Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-08-24

Il unmistakable resolve. II win 90;
nor do think that there DO any here
TO stop me-"
He wheeled about, prepared to light
his way out Of the palace, II need be-
indeed, It was in his mind that death
there were as easy as an hour aftel
sunrise; for he had little doubt but
that he was to die II he remained OBJ
durate. and the hospitality Of the raj
put would cease to protect him the
moment he set foot upon the marble
bund Of his bungalow.
But the woman sprang after him
and caught his arm. "Of thy pity"
she begged. breathlessly. hold for q
space until l have taken thought.
:. Thou knowest that II what
thou hast told me be the truth. then
am widow before my time-widowed
and doomed"
"Doomed?"
"Aye!" And there was real terror
In her eyes and voice. Doomed to
sati. For, since l am q widow-since
thou doSt maintain thou art not my
husband-then my face hath been
looked upon BY man not Of mine own
people, and / am dlshonored. Fire
alone can cleanse me Of that de0le-
Inent-the pyre and the death by
flannel"
Good God! you don't mean that!
Surely that custom has perished!"
Thou shouldst know that It dieth
not. What to us women in whose
bodies runs the blood of royalty, is
an edict Of your English government?
What the Sirkar itself to US In Khan.
dawar?" She laughed bitterly. Il am
Rohilla. a daughter Of kings; my dis.
honor may be purged only by flame.
Are! that should live to meet with
such a fate-I, Naraini, to perish In
the flower Of my beauty. For
| am beautiful. am not?" She dropped
the veil which instinctively she had
caught across her face. and met his
gaze with childish coquetry. torn
though she seemed to be by fear and
disappointment.
Thou art assuredly most beautiful.
Rance" Amber told her, with q break
in his voice. very compassionate. And
he spoke simple truth. "Qf thy
kind there is none more lovely In the
world. E"
There was tenderness then IN your
tone, my lord!" she caught him up
quickly. rs there no mercy in thy
heart for me? Who Is this
woman across the seas who hath won
thy love? Aye. even that
know-that thou dost love this fair
daughter OF the English. Didst thou
not lose the picture Of her that was
taken with the magic box Of the sa'
hibs? Is 1t for her sake that
thou dost deny me. o my husband?
Is she more fair than l, are her lips
more sweet?"
Il am not thy husband" he declared
vehemently. appalled, by her reversion
to that delusion. IT'LL this hour ]
have never seen thee; nor Is the sa'
hiba OF any concern to thee. Let me
go please"
But she had him fast and he could
not have shaken her of but with vio-
lence. He had been a strong man in
deed who had not been melted to ten.
derness by her beauty and her dis
tress. She lifted her glorious face to
him, pleading, insistent, and played
ipon him with her voice OF gold. yet
a moment gone thou didst tell me
was greatly gifted with beauty. Have
changed In thine eyes. D my king?
Canst thou look upon this poor beauty
and hear me tell thee Of my love-and
indeed l am thine, altogether thine.
Laljl!-and harden thy heart against
me? What though II be as thou
hast said? What though thou art of a
ruth not OF the house Of Rutton. nor
yet a rajput? Let US say that this is
30, however hard 1t be to credit; even
20. am l not reward enough for thy
i know not thy meaning, Rance
-"
Come, then, and / will show thee,
ny king. Come thou with me.
Say, why shouldst thou falter? There
Is naught for thee to fear-save me-"
She tugged at his hand and laughed
ow, In a voice that sang like smitten
glasses. Come, beloved"
Unwillingly, he humored her. This
,ould not last long. The wom-
IN half led, half dragged him to the
northern boundary Of the garden,
where they entered q little turret
,uilded out from the walls over an
abyss fully three hundred feet in
lepth. And here. standing upon the
-erge Of the paFapet, with naught but
foot-high coping between her and
he frightful fall. utterly fearless and
lovely, Naraini flung out
bare. jeweled arm in an eloquent