Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-09-06
CHAPTER XIV.
From a High Place.

giles, penetrating, 1t seemed, the very
bowels OF the Raj Mahal. 1t ended I'M
expectedly in a low arch through
which the two men passed into an
open courtyard, apparently given over
entirely to stables. Despite the late
ness Of the hour it was tenanted by
several wideawake syces, dancing at
tendance upon a pair of FLOODED stall
lions Of the stud royal, who saddled,
bridled and hooded, paved and
champed impatiently in the center OF
the yard, making it echo with the
ringing of iron on stone and the jim
Cling of their silver curb-chains.
Salig Singh paused, with wave of
his hand calling Amber's attention to
the superb brutes.
Thou canst see, hazoor. that all Is
prepared"
For what?"
But Salig Singh merely smiled enig-
matically, and shaking a patient head,
passed on.
A second arch gave upon a corridor
which led upwards and presently
changed into steep fight Of steps,
of ancient storm worn smooth and
grooved with the traffic of generations
of naked feet. At the top they turned
aside and passed through a heavy
door which Salig Singh unlocked with
a private key, into q vast vacant
room, with lofty ceiling supported
by huge, unwieldy pillars OF stone,
sculptrred with all the loves and wars
of Rtnou mythology. At one end the
fitful, eerie flare of a great bronze
brez1er revealed the huge proportions
of an ivory throne, gorgeous with
gems and cloth of gold, standing upon
a dais and fianked by two motionless
figures which at first sight Amber took
to be pieces Of statuaTy. But they
quickened, saluting with a single
movement and flash of steel, as the
maharana drew nearer, and so proved
themselves troopers of the state,
standing guard with naked swords.
There is no need, perhaps, to tell
thee, hazoor," Salig Singh muttered,
bending to Ambers ear, that sitting
upon this throne, in this Hall Of Au.
dience, for generations thy forefathers
ruled this land, making ant admins
tering its laws, melting out Justice,
honored of all men--and served, my
lord, for generations by my forebears,
the faithful stewards of thy house;
even as l would prove faithful"
Interesting" Amber interrupted,
brusquely. IF true. Is this what you
wanted to show me?"
Nay, hazoor, not this alone Come"
The rajput led him out of the hall
by way of small doorway behind the
throne. and after a little turning and
twisting through tortucus passages
they began to ascend again, and so
went on up. ever upwards, the flight OF
steps broken by other corridors, other
apartments, other galleries and gar
dens, until at length they emerged
into a garden laid out In the very top
all Kuttarpur.
1t was a very beautiful garden, a
jungle of exotic plants and shrubs
threaded by narrow walks that led
to secluded hooks and unsupported
pleasaunces, ard lighted by low-swung
festoons of dim lamps, many-colored.
MY lord" said the maharana, paus-
ing. IF thou wilt wait here for a little,
permitting me to excuse myself"
"All right" Amber told him toler-
antly. Run along"
Salig Singh quietly effaced himself,
and the American watched him 60
with an inward cluckle = presume
I'll have to pay or my impudence in
the end" he thought; "but it's costing
Salig Singh a good deal to hold him
self in" He moved away from the els
tern, idling down a path in a 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 balus-
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 a little
open space, a patch OF lawn over
which a canopy had been raised Be
meath this. woman sat alone. He
halted, thunderstruck.
simultaneously, with a soft swish
of draperies, clash of jeweled brace
let's, dull and musical, and a fash of
coruscating color. the woman stood
before him. young. slender. graceful.
CARRIED in indescribable splendor-and
yelled.
For the space OF three long breaths
the Virginian hesitated, unspeakably
amazed. Though she were yelled, 1t
ere deep dishonor for a woman OF
rajputs household to be seen by
stranger. 1t seemed inexplicable that
Salig Singh should have unwittingly
left him in any place where he might
encounter an inmate of the zenana
Yet the maharana must have known
Amber made an irrasolute
movement, as if TO go. But It WIS toe
late
With murmur inaudible, and
swift, infinitely alluring gesture. tbs
woman swept the veil away from her