The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-01-24
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anu hung lnlO the dust by the way
side. Thy heart is broken, Sarasvati,
my sister. No wonder that the love
for which thou gayest all has grown
cold and passes on 10 other and
fresher-"
1t is a he,' she broke in wildly.
She tried to free herself. The hor-
rid distorted reflection OF her own
face Knocked her helpless efforts.
"A lie? Art thou then blind TO
what others see hourly? Art thou
deceived by "a friendship which is no
more than mantle for a disloyal
love? Thy very servants pity thee.
But what IS that against the greater
wrong? Thou art doubly betrayed,
Sarasvau my sister The ring upon
they finger is lie, the ceremony
which bound thee TO thy betrayer was
an empty form. Thy marriage was
naturalization art an outcaste in the
country Of thy birth and in the coun-
Try OF thy adoption-thy son Is born
in dishonor--'
BE silent" She wrenched herself
free and sprang Like tigress TO the
cradle, where she turned and faced
him in royal fury. My son has
passed beyond dishonor,' she said.
MY son is dying"
lie stared at her, and then in the
heavy silence he crept across the
room and peered down at the gray
suffering face upon the tiny pillow.
DYING" he repeated st is well.
He il spared much"
Rama Pal--my brother-if brother
thou art-it is not true-it is not
true"
She held out her hands in piteous
duplication, and he caught them and
drew her 20 him. Fiercely plying,
he half carried, half supported her to
the Preside.
81 1t is true. | swear It." He knelt
down and thrust his clenched fist full
into the flames. by water and by
fire, swear that thou hast been
doubly betrayed" be cried loudly.
III ! have lied. may the fire testify
against me" He withdrew his hand
and showed il 10 her. 1t was unin-
lured. His face blazed with a fana-
tical triumph, which hid from him, as
we'll as from her, the success OF a
common Hindu juggler's trick.
1T is the truth, my sister What
know, | know from those who would
not lie and who know the law"
She interrupted him. For space,
she had found firm ground in the
midst OF the shifting sands; In this
final disaster one thing remained
steadfast.
Shall not know light from dark
ness, gold from base meta1?' she said
clearly. II will not believe that my
husband has betrayed me-no, not
till his own lips have answered thy
accusation"
Rama Pal considered for moment
in keen watchful silence.
at is possible-probable, that he
whom thou callest husband is also
ignorant OF what | have told thee, "
he said at last. What difference
does that make? He loves thee no
more Thy little hour in his life is
over. His own blood-his own race
call him. wilt thou plead with him
and reknit the bonds which have
grown odious TO him? wilt thou
chain him, unwilling, TO thy side and
watch how white mans passion
crumbles to hatred and contempt?
Or wilt thou see him seize the Of
fered outlet to escape--to leave thee,
StDTlltu anu HlpNhtds az AHt hAtANy Va
his world? Sarasyati--'
He sprang up and held her as she
reeled against him. Her head drop
ped powerlessly against his shoulder,
and he bent his lips to her ear, speak
ing with a swift change of tone.
"All il not lost, Sarasvati; not
despair but hope do | bring thee.
Thy part in this cold unlovely land
Is played. Those TO whom thou hast
turned In trust have shrunk from
thee. have heaped contempt upon dis.
honor-tomorrow, perhaps, will spurn
thee from their doors. But thy land,
thy people. call thee, Sarasvau. Mil
lions. who in secret and silence have
armed for the great day OF deliver
ance. do but wait for the signal from
heaven that their hope is blessed.
The gods are slent--but thou, divine
daughter
"Dlvine?" She threw herself up
her hands raised above her head In
a movement of inarticulate despair.
"Thou knowest that ! am human. In
all the world there Is no divinity
Thou art divine" he broke in with
n fierce elation Thou art a god
dess living symbol OF an Idea
an Ideal. We who have lost our
faith in craven images VIII worship
thee and obey thee as the personiiica-
ton oy what is most divine in US.
Throw aside forever this base earth
Illness Sarasvati, my sister. Become
that which thou vast born and made
10 be-the inspiration. the salvation
of thy country"
She stared az him, through the in
creasiug darkness. half hynOtized.
How to what end" she whis-
pered.
"To the end that India shall be free
and the blotch OF shameful slavery
washed away In the blood OF her op'
pressors
not Is not my husband OF their
Not thy husband--thy betrayer.
or hast thou still love for the man
who has dragged thee down into
shame and sorrow?
she faced his furious scorn with a
pitcous humility.
Il can not othcrwise-am ! not nut
somewhere in the quiet house q
door was banged sharNy TO- Rama
Pal started and listened. His I'M
possivlty had returned and his orion
TAI eloquence changed 10 sharp bus
inessiikc precision
Tonight thy husband attends "a
theatrical performance In aid OF Ia
alan charity he said In a low voice
"rbou Wit accompany him. ! shall
he close m hand With thy hand.
terchief thou wilt give me a signal.