The Huttig news., 1911-08-12

recognized him for her husband. lie was wholly dismayed and aghast But while he fingered in indecision, star ing in the womsns face. her look Of petulanee was replaced by one of di- vine forgiveness and compassion. And she gave him no time to think or to avoid her; in a twinkling she had thrown herself upon him again, was in his arms and crushing her lips upon his
 Nay" she murmured, but l did wrong thee. beloved, Perchance.' she told him, archly, thou didst not think to see me so soon, or in this garden? Perchance surprise hath robbed thee Of thy wts-and thy tongue as well, 0 worthless one? Or thou art over come with joy, as am overcome, ard emitten dumb by it, as I am not? Aho, Lalji was ever woman at loss for words to voice her happiness? And nestlng to him she laughed quiet ly, with a note as tender and sweet as the eooing of a wood-dove to it's mate
 May. but there Is mistake" He recovered the power of speech tardi'y. ard would have put her from him: but she held tight to him. 'I am not thy husband, nor yet a rajput. l come from America. the far land where thy husband died. =. Nay, 1t doth pain me to hurt thee so. Rance, but the mistake is not of my making, and 1t hath been carried too far. Thy hus- band died in my presence
 "It Is so them" she cut him short. And his arms were suddenly empty. to his huge relief Indeed, they had warned me that thou woudst tell this story and deny newly I know not, unless 1t be that thou art unworthy of thy lineage, coward and w ak lingi" Her small foot stamped argfi- ly and on every limb of her round body bracelets and anklets clashed and shimmered And so thou hast returned only to forswear me and thy kingdom, 0 thou of little spirit.a The scarlet lips eurled and the eyes grew cold and hard with contempt If that be so, tell me, why hast thou returned at all? To die2 For that thou must surely come to, if 1t be in thy mind to defy the behests of the Voice, thou king without a kingdoml Why. then, art thou here. rather than running to hide In some far place. thinking 10 escape with thy worthless life-worthless even to thee, who art too craven to make mans nse of it-from the Vengeance of the Body? Dost think l am to be trieked and hoodwinked-I. in whose heart thine image hath been enshrined these many weary years?"
 T neither think, nor know, nor greatly care, Rance Amber inter- posed, wesrily. Doubtless I deserve thine anger and scorp, since am rot he who thou wouldst have me be. If death must be my portion for this of tense, for that resemble Mar Dyal Rutton then 1t is written that am to die. My business here in Khandawar hath concern neither with thee. nor with the state. nor yet wi h the Gateway of Swords-of the very name of which I am weary. Now" with his mouth settled in lines of unmistakable resolve, "I will go; nor do I think that there be any here to stop me-.
 He wheeled about, prepared to fight his way out of the palace. if need be indeed, 1t was In his mind that death there were as easy as an hour after sunrise; for he had little doubt hut that he was to die if he remained ob- 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 space until I have taken thought. . Thou knowest that if what thou hast told me be the truth, then am I widow before my time-widowed and doomed.'
 "Doomed?" | "Aye!" And there was real terror In her eyes and voice. Doomed to seti. For, since l am 8 widow-since thou dost maintain thou art not my husband-then my face hath been looked upon by man not of mine owr. people, and am dishonored Fire alone can cleanse me of that defilee ment-the pyre and the death by flannel"
 Good Godl 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 sn edict of your English government? What the Sirkar itself to us Tn Khan dawar?" She laughed bitterly. T arc Rohills, daughter of kings; my dts honor may be purged only by hame> Are! that I should live to meet with such 8 fate-I, Nsraini, 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 hts gaze with childish couuetry, torn though she seemed to be by fear and l disappointment.
 Thou art assuredly most beautiful. I Rance" Amher told her with A break