The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1914-07-24
CHAPTER III,


Bt $50" '1H&ich HIS splhH. Inc Womet
r; on his race were chattels, lazy and In
erL without fire. merely drudges OIL
plhyihings. Here was one worth con
querIng. q white fame to be controlled
n 10 bend her without breaking her
.e that must be his method OF procedure.
The skin under her chin was as white
@ as the heart OF a manEosteen, and the
longing to sweep her into his arms was
n almost irresistible.
a high priest spoke to Rathlyn.
What does he say" she asked.
r "Ihat YOU must marry me-"
Tell him | refuse"
tmbalia shrugged and repeated her
words, Here the Council OF Three in.
terposed. warning kathryn that she
|, must submit to the law as II read.
There was no appeal from 1t.
Then | shall appeal to the British
raj"
How asked Umballa. urbapely.
swiftly she stepped to the front of
the platform and extended her arms.
1t was an appeal. She pointed to I'm.
baiia and shook her head. Her arms
went out again. A low murmur rippled
o'eF the pressing crowd; 1t grew In
volume; and a frown OF doubt fitted
over umballa's brow. The soldiers
were swaying restlessly. Kathlyn saw
TINS sign n was quick to seize upon
lts possibilities. She renewed her ges.
lure toWard them. 1t seemed that
she must burst forth In their mad.
oehing tongue: Il appeal to the
chlVairy OF Alfalfa! . Soldiers,
you now wear my uniform! Liberate
mel" but her tongue a mute; yet
ner eyes, her face. her arms spoke
e~ioquentiy enough to the turbulent sol.
diers' Besides, they welcomed the op-
p~ortunity to show the ~populace how
strong they were and how little they
feared umballa. At a nod from their
leader they came romping up the steps
TO the dais and surrounded Kathlyn.
A roar came from the populace; an ,
elephant trnmpeted; the pariah DOGS I
parked !
pmballa stepped back, his hand on !,
MS 1eweled sword. He was quite un- !,
prepared Tor any such fragrant mutiny !.
-mutiny from his angle Of vision, :.
though In law the troopers had only !,
responded to the desire OF their queen. 1
he turned questioningly to the Council
and the priests. He himself could
no further, His confreres appre. :
'iated the danger In which their power y
They announced that II was
to give the queen a respite OF :,
even days In which to yield. It
you'd at least hold the bold troopers
IN the leash till they could be brought :.
o SEQ the affair In Ito true light by the y
way OF iargess In rupees. Umballa :,
because he was ut the bot
ON OF the sack. A priest read from a e.,
croll the law, explaining that no a.
oman might rule unmarried. Because "
young queen was not conversant ,
18th the laws OF the state she would
g given seven days. Thus the dur.
mr. ended. q.
With a diplomacy which would have -
raced a better mar umballa directed y,
he troopers to escort Katblyn ,o ~ Va
In the zenana. He had In
ind seven DAYS. Many thinps could ~
accomplished In that space OF time. ~.
tFor the present" he said su,,,,a of'
kathiyn, I God OF your fathers s,,
ID proven strongest. But tomorrow! -.
. All. tomorrow! There will be Z
ven days, Think then, deeply and /.
isoner. II will be weeks ere your "p,
essence In known here. You are :.
lpless ~ a bird In the net. Struggle -,
You Will; you will only bruise your !"
ngs. The British raj2 The British 49,
does not want a great border war, ~,
d / can bring dowa ten thousand !.
ID hill men outlaws between whom 81,
4 the British raj there In n hinod W.,
ID; ten thousand from q land where -.
re IL never peace. only truce. In - !,
ZEN days, Salaam. heaven born!" 81
The returned his ironical gaze calm
v g the shoulder az a troopar Nne
Walt she said. IT wish Won IN she
the cnormity Of your n
me- AZ
Crimef" with elevated eyebrows =
Yes. You have abducted me" =
No You amt OF your own free -
=.
The white men OF my race will not
40 to argue over any such subtlety -
rry you7 l do not like your color" =
duh red settled under umbaila's -.
i, =
merely wish to warn you," she -
It on, that my blood will be upon
r head. And woe to you IL 1t ii.
re are white men who win not san
4. A.. u- - u - "