Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-22
CHAPTER XIII.
The Photograph.

The Photograph.
That same night Amber dined at the
residency, on the invitation of Raikes.
the local representative OF government,
seconded by the insistence of Col. Far
reil. 1t developed that Sophias telegram
had somehow been lost in transit. and
farrelfs surprise and pleasure at sight
OF her were tempered only by his keen
appreciation Of Amber's adventitious serv-
ices, slight though they had been. He
was urged to stay the evening out. be-
fore proceeding to his DESIGNATED quar-
tiers. and the reluctance with which he
acceded to this arrangement which
worked so happily with his desires. may
be imagined.
Their arrival conceded with the dinner
hour: the meal was held half an hour to
permit them to dress. Raikes put a room
at Amber's disposal. and the Virginian
contrived to battle and get into his even
ing clothes within less time than had
been allowed him. Sophia, contrary to
the habit Of her sex, was little tardier
At thirty minutes past they sat down
to dine, at a table in the garden of the
residency
Ease of anxiety was more than food
and drink to Amber; his feeling of relief.
to have conveyed Sophia to the COM
pany and protection of Anglo Saxons like
himself WAS intense. Yet he swallowed
his preliminary brandy-peg In a distinct
ly troubled by the reflection that round
that lone white table was gathered to-
gether the known white population of
the state: census of which accounted
for just five souls
In the encompassing. exotic gloom of
tndt blue Indian niPhf-fhn kind ~ night
that never seems friendly to THE occi-
dental, but forever teens with Elints of
tragic mystery-the CLOTH lighted by
shaded candles, shone as imVla1ulate and
lustrous as an island Of snow III a sea of
ink-as good deed in naughty world.
Its punctilious array of crysta| and silver
was no more foreign to the getting than
were the men who sat round 1t, stiff i'm
that black and white armor Of civiliza-
ton, lmpregnable against the insdious
ease OF the east. In which YOUR expatriate
Englishman nightly incases himself wher-
ever he may be, as Ioath to forego the
ceremony of dressing for dinner as he
would be to dispense with letters from
home.
Raikes presided, a heavy man with the
flaming red face of one who constitution
ally is unable to tan; of middle age. good
natured. mellow. adroit Of manner. On
his one hand sat Amber, over across from
Sophia. Next to Amber sat Farrell, tall
and lean. sad of eye and slow of speech.
his sun-faded hair and mustache streaked
with gray setting off a dark complexion
and thin, fine features. He wore the
habit of authority equally with the irasci-
bility of one who temporizes with his
liver. Opposite him was a young. mild
eyed missionary. too new in the land to
have lost his Illusions or have blunted
the keen edge of his enthusiasms: col
orless person with f1nical way of han
ding his knife and fork, who darted con-
tinually shy, sidelong glances at Sophia,
or interpolated eager. undigested COM
ments nervously into the conversation.
The table talk was inconsequent; Am
Der took courteous and easy part in ii
without feeling that any strain was be-
ing put upon his intelligence His at
tention was centered upon the woman
! who faced him. flushed with gayety and
pleasure, not alone because she was once
more with her father, but also because
| She unexpectedly was looking her best
If she had been well suited in her tidy
pongee travelling; costume, she found her
evening gown no less becoming. 1t was
a black affair. very simple and individual
her shoulders rose from 1t with intensi-
fled purity of tone, like fair white ivory
cleaning with suggestion of the sleek
sheen of satin: their strong. clean lines
rounded bewitchingly into the fair. slen-
der neck UNFOLDING the young head with
Its deftly coiffed crown of bronze and
gold.
Tall, we'll trained, silent servants moved
like white-robed wraiths behind the
guests: the dishes of the many courses
disappeared and were replaced in a
twinlkling, as If by sleisht of hand. They
were over plentiful; Amber was relieved
when at length the meal was over, and
Miss Farrell having withdrawn, in con-
Torrance with inviolable custom. the
cloth was deftly whisked away and CT
gars. cigarettes, liqueurs, whisky and soda
were served.
Amber took unto himself a cigar and
utilized an observation of the Political S
as lever to swing the conversation to a
plane more likely to inform him. Farrell
had grumbled about the exactions of his
position as particularly instanced by the
necessity Of his attending tedious and
tlresome native ceremonies in connection
with the tamasha.
Whats precisely the nature of this
tamasha. Col Farrell?'
why. my dear young man, ! thought
you knew. Isn't 1t what you came to
see?"
No" Amber admitted cautiously; Il
merely heard rumor that there was
something uncommon afoot. Is it really
anything worth while?'
Rather Raikes interjected, dryly: 1.-The
present rulers abdcating in favor of his
son. child of twelve. That puts the
business in class by ITSELF
There's been one precedent, hash I
there?" said the missionary. pretending
to be at ease with a cigarette. The
yes agreed Farrell "a similar case.
to be sure
But why should a prince hand over
the reins of government to child of
twelve? There must be some reason for
it? Isn't it known" asked Amber.
"Who can fathom a Hindu's mind?'
grunted Farrell. II daresay there's some
scandalous native intrigue at the bottom
of 1t. Eth. Raikes?"
The resident shook his head. Don't
come to this shop for information about
what goes on in khandawar. l doubt
If there's another resident In India who
knows as little of the underhand devil
ment in his state as I do. His Majesty
the Rama loves ME as a cheetah loves
..They grease the wheels of the indie
pendent native states with intrigue" Far
reU explained II know from sore eX-
perience And your Rajput is the deep
est of the lot ! don't envy Ra1kes here.
"1'he man who. can guess what Raj
put intends to do next is entitled to give
himself a deal of credit commented the
resident with a short laugh.
i've travelled bit" continued Farrell.
land have seen something of the courts
of Europe, but I've yet to meet diplo-
mat who's peer to the Rajput. You hear
a great deal about the astuteness OF the
Russians and the yellow races. and a
Greek or Turk can lie with a fairly
straight face when he sees a profit in de-
ception, but none Of them is to be classed
with these people. If we English ever
decide to let India rule herself her diplo-
matte corps will be recruited exclusively
from the flower of Rajputana's chivalry."
.I'll back Salig Singh against the field.
said Raikes grimly; he'll be dean of the
corps when that time comes. He'd rather
conspre than fight. and the Rajputs-of
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