The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-02-28

A second Holy Man appeared upon the scene, wanting
IN breath. His jaw dropped and his eyes started to leave
their sockets. Knowing his ik so thoroughly well, he
flung himself down before the brazier and beat his fore.
head upon the ground; not in any chastened spirit, but
because he had oversight that morning. This glory might
have been hsI Al, nj!
Later the two conferred. During the day they should
guard the p~riestess, because, having taken human form,
she might some day tire Of this particular temple. At
night she would be well guarded by the lion.
Several awe stricken women came forward with bowls
OF cooked rice and fruits End a new copper drinking yes
sci. These they reverently placed at Kuthlyn's feet
Gradually the spirit which lad comforted Kathlyn
withdrew, and at length Kathlyn became keenly alive.
1t entered her mind clearly that these poor, foolish people
really believed her a celestial being, and so long as they
laid no hand upon her she was not alarmed. She had
recently passed through too many terrors to be disturbed
by a bit Of kindness, even If stirred into being BIZ q xeS.
gious f~anaticism.
Kathlyn ate.
By pairs the villagers departed, and soon none remained
save her self-appointed guardians, the two Holy Men.
Kathlyn felt a desire to explore this wonderful temple.
She discovered what must have been the inner shrine.
The chamber was filled with idols here and there a bit
Of gold leaf, centuries old, slistened upon the bronze, the
clay, the wood, The caste mark on the largest idols
head was a polished ruby, overlooked doubtless during the
loot. She swept the dust from the jewel with the tip Of
her finger, and the dull fire sent a Shiver Of delight over
her. She was still q woman.
AS she wandered farther in her foot touched something
and she looked down. It was a bone; in fac, the aoor
was strewn with bones. She quickly discerned, much to
her relief, that none Of these bones was human. This
was, or has been, the den Of the lion. There was an
acrid, unpleasant odor, 30 she hurried back to the braxier.
Vaguely she comprehended that she must keep the fire
replenished from time to time In order to pacify the two
Holy Men. At night it would fend of any approach Of
the hon.
Where was Bruce7 Would he ever find her? That
philosophy which she had inherited from her father,
that quiet acceptance Of the inevitable, was the one
thing which carried her through her trials sanely. An
ordinary woman would have died from mere exha ustion.
Bruce, indeed! A that very moment he was rushing
out Of the Kumars presence, wild to be of toward the
road to Alfalfa, since Kathlyn had not been seen upon
1t. He found where Rajah had veered of into the
jungle again, and followed the trail tirelessIy. But it
was to be his misfortune always TO arrive too late.
To Kathlyn the day passed with nothing more than
the curiosity Of the natives to disturb her. They
brought her cotton blankets which she arranged In the
sarcophagus. There were worse beds in the world than
this; at least it shielded her from the bitter night wind.
She ute again at shutdown and builded high the ss-
cred IRE and tried to plan some manner OF escape; for
she did not propose to be a demi-goddeaS any longer
than was necessary. From Pundita she had learned
many words and q few phrases in Hindustani, and shs
ventured to speak them to the Holy Mem, who seemed
quite delighted. They could understand her, but she
on her part could make little or nothing Of their jab-
bering. Nevertheless, she pretended. .. f@
Finally the Holy Men departed, after having indicated
the sacred fire and the wood beside it. This fire pleased
Kathlyn nightly. While it burned brightly the lion
would not prowl In her immediate vicinity. She won.
dered where this huge cat had come from, since she
knew her natural history well enough to know the
African lions did not inhabit this part Of the globe.
Doubtless 1t had escaped from some private menagerie.
The fire, then, giving her confidence, she did mot got
into the sarcophagus, but wandered about, building in
her fancy the temple as 1t had stood in it's prime. The
ceilings had been nagniacently carved, no two sub.
jects alike; and the walls, were Of marble and jasper
and ~porphyry. A magic continent this Asia In It's hey.
day. When her forefathers had been rude barbarians,
sailing the north seas or sacrificing in Druidical rites,
there had been art and culture here such as has never
been surpassed. India. OF splendid pageants, or brave
warriors and gallant kingsl Alas, how the mighty had
fallen! About her, penury, meanness, hypocrisy, an.
cleanliness, thievery, and unbridled passions .
What was that? Her heart missed a beat. That pad.
pad; that shifting noise!
She whirled about, knocking over an idol. IL came
down with q crash and, being OF clay, lay In shards at
her feet. Unfortunately 1t was the holy Of holes In