The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-27

possess mighty wills, who can make man sleep by look
Ing into his eyes, who can override and destroy weaker
minds. l know l have seen. You have heard of sus-
pended animation? Well, 1 have seen examples of it;
and so have my people. Can you wonder at their east
ness in being swayed this way and that? But these
men l refer to- do not sit about in the bazaars with
wooden bowls for coppers. 1t is said, however, that all
curses die with their makers. 1t depends upon how old
the Colonel Sahib's guru is. I know -riests who are more
than a hundred years old, and wrinkled lie the hide Of
Hath, the god of elephants"
But a child could see through all this rigamarole."
Can Bruce Sahib?" Again Ramabai smiled. my
people are sometimes children in that they need constant
amusement. Have patience, my friend for I under
stand. Do 1 not love Pundita even as you love the
Memsahib?"
what do you mean?" demanded Bruce, roughly.
al have eyes,"
WELL, yes; it is true. Behind you are your people;
behind us, nothing. That is why 1 am frantic. UNI
ballah, wherever he finds himself checkmated, digs up
what he assumes to be an unused law There is none
to contest it. l tell you, Ramabai, we must escape soon,
or we never will. You suggested this impossible mar
riage. 1t is horrible!
But it lulls Umballah; and lulled, he becomes care
less. Beyond the north gate there are ever ready men
and elephants. And when the moment arrives, thither
we shall fly, all Of us. But" mysteriously, "we may
not have to fly. When Umbalah learns that the Colonel
Sahib will refuse to sign the necessary treasury release
the soldiers will understand that once again they have
been trihed with"
1--WE must wait. But it's mighty hard"
The garden of brides has already been described. But
on this day when the ten yelled candidates. sat in wait
ing there was spring in the air; and there were roses
climbing trellises, climbing over the marble walls, and
the pomegranate blossoms set fire to it all. At the gate
stood Ramabai, dressed according to- his station, and
representing by proxy the king. Presently a splendid
palanquin arrived, and within it a tardy candidate. She
was laden with jewels, armlets, anklets, and head orna-
ments pearls and uncut s~apphires and rubies. Upon lift
ing her veil she revealed a beautiful high caste face.
Ramabai babe her pass on. No sooner had she taken
her place than still another palanquin was announced,
and this was drawn by fat, sleek bullocks, all Of a color.
Ramabai held up his hand. The bullock drivers stopped
their charges, and from the palanquin emerged q yelled
woman. This was Kathlyn.
The selected candidates were now all present. As
master Of ceremonies, Ramabai conducted them into the
palace, thence into the throne room, gayly decorated for
the occasion. In a balcony directly above the canopy Of
the throne were musicians, playing the mournful har-
monies SO dear to the oriental heart.
Upon the throne sat Col. Hare, gorgeously attired,
but cold and stern of visage, prepared to play his part
in this unutterable bufoonery. Near by stood Durga
Ram, so called Umballah, smiling. It was going to be
very simple, once yonder stubborn white fool was welded,
he should be made to disappear; and there should be
another wedding, in which he, Durga Ram, should take
the part of the bridegroom. Then for the treasury, fight,
and, later, ease abroad. Let the fligree basket Of gems
stay where it was; there were millions In the treasury,
the accumulated hoardings Of many decades.
The council and high priests also wore their state
robes, and behind them were officers and other digni-
taries.
There was a stir as Ramabai entered with this yelled
candidates. The Colonel in vain tried to hide his interest
and anxiety. kathryn was there somewhere, among
these koW-toWing women but there was nothing by which
he could recognize her. As the women spread about the
throne, Ramabai signifed to the musicians TO cease.
Silence.
Then tRarnabai8 brought candidate after candidate close
to the Colonel, SO that he alone might see the face behind
the veil. Az each uplifting Of the veil the colonel hook