Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-22
CHAPTER IV-Continued

CHAPTER 1V.-Continued.
Today these things pressed down upon
him with all the weight OF q tremendous
| reality. With beating heart he entered
| at last into the holy OF HOLES &nd stood
before the gods high altar, visible only
to those of purest caste. His head was
once more bowed. He did not venture to
look up at the golden figure. whose ruby
eyes he knew stared straight through his
soul into every corner of the world and
beyond into eternity. His belief, pure.
unsoiled from contact with the world.
was power that had gone out into the
darkness and conjured thence the spirits
that shrank back from the cold prayer of
the half believer. They stood before him
now-these wonderful spirits. He be-
lieved surely that. should he dare to raise
his eyes, he would see them. definite yet
formless. arising glorious out OF the cloud
Of golden reflection from Brahma's three
fold forehead.
Thus he prayed. not kneeling, since the
god cared only for his SOUL
"Oh. Lord Brahma. creator, hear me.
Thou who madest me knowest whittier
came and whittier I go: but I, who am as
the wind that bloweth as thou listeth. as
flower that springeth up In the night
and unseen fadeth in the midday heat,
KNOW not thy purpose nor the end for
which I am. Lord Brahma, teach me-
| for my soul parteth after knowledge
Show me the path which I must tread,
for l am weary with dreams Teach me
TO serve my people-be 1t hand In hand
with the stranger and his gods. be it
alone. Teach me to act, and that rig,.t
soon; for my childhood days are spent
and my mans arm heavy with idleness.
Send ME forth-but not alone-not alone,
Lord Brahma, for l am heart sick of
loneliness. Give me my comrade. my
comrade who shall be more to me
He stopped and. obeying an impulse
stronger than himself. lifted his face to
the idol It had vanished. In its place
stood q woman.
At another and cooler moment. with
mind filled with other thoughts, with
heart untroubled by new and all-powerful
emotions. he would have known her, II
only from hearsay. for what she was. But
with that passionate prayer upon his lips
she was for him the answer, divine
| recognition of hts need and of his lately
recognized loneliness.
Tall, slender. with a pale, transparent
complexion. touched like a young rose
with the faintest color. dark. grave eyes
and hair that seemed a part OF the OBJ
scured god, whose pure lines though for
eign. harmonized in every detail with the
classic beauty OF her surroundings, she
her. in perfect silence.
''Lakshmi." he murmured at last; and.
as though the one word had broken a
charm which held them both paralyzed.
she smiled, and the smile lit up the ma
donna face and made it as human as it
had seemed divine.
Forgive me-" she began, speaking in
English, II am afraid l have disturbed
you. but" She paused apparently con-
| fused by the directness OF his gaze. The
! faint pink upon her cheek deepened.
| who are you?" he demanded in his
own tongue.
Her look of non compre hension steaded
| him. at least outwardIy. though It did not
| check the fierce. painful beating of his
pulses. He repeated the question in pure
though hesitating English.
II am an Englishwoman," she answered
at once. and have lost my way. For
been wandering hither and thither. trying
| to find my party. with whom 1 was en-
| joying an excursion. BY some chance 1
| came across this temple, and hoped TO
meet some one who might help me. You
see, l am a stranger in this part Of the
| world. II hope I have done no wrong?'
| She looked at him pleadingiy, but he
| ignored her question. 1t never occurred
TO him to doubt her explanation, or won
| der at the unlikeliness of the chance
which should have led her through the
! intricate paths to this halIowed spot
You are English?" he echoed. The
| fever in his blood was subsiding, but
like some great crisis. II was leaving
| him changed. 1t had swept him out of
| the world of languorous. enchanted
dreams into world of not less enchanted
reality.
Il fear ! am presumpt,ious," she be-
| If SO, I am certain you must be very.
very angry. For the raiah-so I have
been told-does not love the English
She smiled again, meeting his unwaver-
| ing gaze with franz; good humor which
| for him was more wonderful even than
her beauty. No woman and for that
matter, no man-had ever dared to look
| him in the eyes with such a laughing,
| fearless challenge.
Yes. I am the rajah." he answered
| Then. after a pause, he added, with great
| simplicity. You are very beautiful
| She laughed outright and the laugh
| which rang like the peal Of a silver bell
| through the vaulted chamber, filled him
stood with her back turned indifferently
on the golden image, an unbeliever whose
shod feet were def1ling the sacred pre-
cincts. an object. then. for hatred and re-
venge-not for him. truly. In his eyes
she was still an emissary from Brahma,
and thus in herself half sacred: but he
| knew we'll enough that such would not be
| the opinion OF the few fierce priests who
| worshiped in the temple.
you are not safe here" he said, with
| an energy which was new to him.
| Gomez
He led her hurriedly out OF the sane
| tuary into the great entrance hall. There
he slackened speed and waited until she
| reached his side.
For foreigner it is not safe to enter
the temple" he explained. Had any one
but myself found you, could not answer
for the consequences"
"They would have harmed me?'
ut is possible
THAT would have been terrible." she
said, glancing at him with eyes that ex-
pressed rather a daring courage than
fear.
Most terrible" he assented. earnestly.
"Yet-you also, your highness. you have
also the same reasons for anger. Ny in
trusion, innocent though it was. must
have been equally offensive to you"
NO" he said. THAT is quite differ
emit"
He offered no further explanation. and
| together they passed out of the two i'm
mense gopuras into the evening sunshine,
| Il will bring YOU to the gates which
lead on to the high road he went ON.
| Thence one Of my servants will conduct
you back to the town. where I trust you
will find your friends
You are most good" she answered,
gratefully.
They walked side by side between the
| high walls of cypress and palm. The
| path was narrow one. and once his
L IXz<l.A Fr1t-