Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-26
CHAPTER VII-Continued.

1T must be- Tell them first that every
bond that linked US is broken. Tell them
not to count on what has been. What
has been is not forgotten. but 1t is written
on my heart in fire and bloodAt has
crossed out love and respect. pity and
mercy
Hear me to the end, Englishman. 1
am not here to waste words with thee
henceforward my acts shall be my words.
But thou shalt not go back and say that
it is ambition or a mean revenge which
has drawn my sword from it's sheath. 1t
is not that" He paused, and the hand
which he had raised to cut short Nichol-
sons interruption sank slowly back upon
his sword hilt. Then he went on, and his
low-pitched voice penetrated into the
farthest corner of the silent temple: "Sa-
hib, / loved thy people. l loved them for
their past. for their courage, their JUS
tice, their greatness. In my boys mind
they were the heroes of the world. and as
such worshiped them. No poison could
kill my love-it seemed a part of me. the
innermost part Of my\sOul-and when for
the first time stood before them, face to
face, it was as though lived, as though
had awakened from dream. Be pa
tient, Englishman. for you of all others
must understand IneTc Is TOT ITO ITO
turning back. no yielding. Great love is
sister to greater hate. respect to scorn.
I came among you, inexperienced save in
dreams. believing boy-fool IL you will.
whose folly received its punishment The
outside Of the platter was fair enough to
have deceived those wiser than I, sahib.
There were lovely women with the faces
Of angels. and tall men. honest eyed and
brave tongued. But the outside was a
liza lie" He lifted his hand again in
sudden storm OF tortured passion. THE
women are wantons-the men trick
'Rajah!' The stern warning passed.
but not unheeded.
''rhou art hurt and stung." Nehal said.
in a low, shaken voice. THE truth
wounds thee! For melt was death He
hesitated again. fighting for his self
control. 'Sahib, great things are ex-
pected of a great people. Others may
cheat and swindle. others may lie and
blaspheme with Gods holy secrets. others
may seek their pleasures In the earth S
mire, but they must stand apart. They
must bear forward the banner of right
eousness, or their greatness is no more
than an empty sound-a bubble which the
first bold enemy may prick. Perchance
blinded myself willfully. perchance
stopped my ears. The platter was fair
to my eyes, the falsehood rang like truth:
Now / know. I know that the past is all
that Is left you-you are a fair seeming
behind which Is decay and corruption.
Were I another I would take my broken
faith to the darkest corner of the jungle
and eat out my life in despair and sor-
row. But / have another task before me
my duty to my people"
And that duty. Ra1ah-?"
"A great people must rule mfne," was
the high answer. 81 thought you great
people, and I used my strength. my
wealth and influence to further your
power But you are not worthy. Who
are you that dare to assume authority
over millions-you who cannot rule your
selves, you who idle away your lives in
folly and self-seeking? Well may you
crown yourselves with the laurels which
your fathers won! You have none OF
your own-aud see to II that those faded