The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-03-11

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OF meeting me?'
With q quick gesture she threw her
veil aside and lifted her incomparably
fair face to his, and he was conscious
that he trembled little, and that his
voice shook as he answered evasive-
~: Thou shouldst know, Rance"
Thou wilt not draw back in the
end?" 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 Naraini, who
awaits thee beyond the Gateway. o
my Beloved? p
II shall not be found wanting"
1.-the as q snake, she slipped from
MS arms. NAY. I trust thee mott"
she laughed. a CULVER Of tenderness in
her merriment. LET. my lips be mine
alone until thou hast proven thyself
worthy Of them" She raised her
voice. calling: "Ohe. Runjit Singh"
The cry rang bell4ciear in the still
ness. and its silver echo had not died
before 1t was answered by one who
stepped out Of the black shadow Of a
spreading banian. some distance away,
and came toward them, leading three
horses. As the moonlight fell upon
him. Amber recognised the uniform
the man wore as that Of the imperial
household guard OF Khandawar, while
the horses seemed to be stations he
mad 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, I'VE will
ride!"
She turned 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 ribbon of gray
green silk, and trees and shrubbery
streaked back on either hand in a
rush of melting blacks and grays.
Swerving acutely, the path ran into
the dusty high road. Amber heard
rush Of hoofs behind him, and then
slowly the gauze-wrapped figure OF the
queen drew alongside.
Marc! 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 a master and, moderating his
first furious burst OF speed, settled
down into 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 circled finally a great, round,
grassless hillside, and pulled rein in
the. notch of gigantic v formed by
two long, prow-like spurs running out
upon plain whose sole, vague bound
ary.swas 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 a great stone !
causeway climbed with a long and |
easy grade to the level OF the first |
greet gate, spanning the lchasm over
the river by means Of 4 crazy wooden
bridge. III,
A gasp from itHss woman and an
oath from the sowhr startled Amber
out of somber aipfESabensions 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
gone the. intoxication which
had beeh' his who had drunk deep Of
the cup of romance: there remained
aIils THE kAowledg1 that he, .aidnef and |.
was to pit his wits
against the invisible and mighty
forces that lurked in hiding within +
those walls. to seem to submit to
heir designs and SO find his way to
he woman of his love, tear her from
he grasp of the unseen. and with her
escape. st
Nataini had. indeed. no need to. cry
loud or clutch his hand in order to
apprise him that the Eye was vigilant.
lie himself had seen it break forth. a
urid star of emerald light suspended
Ugh above the dark heart of the city.
Slowly. while they watched the
tar descended, foot by foot, dropping
Until the topmost pinnacle of hidden
emple seemed to support it: and
here 1t rested. throbbing with light, {
low bright. now dull. !
Amber shook himself ,tmpatiently. {
Silly charlantry!" he muttered, irri- /
ated by his own susceptibility to it's I
mister suggestion. I'D like {