Gilpin observer., 1911-11-30

m have to pay for my 7mpudence n
the end" he thought; but it's costing
Salig Singh a good deal to hold him
self In" He moved away from the cis-
tern, idling down path In direction
opposite that taken by Salig Singh.
An abrupt turn brought him to the
outer wall. and he stopped to gaze.
leaning upon the low marble sbalus-
trade.
Amber turned away to rejoin Salig
Singh by the cistern. But the rajput
was not there; and. presently. another
path tempting him to unlawful explo-
ration. he yielded and sauntered aim
lessly away. A sudden corner cloaked
with foliage brought him to little
open space. patch Of lawn over
which a canopy had been raised. Be-
meath this, a woman sat alone. He
halted, thunderstruck.
simultaneously. with soft swish
Of draperies, o clash Of jeweled brace
lets, dull and musical. and flash Of
coruscating color. the woman stood
before him. young. slender, graceful.
garbed in indescribable splendor-and
ve:'ed.
For the space OF three long breaths
the Virginian hesitated, unspeakably
amazed. Though she were yelled, It
were deep dishonor for . woman Of q
rajput's household to be seen by
stranger. It seemed inexplicable that
Salig Singh should have unwittingly
left him In any place where he might
frr fa ~ tha
Yet the maharana must have known.
Amber made an irresolute
movement, as II to 60. But 1t was too
late.
With murmur, inaudible. and q
swift, infinitely alluring gesture, the
woman swept the veil away from her
face. and looked him squarely in the
eyes. She moved toward him slowly,
swaying, as graceful as fawn, more
beautiful than any woman he had ever
known His breath caught in his
parable loveliness.
Before he could collect his wits she
had made him captive-had without
warning cast herself upon her knees
before him and imprisoned both his
hands. burying her face in their
palms. He felt her lips hot upon his
flesh. and then-wonder of wonders!-
tears from those divine eyes streaming
through his fingers
The shock of 1t brought him to his
senses. Pitiful. dumfounded, Mortified,
he glared wildly about him, seeking
some avenue Of escape. There was no
one watching; he thanked heaven for
that. while the cold sweat started out
upon his forehead. But still at his
feet the woman rocked, softly sobbing,
her fair shoulders gently agitated, and
still she defied his gentle efforts to
free his hands. holding them in
grasp he might not break without
hurting her. He found his tongue
eventually.
"Don't!" he pleaded, desperately.
my dear. you mustn't For PHYS
sake don't sob like that! What under
the SUMS the trouble? Don't please!
Good Lord! what am to do
with this lovely lunatic!"
Though in time the fercest
paroxysm Of her passion passed and
her sobs diminished in violence, she
clung heavily to him and made no re-
sistance whom he lifted her in his
arms. The error was fatal; he had
designed to get her on her feet and
then stand away. But no sooner had
he raised her and succeeded in disen-
gaging his hands. than soft, round
arms were clasped tightly about his
neck and her face-if possible. more
ravishing in tears than when first he
had seen it-pillowed on his breast.
And for the FIRST time she spoke CO.
herently.
"Aie!" she walled. TREMENDOUSLY.
Ale! Now Is the cup Of my happi.
ness full to brimming. now that thou
hast returned to me at last, o my
lord! Well-nigh had I ceased to hope
for thee. o beloved; well-nigh had
this heart Of mine grown cold within
my bosom. that had no nourishment
save hope. save hope! Day and night
/ have watched for thy coming for
many years. praying that thou
shouldst return to me ere this frail
prettiness Of mine, that made thee
love me long ago. 80 fade that thy
heart should turn to other women.
o my husband"
"Husband! Great-heavens! Look
here. my dear. hadn't you better come
to your senses and let me go before"
Let thee go. Lal1i, ere what? Ere
any come to disturb us? Nay. but who
should come between husband and
wife in the first hour of their reunion
after many years Of separation? Is 1t
not known-does not all Khandawar
know how have waited for thee, al.