Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-21
CHAPTER III-Continued.


there were years when thy words called
up some echo In me. Thou toldest me of
the Feringhi, Of the bloody battles thou
toughest against them because they had
wronged thee; how, after fortune had
smiled family, thou vert driven into
exile. and I. thy son, bereft Of all save
pomp and title, placed upon thy empty
throne. These things made my blood boil.
In those days I thought and planned for
the great hour when 1 should seek re-
venge for thee and for myself That is
all past
"Why all past?" Behar Asor demanded
Because the truth drifted in to me
from the outer world / saw that every
where there was peace such as my land.
even after thy account has rarely known.
Law and order reigned where there had
been plundering and devastation, pros
perity where there had been endless fam
inc. More than this, / saw that in every
conflict. whether between beast and beast
or man and man, 1t was always the
strongest and wisest that conquered. The
triumph of the fool and weakling is but a
short one, nor is the rule of crime and
wickedness Of long duration. Why. then,
should / throw myself against a people
who have brought my people prosperity.
and who have proved themselves in peace
and war our masters in courage and wis
dom?"
Behar Asor struggled up, galvanized by
storm of passion which shook his frag-
lie frame from head to foot.
Thou art still no more than an ig-
norant boy he exclaimed. what
knowest thou of these things?"
Il have read of Englishmen whose
Nehal Singh answered. thoughtfully.
'They fought in your time, my father.
Thou knowest them better than T.
The old man ground his teeth together
They are dead" There was a reluc-
tant admira ton in his tone.
Nevertheless, their sons live"
1.-THE sons inherit not always the cour-
age of their fathers" Behar Asor an
swered. with bitter significance.
Nehal Singh had wandered back to the
throne. as though drawn thither by some
Irresistible attraction. and stood there
motionless, his arms folded across his
breast.
do not blame me-" he said at last
mo man can go. against himself. Were
it in my power I would do thy will. As
1t Is. without cause or reason l cannot
draw my sword against men whose ia
theirs have made my heart beat with SYM
pathy and admiration"
Behar AsOr sank back in an attitude of
absolute despair.
Il am accursed. he said.
With a Smothered sigh Nehal Singh
mounted the steps and seated himself. In
his attitude, also. there. WAS a hopeless
4
man whose plans are thwarted, but Of
one who is keenly conscious that he has
no plans. no goal, no purpose. AS he
sat there, his fine head thrown back
against the white ivory. his eyes half
closed, his fingers loosely clasping the
golden peacocks heads which formed the
arms of his throne, there was, as he had
said. something dreamlike and unreal
about his whole person. intensified, per-
haps. by the dim atmosphere and shad-
Sn1andOr Of his Snrrnundinp0
Behar Asor had ceased to watch him.
but lay motionless with his face covered
by the white mantle which he wore about
his shoulders. The first storm of angry
disappointment over, he had relapsed into
| passive oriental acceptance of the in
evitable. which did not. however. exclude
an undercurrent of bitter brooding and
contempt.
Some time passed before either of the
two men spoke. At last Behar Asor lifted
his head and glanced quickly sidewise at
the figure seated on the throne Nehal
Singh's eyes were now entirely closed and
seemed to sleep. Such a proceeding would
have been excusable enough in the suf-
locating heat, but the sight drove the old
man into a fresh paroxysm Of indigna-
ton.
"Sleepest thou. Nehal Singh?'' he de-
manded, in harsh. rasping voice. Us it
not sufficient that thou hast failed thy
destiny. but in the same hour thou must
close thine eyes and dream, like a child
on whose shoulders rest no duty, no re-
sponsibility? Awake! I have more to
say to thee"
Nehal Singh looked up.
II have not slept" he said. gravely.
though. as to what concerns duty and
responsibility, I might well have done SO,
for I have neither the one nor the other.
Speak, I pray thee. / listen"
Behar Asor remained silent a moment,
biting his foref1nger There was some
thing in the action strongly reminiscent
Of a cunning, treacherous animal.
Thou hast laughed at thine own
power" he said at last, though I have
sworn to thee that. as In my time. so to-
day, the swords that sleep in a hundred
thousand sheathes would awake at thy
word. They sleep because thou sleepest.
force thee. and mine own hand has grown
too feeble. But since thou hast chosen
peace, remember this, that 1t can last
only with thy lifetime. So long thy peo
pie will be patient. Afterward-' He
shrugged his shoulders significantly.
Thou hast more to tell me-" Nehal
Singh said.
IF thou wilt keep peace In thy land,
see to it that thou hast children who will
carry 1t on for thee after thou hast
passed into the shadow" Behar answer
ed. Hitherto thou hast led a strange
and lonely life. preparing as I willed for
the destiny thou hast cast aside. Take
now unto thee companions wife"
which had until now tortured some fine
instrument had suddenly. perhaps by
chance, perhaps by instinct struck a pure
harmonious chord, Nehal Singh rose to
his feet, his weary dreamer's face trans
figured with a news light and new en-
ergy
"A wife," he said under his breath "A
woman! I know nothing of women. In
all my life / have seen but two-my
mother and q nautch g1rl-who cringed to
me. should not like my wife to cringe
to me. Are there not such as could be
my companion, my comrade? Or are they
all servile slaves?"
Behar Asor laughed shortly and con-
temptuously.
'"They are our Interiors" he said,
thence. they cannot be more than COM
panions for our idle hours. But you will
have idle hours enough, and there would
be many who would call themselves
blessed to share themselves with thee.
A great alliance"
Nehal Singh interrupted him with the
old gesture of authority.
Thou hast said enough, my father"
he said. II will think upon it. Until
then-leaye me my peace"
With slow. medttative step, he went
back to the curtained doorway, and pull
ing aside the hangings, went out on to
the balcony. It was O'clock and al
ready the heat Of the day had broken.
Long rays of sunlight struck eastward
faded golden fingers the topmost turrets
of the temple. In the distance the
shadows of the jungle had advanced,
and like the waves Of a rising tide,
seemed to swallow up, step by step. the
brightness of the prospect. Nehal Singh
descended the winding stair that led to
the first terrace. Thence three paths
ctrotchad themselves heforo hin, He