The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1914-07-31


l0opyrtght by Harold MacGrathl
And SO they comforted each other
There was a garden In the palac,
grounds, lovely indeed. A fountain
tinkled and fat carp swan about in tn,
f1uted basin. There were trellises o
howers, too; Persian roses, despit,
the fact that it was still winter. /
was called the Garden Of Brides.
kathlyn, attended by Pundita, await
ed there the coming of Umballa ant
the Council, Her heart ached with
bitterness and she could not thinl
clearly. The impression that all thi,
was some dreadful nightmare REQUIRED
to her wildly. What terrors awaited
her she knew not nor could conceive
Marry that smiling demon?-for some
thing occult told her that he was {
demon. No: she was ready to die
And but a little while ago she
mad been working happily In the out
door studio; the pet leopard sprawlet
at her feet; from the bungalow she
heard the nightingale voice of Winnie
soaring in some aria of Verdi's; hel
father was doing on the veranda.
Out of that, into this! It was incred
ible. From time to time she brushed
her forehead. bewildered.
In this mood, bordering on the hys.
terical (which is sometimes but a step
to supreme courage, Durga Ram, 80.
called Umballa, and the Council found
her. The face of the former was
cold. his eyes steady and expression.
less.
Has your majesty ~decided?" asked
the eldest Of the Council.
YES" quietly.
And your decision is?"
mo, absolutely and finally. There
is no reason why ! should obey any
Of your laws; but there is a good rea-
son why all of you shall some day be
punished for this outrage"
Outrage! To be made queen of Al
laha" The spokesman for the Coun-
Gil stamped his foot in wrath.
Think" said Umballa.
Il have thought. Let us have no
more of this ~cat-and-mouse play. I re-
fuse to marry you. I'd much prefer
any beggar in the street. There is
nothing more to be said"
There are worse things than mar
rage"
What manner of indignities have
you arranged for me?" Her voice
was firm, but the veins In her throat
beat 80 hard that they stifled her.
Said the spokesman of the council:
1--WE have found a precedent. We find
that n hundred and ninety years ago
a like case confused the Council OF
that day. They finally agreed that she
must submit to two ordeals with wild
beasts of the jungle. If she survived
she was to be permitted to rule with
out hindrance. 1t would be a matter
for the gods to decide"
Are you really human beings?"
asked Kathlyn, her lips dry. Can you
possibly commit such a dreadful crime
against one who has never harmed
you. who asks for nothing but the free
dom to leave this country"
Pundita secretly caught Kathlyn's
hand and pressed it.
Once more!" said Umballa. his
compassion touched for the first time.
But he had gone too far; for the safety
of his own head he must go on.
Il am ready"
The four men salaamed gravely.
They turned. the flowing yellow robes
OF the Council f~luttering In the wind,
the sun lighting with green and red
fires the hilt of Umballa's sword. Not
one Of them but would have emptied
his private Golfers to undo what he
had done. 1t was too late. Already a
priest had announced the ordeals to
The swarming populace. You feed q
Tiger to pacify him: you give a pop
llace q spectacle.
That night Umballa did not rest par.
.icularly we'll. But he became de-
.ermined upon one thing; no actual
harm should befall Kathlyn. He would
a marksman hidden nearby in
both ordeals. What a woman! She
vas a queen, and he knew that he
would 60 through all the bells Of Hind
o call her his. Long ere this hel
would have looted the treasure chests
md swept her up on his racing ele-
,hant had he dared. Sa'adi's houri!
A thousand times he heard 1t
the night:
~ am ready!"