The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-28

had not Umballa sought the white
woman. this butterfly Of the harem
might have died OF old age without un.
burdening her soul. Remorse Is the
result OF o crime committed snselesslyj
Humanity IS Interchangeable, for all Sits
variety OF skins.
And here was this woman. wanting
to tell some one!
Umballa had done peculiar thing:
he had not laid hand upon either Ra.
mabai or Pundita. When asked the
reason for this generosity toward Q
man who but recently put price on
his head. Umballa smiled and ex.
planned that Ramabai was not only
broken politically. but was a religious
outcast. 1t was happiness for such q
person. to die, so he preferred that Ra.
mabai should live.
Secretly, however, Ramabai's revo
Ilutionary friends were still back Of
him, though they pretended to bow to
the yoke of the priests.
So upon this day matters stood
thus: the colonel, Kathlyn, Bruce and
Winnie were prisoners again; Ahmed
was in hiding; and Ramabai and his
wife Knocked by those who once had
cheered them. The ingratitude Of
kings is as nothing when compared
to the ingratitude of people.
A most ridiculous country: to crown
kathlyn again (for the third timely
and then to lock her up! Next to
superstition as barrier to progress
there stands custom. Everything one
did must be done as some one else
had done It; the initiative was still
chained up in the temples, it belonged
to the bald priests only.
But Umballa had made two mis-
takes: he should have permitted the
white people to leave the country and
| given a silken cord to the chief eunuct
to apply as directed. There are nc
written laws among the dark peoples
that forbids the disposal of that chat
tel known as woman Of the harem
or zenana- There are certain Gus
toms that even the all powerful Brit
ish raj must ignore.
The catafalque Of the dead kinl
rested upon tho royal platform. Two
troopers stood below; otherwise the
platform was deserted. When Rama
bal and Pundita arrived and mounted
the platform to pay their last respects
TO kindly man, the soldiers salutet
grayely. even sorrowfully. Ramabai
for his courage, his honesty and jus
tice, was their man; but they nj
longer dared serve him. since 1t woult
be at the expense of their own lives.
MY lordlr whispered PundIta
pressing Ramabai's hand. "Courage!'
For Pundita understood the man a
her side. Had he been honorless. she
would this day DO wearing crown.
"Pundlta, they Missed US as w
passed."
mot the soldiers, my lord"
And this poor man! Pundita, hi
was murdered, and am powerless tt
avenge him. 1t was Umballa; bu
what proof have l? None, none. Well
for me there is left but one thing: t
leave Alfalfa for good. We two shall
so to some country where honor ant
kindness are not crimes but virtues.
My lord, 1t is our now religion"
"And shall we hold to 1t and go, o.
repudiate 1t and stay?"
Il am my lords chattel; but
should despise him II he took the bast
course"
"And SO should I, flower Of m,
heart!" Ramabai folded his arms ant
stared down modify at the man who
had he lived, could have made Pun
Gita his successor. "Pundita, l have
not yet dared tell you all; but here
In the presence Of death, truth viii
out We cannot leave. Coniiscatiot
of property and death face us at ever,
cate. No! Umballa proposes to crust
me gradually and make my life a hell
No man who was my friend now dare.
receive me in his house. Worship IL
deuied US, unless We worship in secret
There is one pathway open" II,
paused.
'And what is that, my lord?"
ITO kneel in the temple and re
nounce our religion. Do we that, ant
we are free to leave Alfalfa"
Pundita smiled. MY lord is no
capable Of so vile an act"
mo"
And hand in hand they stood before
catafalque, forgetting everything blu
the perfect understanding between
them.
"Ai, all"
It was but murmur; and the two
turned to witness the approach Of The
woman of the zenana. She flung her
self down before the catafalque, pas
sionately kissing the shroud. She
leaned back anL beat her breast ant
walled. Ramabai was vastly puzzled
over this demonstration. That a hand
some young woman should wall ovei
the corpse Of IN old man who hat
never been anything TO her might have
an Interpretation far removed from