Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-24

a face could exist among women. | feared that
by some chance of delay this dream of lowell
ness might escape me. | urged that the mar
rage might be performed with all haste. Like
a headstrong lover. l did not pause to think or
suspect but when lifted the veil of the Kings
daughter for the first time | was stunned to
discover that she did not in the least resemble
the portrait. She may have been paSsably good
looking but IN my frenzy of disappointment |
fear was hardly complimentary to such beauty
she may have possessed. | at once repudi-
ated the contract and packed her off back to
her father
Hence frightful scandal in which nv fam
lily join in holding that have broken every rule
of social decencv. Moreover it is now de-
Clared that the portrait IS merely the work of
imagination, and that the original is not to be
found on earth. Therefore | am foolish to set
so much store on fantasy. But you know
whether this is so or not. Tell me that the
original does live in very reality. that she is to
be found somewhere, be her position what it
may. and there is nothing | will not do to show
my gratitude
THE Prince sank into a chair. while Latham
remained standing with hands thrust deep
in his pockets, turning the situation in his
mind. Methodically he lit cheroot. Whether
in disclosing the truth he would be assisting the
Princes best interests seemed doubtful: but he
desp1sed the Vizir on professional well as
other grounds, was inclined to be sympathetic
toward love affair in which he appeared to be
the moving spirit. and the disappearance of the
girl again to his mind. Meanwhile the
Prince watched Latham's face with anxious in
terest.
Well said Latham at last, II can ease
your suspense on one point. | did paint the
portrait from life, and am willing to add that
the beauty of the original far exceeds my effort.
l do not consider did the girl full justice"
with outstretched hands Then you know
where she isl
No" replied Latham That is just what
l am afraid | do not. The fact is | CHANGED
upon her in the garden of the Fish God Temple:
but she disappeared before the last pose. /
have not seen anything of her for ten DAYS at
least, and / really have idea where she is.
The Prince received this news with keen dis
appointment: but frightened as Latham re-
sponded to his plea for assistance in finding the
girl. You see he explained. Il must enlist
your friendship in this matter, because ! can
not move outside the palace without being
watched. If my object in trying to find the
girl was discovered. some in jury might fall on
her: can trust you. know. also know you
will not refuse"
III do what / can Latham responded.
since to some extent l am responsible. but if
! fail"
You will not fall" asserted the Prince.
The men of your race do not fail in anything
they undertake"
We'll we try not to. of course but the way
of things here is mighty different from what we
are accustomed to- Still. I'll do my best. In the
meantime keep your courage up" he added in
a sympathetic spirit and don't let anyone
know you've taken me into YOUR confidence.
should say particularly the Vizr, or our curry
may be seasoned with something even worse
for digestion than Ramchander's spices | un-
derstand that family disputes are frequently
settled after that fashion in this country. I'll
let you know directly gain any news of the
girl
~ the whole. Latham was not very conf
dent of finding Alfalfa. In the swarming
hive of the native town. with its labyrinth of
grotesquely decorated houses, streets that
doubled on themselves. and lanes ending in
blank walls. what chance was there for him to
discover anyone? 1t was necessary for him to
obtain native assistance. and the natural per-
son to rely upon was his servant. So. without
disclosing more than he wished to find the girl,
he told Golab Dat all he knew about her per-
sonallv, and sent him off fortified with the
requisite cash "prisants"
1t was after dark when Golab Dat returned,
enveloped in a cloak of mystery. "Sahb." he
said. that girl at last
] find where she is.
Her father is Parah
Singh. l talked with A.,
his butler. and think ALI
the girl is in much