Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-09-27
BeBRONZp
BELL ~ ~ \
ByLOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
AUTHOR OF "TfiE BRASS BOWL" ETC. u
GllWSULlMJ0ONG BY DAN4 WALTERS -

ILLUSTRATIONS BY RAN VHAA[GD[5DS


did it not leap little at the thought
of meeting me?"
With quick gesture she threw her
veil aside and lifted her incomparably
fair face to his, and he was conscious
that he trenlbled little. and that his
voice shock as he answered evasive-
ly: Thou shouldst know. Rance"
Thou wilt not draw back in the
end2" Her arms clipped him softly
about the neck and drew his head
down so that her breath was fragrant
in his face. her lips a sweet peril be-
meath his own. Thou wilt brave
whatever may be prepared for thy
testing, for the sake of NSraini. who
awaits thee beyond the Gateway. o
my Beloved?"
Il shall not be found wanting"
1.-the as snake. she slipped from
his arms. Nay, trust thee mott"
she laughed. CULVER Of tenderness in
her merriment. Let my lips be mine
alone until thou hast proven myself
worthy of them" She raised her
voice. calling: "Ohe, Runiit Singh"
The cry rang bell-clear in the still
ness, and its silver echo had not died
before it was answered by one who
stepped out OF the black shadow of
spreading banian, some distance away,
and came toward them, leading three
horses. As the moonlight fell upon
him, Amber recognized the uniform
the man wore as that of the imperial
household guard of Khandawar, while
the horses seemed to be stations he
had seen in the palace yard. with an
other but little their inferior in mettle
or beauty
Now announced the woman in
tones of deep contentment, we will
ride!"
She turneds to Amber, who took her
up in his arms and set her In the sad
/ die of one of the stations.
The sowar surrendered to Amber
the reins of the other stallion and
stepped hastily aside The Virginian
took the saddle with flying leap, and
thought later was digging his knees
into the brute's sleek tanks and saw
ing on the bits. while the path flowed
beneath him, dappled with moonlight
and shadow, like a ribbon of gray
green silk, and trees and shrubbery
streaked back on either hand in a
rush of melting blacks and grays.
SweFving acutely. the path ran into
the dusty high road. Amber heard a
rush of hoofs behind him. and then
slowly the gauze-wrapped figure of the
queen drew alongside.
"Marol Let him run, my king!
The way is not far for such as he.
Have no fear lest he tire."
But Amber set his teeth and
wrought with the reins until his
mount comprehended the fact that he
had met master and. undertaking his
first furious burst Of speed, settled
down into a league-devouring stride,
crest low. limbs gathering and stretch
ing, with the elegant precision Of
clockwork His rider. regaining his
poise. found time to look about him
and began to enjoy, for all his cares,
this wild race through the blue-white
night
They cireled finally great. round,
| CRASHES hillside, and pulled rein in
the notch of gigantic V formed by
two long, prow-like spurs running out
upon a plain whose sole, vague bound
airy was the vast arc of the horizon.
Before them doomed dead Kathiapur.
an island of stone girdled by the shall
low silver river. Like the rugged
pedestal OF some mammoth column, its
cliffs rose sheer threescore feet from
the waters edge to the foot of the
outermost of it's triple walls. From
the notch in the hills great stone
causeway climbed with a long and
easy grade to the level of the first
great gate. spanning the chasm over
the river by means Of crazy wooden
bridge.
A gasp from the woman and an
oath from the sowar startled Amber
out of somber apprehensions into
which he had been plunged by contem-
plation of this impregnable fortress
of desolation. Gone was his lust for
peril, gone his high. needless Joy of
adventure, gone the intoxication which
had been his who had drunk deep Of
the cup of romance: there remained
only the knowledge that he. alone and
single-handed, was 20 pit hts wits
against the invisible and mighty
forces that lurked in hiding within
those walls, to seem to submit TO
their designs ana so find his way to
the woman of his love. tear her from
the grasp Of the unseen, and with her
escape.
Naraini had indeed, no need to cry
aloud or clutch his hand in order 10
apprise him that the Eye was vigilant
He himself had seen 1t break forth,
lurid star OF emerald light suspended
high above the dark heart Of the city.
Slowly, while they watched the
star descended, foot by foot, dropping
until the topmost pinnacle of hidden
temple seemed to support it: and
there 1t rested. throbbing with light.
now bright. now dull.
Amber shook himself impatiently.
SILLY chariantry!" he muttered, irri-
tated by his own susceptibility 70 It's
sinister suggestion re like
to know how they manage It, though;
the light itselfs comprehensive
enough, but their control Of IT,
II there we're enough wind. I'd suspect
kite
''Thou art not dismayed, my kng?"
He laughed, not quite as successful
" as he could have wished, and. mot