Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-26

shod themselves once more ana mace the
empty veranda echo with their jov.ei
argument. Long before they were quiet
the light went out behind Miss Arnote
screen. And at last. alone and weary or
the long wait before tomorrow's Journey
David entered his bare. little room re-
luctantly.
Reluctantly-he wondered at that, as al
the evening he had wondered at strange
uneasiness, which made him look about
and listen. He expected nobody. HIS
part was over. except the hardest part.
that would begin-when a ship had sailed
on Thursday-for the rest Of his life. No:
this tonight was differentiated disquiet-
ing.
Once he caught himself CHARGING through
his open door at the lilies. the ambush or
green leaves and white chalices.
Nonsense In anger he snatched out
the dead mans packet and tossed II on
the table. With 1t fiuttered something
else-the page from Punch SKINNED half
way across the floor, unfolded and lay
fiat to show its grisly red surcharge.
"Oh, will your? David swooped after
It, and In a sudden passion OF dehanoe
tore the paper to shreds. There. them!
He flung them into the corner. as though
cancellng some bond or breaking sin
lister compact She. at least. would never
see or know that thing.
But the vague insecurity came nooding
back upon him. He went to the door
even and hearkened to the stiffness OF the
great mountains. Nothing stirred but the
white smoke OF night clouds beginning to
roll down through the garden. He re-
membered listening so in the door Of the
hut that night among the palms.
What rot!' He wheeled. returned
grumblng and stoIidly prepared To sleep.
An early start tomorrow and With her
enough to think about: and Thursday
that also was enough for one lifetime.
Tonight there was no thin oval OF silver
to slip beneath his pillow with the packet.
f1,a 1nv~A
tightly. he lay down with il, fist and all.
under his head.
From tangled dreams he woke now and
then to ask himself in drowsy. blank re-
greet, what disaster was impending. oh.
yes. Thursday And muttering. he slept
again.
The windows glimmered in two wide.
misty squares. the Growing of gamecocks
rose thin and scattering from villages be-
low the clouds, when David finally woke
to some new trouble. Through the ragged
fringe and outskirts. OF slumber there
might have sounded the fragments Of a
though first a woman's voice.
nearing along the veranda. had crooned
snatch OF Kuboyong, The Captive: and
then a mans voice, in the distance. had
caught up her song and. carried IL floating
down the mountain. This. IL real ceased
abruptly. Now broad awake. David lis
tened. Outside. in the veranda, two gen
tie Malayan voices Intervene In sub
uuSu anu tl1IfOEOuS dlteTCdtiOH
"Cassi banganr' pleaded a woman. re-
peating the words like petulant refrain.
Tidal The boy In charge OF Da-
vid's room denied her. mildly and scorn-
fully. "My lord desires not our knocking.
He rises at four strokes. IL has not
struck three Astaga! Is there no de-
corum?'
MY lady the womans voice meekly
persisted. my lady wishes 80
"Oho. That beautiful one?" The boy
surrendered. with quiet laugh Give
knocking. thou,''
Light knuckles tapped the panel OF the
door.
Gomez" cried David. wondering at this
early visit.
The door creaked open to admit the
drowsy light Of lamp, which the bare
foot chamberlain bore gravely across the
room and set upon the table. Still grave
ly, tie Javanese took from a high teak
wardrobe his masters kimono and ap-
MY lord will hear this woman?" he
ventured. bowling. ''She desires to
speak,
The messenger had hardly withdrawn.
and David. slipping his packet. As al
ways. into the pendant sleeve. had wound
but half the sash about his blue robe.
when at the edge Of the lamplight stood
a slim white figure. tall yet dropping.
with the ianguid grace OF young BAN
boo. Chatra, the brown maid. raised her
y
let them coyly decline under their long
lashes.
What do you WANT" began David. sc
verely. for this vision was not without
loneliness
Once more the girl exercised the power
OF her dark eyes. fingered the silver Ban
tam breastpin on her kabaia. lowered her
sleek head and smiled with furtive con.
tent. like one who had found favor In her
masters sight.
quetry.
Yes, YES he demonstrated. You're Q
very pretty girl and all that. and these
tiles are cool and refreshing. especially
to the legs but. my dear, l seldom make
eyes before breakfast. What" he re-
WANT
Chatra. simpering. glanced at him. then
away. then downward demurely.
my lord. forgive Her voice was like
deep grove at dawn. Forgive. My lady
sends me to speak. My mistress she pre-
pares to 60 She desires a gift"
''She? A gift?" David bent on the
remembering the vasueness of her race
md tongue. added. with lenience: What
g1ft?"
The long. graceful limbs twisted bash-
fully under their white stole. Once again
" at the tiles. Her toes. delicate SAT-
from. In the lamplight. wriggied as freely
10 babes.
1.-THE sift." she answered, with embar.
rassment. 1.-The gift-of packet. My
ady wishes-to see."
David's hand started by instinct toward
the hanging sleeve OF his kimono. He
watched the maid. No, there was no
guile in such conscious beauty.
Ito be continued tomorrow
II