Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-03

upon you as an adversary. but as the
SON OF this unfortunate woman-above ALL
OF my friend. l plead with you the more
because l owe you years OF friendship. 1
am not the least to blame that you fell
away from US in resentment and bitter
ness. ! could have shielded you from the
inevitable pitfalls that beset your path.
but = God forgive me! - my prejudice
blinded me and l held back. 1t was
who carried you away from the palace on
that night when you were left. a helpless
child. to the mercy OF Behar Singh's enc
mics. Then l had pity enough-but years
after l held back the hand Of friendship
which I might have offered you. Well.
am punished. twice punished. for my
prejudice and blindness. Is It too late for
me to make my reparation?'
He held out his hand and there was a
silence of tense expectation. The rajah' s
head was bowed. He did not seem to see
the colonel's movement.
You cannot think I am pleading with
you to save our lives" Carmichael went
on with grave dignity. I'VE have fought
for them An hour ago We were prepared
TO lay them down without complaint. We
are not the less prepared now. 1t Is not
for US / am speaking, but for you. Your
day as rajah is over-your claim to rule
in India void. / offer you instead your
fathers name, your fathers people your
fathers heritage. The other road--wefl.
you have trodden II, you know, it. You
five years ago. in the same hour Of crisis,
blinded by the same bitterness. She chose
to tear the bonds OF love and duty: she
ignored the true voice OF her instinct. 1t
broke her heart. The same crisis stands
tonight before you, her son. What will
you do-Steven Caruthers?'
The rajah lifted his head. The struggle
was written in his dark. sunken eyes and
on the compressed lips.
II cannot desert them" he said, wear
lily. They trust me-my people trust
Who are your people?" was the swift
question. You must choose"
Again the same silence. the same wait
ing while the hand of fate seemed to
hover above them in the darkness. Bea-
trice left her place at the dead woman s
side. With firm proud step she came
to the rajah and took his hand In both
her own. He started at her touch. and
for long minute his gaze seemed to
When she spoke an unreasonable tender
ness rang in her voice. boundless under
standing and sympathy.
''Steven-have you forgotten? Long ago
in the old temple? Don't. you remember
what you told me then-how you loved
and admired us? You called us the
worlds great people. and when you spoke
Of our heroes there was something in
your voice which thrilled me. Was it
only your books. was 1t your teachers
DeldT oIHsi-Who indue you Ieei as you
did? When you came among US, what
led you? The face Of q woman? Was it
only that? Or was 1t something more?-
the call of a great. wonderful instinct"
His eyes were riveted on her face, but
for that moment he did not see her. He
did not see the tears that glistened on
her cheeks. He was looking straight
through the long vista OF the past, right
back to the first hours Of his memory.
when he had wandered alone amid
strange faces. q ruler in Q palace which
had never ceased to be his prison, an
exile whose home lay only in strange,
fantastic dreams. And In this final mo-
ment he seemed to stand high above the
past. and ever swifter and surer to trace
through every incident Of his life one
same guiding power. Through the snares
Of Behar Singh's hate-illed temptations
1t had led onward; it had borne him to
the temple-to the feet OF the woman he
was to love through every torture Of bit
ter deception; lit had swept him on a
out into world which he at last hailed
as his; and now, in the hour of fiercest
despair, of deepest loss. 1t was drawing
him surely and swiftly homeward The
past vanished. He saw again the face
lifted to his-he saw the tears-the Colo
nefs hand outstretched, waiting to clasp
his own. He heard the title that she
gave him as q man hears a long-forgot-
ten watchword.
You are English, Steven. You are
English-you belong to us!"
He unfastened the sword at his side.
For q moment he held 1t as though in
farewell But there was no grief on his
face as he laid the teweled weapon in the
colonel's hand.
Il have chosen he said. Il cannot go
against my people"
(To be concluded tomorrow