The Huttig news., 1912-05-25
visitor in the library.

understanding or the request, never theless. 90 well that wi en in a leisure lv way she reached the big room on the main floor. the visitor was already within if. He stood at window look ine into street and shielding him self behind a curtain from chance not until the second glance that she recognized the Swami She was not only astonished. but startled by the recognition. What could this mysteri- ous student Of the occult want with her2 What could possibly be the ob- feet of his visit to her home at such an hour? He was an old acqnaint- anee in sense. but one Mrs Mic sioner had not cultivated In this part of the world
 He waited until she was close 10 the hearthrug before he turned and said with a profound bow:
 Madam. my intrusion Is excused hv the fact that I can restore your tewelg
 ''Is 1t possible," she exclaimed.
 ''It is more than possible It Is 2 fact accomplished" ha answered Taking from an inner pocket mack age in silk tissue. he extended II toward her with the words:
 "You will find in this parcel. madam. with tho exception of the largest the Mahararee.
 "But the big diamond of the whole necl lace-the Maharapeei' cried Mrs. Missioner How did you find these ard not find that?"
 T lave not said that I did not re- cover it" said the Swami. "On the contrary, I confess to you that I sair ed pos Session of the Maharar,ee at the time when I got these but ii must not. cannot. he restored 10 vou."
 T am grateful for what yon have lone" tte widow said gently; but am unable to understand vour att tnde in regard 10 the missing stone. Why should I not have that. too? Ii Is mine
 Madam" said tho Oriental, In the eourfliest way T would not for the world say anything to disturb yonr faith in your husband. There is no ,eed of doing SO Your faith is war. rented Mir Missioner. when he said thst. thought he was telling the truth Unfortunately for ynu. as well as for many others. he was not speaking the ruth. The renegade who sold tShat jewel to your husband did not buy it from Maharanee. He did not buU 1t from anyone. He stole it"
 Stole it." the widow cried, wIthsa little wall In her voice. "Impossiblet
 Pardon me once more. ma dam It Is so far from being impossible tlwt it Ia the strict truth. Nor was tie theft the only crime of which the inf,n was guilty In stealing that jewel. he committed dreadful sacrilege."
 Mrs. Missioner was SO overcome by her emotions that she was obliged, in spite of her intention. to sit down, and therefore to extend to her visitor an invitation to be seated also, before she could get herself well enough in 1 hand to follow the Swami's narrative calmly.
 That diamond" continued the sage "once hlazed in the forehead of the great Ruddha in the Temple of Delhi. II was revered bX thousands. hundreds of thousands. hy millions. as tho most sacred work of the rcd for tradition says It was the rn6isruted property of Ruddha himself when he walked the earth in his latest incarnation
 Mrs Missioner's lirs were parted. Her eyesswere fiyed upon the Orien- tal's In the intensity of her interest.
 One night the sage went oH. when hand of militant priests as- signed to guard the shrine of RudGha in the great Delhi temple relaxed its vigilance. sacrilAglons wretch on whose head ho all the curses of all the centuries made his way Into the heart Of the sacred building and wrested the diamond from the brow of the god That he was not blasted ip his tracks hy the lightning Of divine wrath proves tfat the mind of 'ha god at that moment was shrouded in meditation for the benefit of his chil. dren[ I he stone was missed At dawn Within the hour armed men were securing the city for the anost2fe thief No trace Of him was found The Nsharaiah of that kingdom. lax thonRh he had been In certain oh servances of the faith was too true a son of tle Temple to let the careless priests go unpnnished. Ky his order they were seized hundred of them. and thrown into prison. royal da. cree was promulgated. tho effect of which is that none of those unhappv cantiyes Is 10 see the light of day un til the diam ond is returned to it's nlaca In 3uddha's forehead. The temnla was draped in the mourning colors of the east. and those colors still deck its lonely walls. No true believers foot may he seen within it's portals willie the great stone Is missing The brethren of the priesthood lancuish in dungeons. hoping against hope that Ruddha may manifest his mercy hv carsirg the gem 10 he regained and replaced upon Ills brow Intended unworshiped. the god sits uuon his throne within the shrine, waiting for tho restoration of his own