Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-07-19

wtnle ne nnseeed IN indecIsion, star
ing IN the woman's face, her look o.
petulance was replaced by one Of d.
vine forgiveness and compassion And
she gave him no time 10 think or to
avoid her, 10 a twipkling she had
thrown herself upon him again, was in
his arms and crushing her lips upon
bis
Nay" she mmmured. but I did
wrong thee. beloved Perohauec,' she
told him archly, chou dds, not think
30 soc me 40 soon. or in this gerdenf
Perchanee surprise hath robbed thee
OF thy wits-and thy tongue as we'll
o wordless one? or thou art over
come with Joy. as I am overcome, ana
smitten dumb by Il. as | am not
Aho. l.alii was ever n woman at loss
for words 10 voice her happiness"
And nesting to him she laughed quiet
ly. with a note as tender aud sweet
as the cooling of wood-dose 20 It's
mate
Nay. but there Is mistake" He
recovered the power of speech tardily,
and would have put her from him;
but she held tight to him u am not
thy husband. nor yet rajput come
from America, the far land where thy
husband died Nay. II doth
pain me to hurt thee so. Rance, but
the mistake Is not OF my making, and
II hath been carried too far, Thy hus-
band died I'm my presence
1T IS SO. them" she cut him short
And his arms were suddenly empty,
TO his huge relief Indeed, they had
warned me that thou wouldst tell this
story and deny newly, ! know not,
unless Il ~ that thou art unworthy OF
thy lineage, coward and weak
iIng," Her small foot stamped angri'
~ and on every limb of her round
body bracelets and anklets FLASHED
ana shimmered. And 40 thou hast
returned only to forswear me and thy
Kingdom, o thou Of little spirit" The
scarlet lips curled and the eyes grew
cold and hard with contempt III that
be so tell me. why hast thou returned
OF aH7 TO die7 For that thou must
surely come TO. II II be IN thy mind
20 defy the behests Of the Voice, thou
king without kingdoml
Why, then, art thou here, rather than
running to hide In some far place,
thinking TO escape with thy worthless
worthless even TO thee. who
art too craven to make a mans use OF
it---from the Vengeance of the Body7
Dost think / am to be trlcked
and hoodwinked. in whose heart
thine image hath been enshrined these
many weary years."
Il neither think nor know. nor
greatly care Rance" Amber inter
posed, YEARLY Doubtless ! deserve
thine anger and scorn. since ! am not
he who thou wouldst have me be. II
death must be my portion for this Of
Tense, for that ! resemble liar Dyal
Rutton then It is written that
| am to die Ny business here In
Khandawar hath concern neither with
thee, nor with the state, nor yet with
the Gateway of Swords-of the very
name of which | am weary
Now, with his mouth settled In lines
Of unmistakable resolve, II will go;
nor do think that there be any here
10 stop me"
He wheeled about, prepared to fight
his way out of the palace, II need be.
indeed, It was in his mind that death
there were as easy as an hour after
sunrise; for he Had little doubt but
that he was to die II he remained oh
durate, and the hospitality OF the raj
put would cease to protect him the
bund of his bungalow
But the woman sprnng after him
and caught his arm. "of thy pity"
abe begged, breathlessly, hold for a
space untIl I have taken thought.
Thou knowest that II what
thou hast told me be the truth, then
am widow before my time--widowed
and doomed
Doomed"
"Ayel" And there was real terror
In her eyes and voice. Doomed TO
sati, For. since ! am a widow--since
thou dost maintain thou art not my
husband --then my face hath been
looked upon py man not OF NINE own
people. and ! am dishonored. Fire
alone can cleanse me of that defile-
ment-~the pyre and the death by
eamei"
Good God you don't mean that
Surely that custom has perlshed''
Thou shouldst know that 1t dleth
not. What TO US women In whose
bodies runs the blood OF royalty, Ia
an edict OF your English government
What the sirkar itself to US In Khan
dawar?" She laughed bitterly. Il am
Nohilla, a daughter Of kings; my dis
honor may be purgsd ouly by flame.
Arrel that | should live to meet with
ouch fate--I, Narainl. to perish In
the flower Of my beauty. For
am beautiful, am not?" She dropped
the veil which Instinctiyely she had
caught across her face. and met his
gaze with childish coquetry. torn
though she seemed to be by fear and