Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-20

| latter was considerably darker. and lack
ed both the refinement OF feature and
dignity Of expression which distinguished
| the younger man. Nevertheless. when
| he spoke it was In the tone OF familiarity,
almost OF paternal authority.
Art thou not weary. my SON." he
+! asked, abruptly. For an hour thou hast
| neither moved nor spoken Tell me with
what thy thoughts are concerned 1 would
| fam know. and thy face has told me
nothing"
Nehal Singh let the curtain fall back
| into its place, and the yellow patch OF
sunshine upon the marble faded. He
| looked at his companion steadfastly, but
with eyes that saw nothing
MY thoughts" he repeated. In low,
| musical voice. my thoughts are value
rless. They are like Gagged birds which
| have beaten their wings against the bars
perches and dream of the world beyond -
He laughed gently. mo. my father. You.
who have seen the world, would mock at
them as dim. unreal reflections Of real
fly which you have touched and handled.
For me they are beautiful enough"
The old man lifted himself on his ell
bow.
"Thinkest thou never OF thysen?" he
asked I'm thy dreams hast thou never
seen thine own form rise at the call OF
thy waiting people?"
My waiting people!" Nehal Singh re-
peated. with a smile and a faint lifting
of the eyebrows. mo people wait for me.
my father. So much / have learned. |
bear title. tract OF land acknowledges
my rule-but q people! No. like my title.
pie that thou sayest await me-a dream.
my father. a dream!' He spoke gravely.
without sadness. the Same gentle, wistful
smile playing about his lips.
The other sank back with q groan.
THE All-Highest pity mel" he exclaim-
Al pyaf 80 l~rS ND hat
tie. without energy. without ambition"
Nehal Singh, who had paced forward to
the foot Of the throne. turned and looked
back
Ambition I have had he answered.
energy 1 have had. Like my thoughts.
against the bars Of their cage. What
would you have me do?" He strobe back
to the door. and pulling aside the cur
tain let the full. dazzling sunshine pour
in upon them. See out there! ne
cried. lis it not q sight to bring peace
to the soul of the poet and the dreamer:
But for the warrior? Can he draw his
sword against flowers and trees?
The old man smiled coldly. but not
without satisfaction.
There is a world that awaiteth thee
beyond he said.
"A world of which l know nothing"
THE time cometh.'
Nehal Singh studied the wrinkled face
with a new intentness.
Hitherto thou hast always held bar
rier between the world and me" he said.
When the call to the durbar came. IL
was thou who bade me say / was Ill
When the Feringhi sought my presence.
it was thou who held fast my door. irst
with one excuse, then with another. And
now? / do not understand thee.
Behar Asor struggled up into sitting
posture. his features rendered more ma
lignant by a glow Of fierce triumph.
LAY. the barrier has been there.' he
cried. 1T is / who have held IT erect all
these years when they thought me dead
and powerless. 1t is I who have kept
thee spotless and undehled. Nehal Singh.
thou alone Of all thy race and of all thy
caste. The shadow Of the unbeliever has
never crossed thy mans face. his food
thy lips, nor has his hand touched thy
mans hand. Thou are the chosen of
Brahma and when the hour striketh and
the holy war proclaimed from east to
west and from north to south, then il
shall be thy sword
Nehal Singh held up his hand with a
gesture of command.
(To be continued tomorrowl