Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-10-23


And believe" he added to the astrol.
oyer, that you can show our friend
complete panorama of the Durbar, as
1t will appear, during the hundredth
part of a second?"
Time is not measured by mo-
ments," answered the astrologer sen.
tentiously, and stopped and picked up
the crystal. He handed 1t to RAM
chundra, who placed 1t in Paul's hand
Then. to Paul's utter astonishment.
out of the clear glass flashed forth
figures of men riding, camels and ele.
plants, and white forest of tents. He
uttered an exclamation of amazement,
and the astrologer's soothing tones
fell on his ear.
Have no fear" said the old,
grooming voice. "This is not magic,
nor any device of the Evil One. 1t is
nothing but projection of your own
thoughts, mirrored upon the glass,
and is trick we'll known In many
western lands. Look, now! Look
closely, before the prince awakes!"
ut is merely a series Of mind
images" said the secretary watching
Paul curiously Mote them we'll, Mr.
Lane, for this is,.to all intent, dress
rehearsal of the ceremony"
Paul leaned back In his chair and
stretched out his limbs luxuriously.
All sense Of strangeness had depart.
ed; he felt only blissful ease, min.
gled with which was a sense of
utter peace, as though all his fears and
indecisions had yielded to the knowl
edge of some secret power within him
which made success a certainty. He
looked into the glass.
He saw the white city of tents, the
gathering spectators. How real they
appeared! He could even distinguish
the expressions OF amazed reverence
and excitement as the elephants slow.
ly numbered past. each with its ma
hout. and each clothed in trappings of
silk and gold with silver tips upon
its massive tusks.
He was one Of the procession now
and following among the long line of
watchers. A company of soldiers
flashed into sight; 'white-turbaned
Sikhs. with curled boards, spotlessly
clad. holding their rifles suddenly to
the attention as mounted general
rode past. He bore some message,
evidently, for thrill seemed to pass
through the crowd, and then-then, in
cloud of dust, preceded by mounted
men and followed by whole coterie
OF attendants, King George and Queen
Mary passed in their carriage, while
deafcning acclamations rent the air.
Darkness! The scene had changed
AS in the picture show, when new
film passes before the rays, so this
new scene flashed into clear precision
before Paul's eyes. He was eated, as
he had arranged to sit, upon the top
most tier of the great amphitheater Of
wooden benches that rose from the
ground opposite the pavilion in which
the coronation was to occur. Around
him were thousands upon thousands,
all waiting in deep silence for the
final act of the great ceremony. The
king was crowned, with his consort.
and they awaited the approach of the
feudal princes to pledge their loyalty.
And slowly up the dusty carpet-decked
road which led to the royal dais there
came. one by one. the feudal prince
lings, and one by one they bowed low
before these rulers Of alien race and,
placing their hands upon their hearts,
they vowed submission.
Suddenly Paul became aware that
he held a handkerchief in his hand.
His mind rushed back through fog
Of bewildering dreams. What did this
portend? This handkerchief-did not
an empire hang upon the fall Of itF
He looked down. There, far under
him, he saw the commander of the
Sikh troops, seated upon his horse at
the head of his men. AS he looked the
face of the man projected itself clear
ly upon his perceptions. He was look
ing upward, straining his eyes to
catch the flutter Of white.
And all at once the voice Of the
astrologer seemed to break the 81
lence.
"You must not drop that handker-
chief" he croaked, "or the whole pic
ture will fade away Remember, this
is nothing but vision. The reality
comes tomorrow"
Paul crumpled up the handkerchief
and hid it in his sleeve. Far beneath
him he still saw the Sikh officer look
upward; he fancied that he detected
an appearance Of uneasiness on the
part Of the man. His horse reared,
and, in checking it. he pulled the
reins so taut that it was flung back
on its launches. Why was he at.
tempting to attract Pauls attention?
A deep, indrawn exclamation an.
swered the question. AS every head
craned forward and every heart beat
hard Paul, instinctively following the
gaze of the crowd, perceived the Jam
of Nagshipur advance slowly in his
turn toward the royal dais. Though
chief of all the princes, he had been
held almost to the last before being
permitted to pledge his allegiance; it
was a subtle slight devised by the
minds of the rulers of the country in
return for the Jams supposed anti.
English proclivities. The people, per.
fectly aware of the meaning Of this
maneuver, watched him with bated
hrootb IIpop hic action demanded tha
fate of the empire. Would he pledge
himself or would he fling defiance into
the faces of his English rulers?
The Jam advanced uneasily, evi.
IDENTIFY almost overcome by nervous
hess, and glancing as he advanced to-