cried, until
have wrought my will upon the two OF
them. Thou hast stood In my light toe
long . my sister,
A hand blazing with jewels tore at the
covering of her bosom and suddenly came
away clutchins dagger, thin, long and
keen; and snarling she sprang toward the
girl, to whose influence, however unWlt-
ting, she rightly ascribed the downfall OF
her scheme of empire. Rowan and Lab.
ertouche leaped forward and fell short. sc
lightning swift she moved only Amber
stood between her and her vengeance
Choking with horror, he put the girl be-
hind him with a resistless hand, and took
Naraini to his arms.
"Ah, hast thou changed thy mind, Be-
loved?' The woman caught him flerceiy
to her with an arm about his waist, and
her voice rose shrilI with mocking tri-
umph, Are my lips become so sweet to
thee again? Then see how | kiss, thou
fool
She thrust with wicked cunning, twice
and again. before the men tore her away
and disarmed her. For an instant wres-
Ting like IA demon with them, still ami
mated by her murderous frenzy. sun
wishful TO I'LL her cup of vengeance to
the brin with the blood of the girl, she
of sudden ceased to resist and fell
passive in their hands, dying thicker or
satisfaction I'm the eyes that watched the
elimination of her crime.
To Amber it was as if his body mad
been penetrated thrice by a needle of fire.
The anguish of 1t was exquisite. stupefy-
ing. He was aware OF darkemhe, reel
ing world, wherein mems faces swan like
moons, pallid, staring and of mighty
and invincible lethargy that bounced upon
him, body brain and soul. like black
panther springing from the ambush OF
the night Yet there We're still words
that must be spoken, lest they live In his
subconsciousness to torment him through
ali the long, black night that was to re-
ceiye him. He tried to steady himself.
and lifted an arm that vibrated like the
sprung limb of sapling, signing to the
secret agent.
"I,abertouche' he said. thickly .
..Sophia . i" out of India at once
life . ="
The girls arms received him as he fell.