Gilpin observer., 1911-11-30
the west. toward Kulaapur.. :.

the west, toward KHlaaplr.'-
Without comprehension he yielded
to this whim, holding up his right arm
and turning the emerald to the quar-
ter indicated by Naraini.
The hour had drawn close upon
dawn. cold air breathed down the
valley and was chill to them in that
lofty eyrie. The moon, dipping to-
wards the rim of the world, was
poised, a globe Of dull silver, upon the
ridge OF a far. dark hill AS they
watched 1t dropped out of sight and
everything was suddenly very bleak
and black.
And curious thing happened.
Naraini cried out sharply-"Aho!"-
as If unable to contain her excitement.
Somewhere in the palace behind
them q great gong doomed like thun-
der.
A pause ensued, disturbed only by
the nuttering Of the woman's breath;
for the space OF thirty pulse beats
nothing happened. Then Narainis
fingers closed like bands of steel about
Amber's left wrist.
"See!" she CRIED in a voice of awe.
while the bracelets shivered and
clashed upon her outstretched arm.
The eye. my king, the eye!"
Amber shut his teeth upon an ex-
clamation Of amaze. For just above
the far. dark mountain ridge. uncan-
nily brilliant In the void Of the pale,
moonlit armament, light had blazed
out; a vivid emerald light, winking
and stabbing the darkness with shafts
OF seemingly supernatural radiance.
And thy ring. lord-look! The
Token!"
Tho great emerald seemed to have
caught and be answering the light
Naraini called the eye: in the stones
depths an Internal fire leaped and
died and leaped again, now luridly
blazing, now ftfully a-quiver as
though about to vanish. again strong
and steady: even as the light OF the
strange emerald star above the noun
tains ebbed and flowed through the
night.
Naraini shuddered and cried out
guardedly for very fear. by Indur.
1t is even as the Voice foretold! Nay,
heaven-born'-she caught his sleeve
and forcibly pulled down his hand
tempt not the unseen further. And
put away this Token, lest more terri,
BILE thing befall us. There be myster-
les that even we of the initiate may
not comprehend. my lord. 1t is not
well to meddle with the unknown"
The ring was on his finger now and
the woman was cramming 1t into his
coat pocket with tremulous hands.
And where the eye had shown, the sky
was blank. They stood in darkness.
Amber mute in perplexity. Naraini
clinging to his arm and shaking like a
reed in the wind.
Now am / frightened. lord Of my
heart! Lead me back to the garden.
for / am but woman and afraid.
Who am l. Naraini. to see the eye?
What am l, weak woman. to tres
pass upon the mysteries? am very
much afraid. Do thou take me hence
and comfort me. my king!" She drew
his arm about her waist, Arm. round.
and slender. and held It SO. her body
yielding subtly to his, her head droop-
ing wearily upon his shoulder.
They moved slowly from the turret
and back along the lighted walks of
the garden. the woman apparently con-
tent, Amber preoccupied-to tell the
truth. more troubled than he would
have been willing to confess.
See now how thou art altogether
controverted. Lalji!" she cried joyful
ly. mo longer canst thou persist that
thou art other than thy true self. the
lord of Naraini's heart. the king re-
turned to his kingdom. For
who would dare to give the lie to tho
Eye? Indeed" she continued with .
low. signing laugh. Il myself had be-
gun to doubt. my faith borne down
and overcome by thy repeated denials:
but now know thee. Did not the Bell