The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-31

"Indeed?"
cor die" coolly.
Umballa sprang forward and seized
her roughly.
"What has happened?"
81 was in the zenana, highness, visit
ing my sister. whom you had trans
ferred from the palace. All at once
We heard shouting and trampling Of
feet, and a moment later your house
was overrun with men. They had
found the king in the hut and taken
him to the palace. That they did no,
find you Is because you came here"
Tell me ALL"
at seems that the ma jordomo gave
the poison to Ramabai, but the white
goddess"
THE white goddess" cried Umballa,
as IL stung by a cobra's fang.
"Ay. hghness. She did not die on
that roof Nothing can harm her. II
h written"
And l was never told"
She lived, lived and all the terrors he
had evoked for her were as naught!
Cmballa was not above superstition
himself for all his European training.
Surely this girl of the white people was
imbued with something more than NOR
tai. She lived,
go on!" he said, his voice subdued
as was his soul.
"The white goddess by mistake took
Ramabai's goblet and was about TO
drink when the ma jordomo seized the
goblet and drained the poison himself.
He confessed everything, where the
king was, where you were. They are
again hunting through the city for you.
For the present you must hide with
me-"
"The white woman must die" said
Cmballa, in a voice like one being
strangled.
To this the priests agreed without
hesitation. This white woman whom
the people were calling a goddess was
Of theirs, superstition.
What has gone is a pact?"
"A pact, Durga RAM" said the chief
priest. With Ramabai spreading
Christianity. the abhorred creed which
gave people liberty Of person and
thought. the future Of his own religion
stood in imminent danger. "A pact"
he reflected. ITO you. Durga Ram. the
throne; to us half the treasury and
all the ancient rites OF our creed re-
stored"
II have said it,
Cmballa followed the dancing girl into
the square before the temple He turned
and smiled ironically. The hald fools.
Lead on, thou flower of the Jas
mine" lightly.
And the two Of them disappeared into
the night.
But the priests smiled too for Durga
N hai
power than they in his.
There was tremendous excitement In
the city the next morning. 1t seemed
that the city would never be permitted
to resume its old careless Incidence.
Swift as the wind news flew that the
old King was alive. that he had been
held prisoner all these months by Durga
Ram and the now deposed council OF
three. No more the old rut of dulness.
Never had they known such fetes.
Since the arrival of the white goddess
not a day had passed without some
thrilling excitement, which had cost
them nothing hut shouts.
So they deserted the baZaars and
markets that morning to witness the
most surprising spectacle Of all: the
King who was dead was not dead, but
alive.
So in the throne room later he gave
the power to Ramabai to act in his
stead till he had fully recovered from
his terrible hardships. More than this
he declared that Pundita. the wife of
Ramabai, should ultimately rule; for OF
truth the principally was lawfully
hers. He would make his will at once,
but in order that this should be legal
he would have to destroy the previous
will he had given to Col Hare, his
friend.
Forgive me, my friend" he said. At
acted unwisely in your case. But ! was
angry with my people for their cow
ardice."
"Your Majesty" replied the Colonel,
1.-THE fault lay primarily with me. I
should not have accepted II or returned.
I will tell you the truth. 1t was the
| fligree basket Of gold and precious
stones that brought me back"
$50? And all for nothing. since the
hiding place gave you Is not the true
one. But OF that, more anon. ] want
this wretch Durga Ram spread out on
an ant hill"
And then. without apparent reason,
he began to call for I.akshmi, the
beautiful Lakshmi, the wife Of his
| youth. He ordered preparations for an
! elephant fight; rambled, talked as
though he were but 20; his eyes dim,
his lips loose and pendulent. And in
this condition he might live ten or
twenty years. Ramabai was sore at
| heart
They had to walt two days til his
mind cleared again. His first question
upon his return to his mental balance
was directed to kathryn. Where was
the document he had given to his friend
Hare? Kathlyn explained that Umballa
had taken 1t from her.
| But, your Majesty" exclaimed the
| Colonel rather impatiently, what diff
| ference does it make? Your return has
nullifed that document"
| mot in case OF my death. And in
Alfalfa the elder document Is always
the legal document unless 1t il legally
destroyed. 1t is not well to antagonize
| the priests. who hold us firmly to this
law. I might make a will In favor OF
Pundita. but II would not legally hold
in justice II all previous wills were not
legally destroyed. You must find this
document"
Did you ever hear OF a law to equal
that?" asked Bruce OF the Colonel.
"No, my boy, never did. 1t would
a.I IAal 49, sa.a 90