The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-09-18

And so they comforted each other
There was a garden in the palace
grounds. lovely indeed. A fountain
tinkled and fat carp swan about in the
fiuted basin. There we're trellises OF
! flowers. too; Persian roses, despite
the fact that 1t was still winter. II
was called the Garden of Brides.
Kathlyn, attended by Pundita, await
ed there the coming of Umballa and
the Council. Her heart ached with
bitterness and she could not think
/ clearly. The impression that all this
was some dreadful nightmare recurred
10 her viyidly. What terrors awaited
her she knew not nor could conceive.
Marry that smiling demon?-for some
thing occult told her that he was a
demon. No: she was ready to die.
g.. And but a little while ago she
had been working happily in the out
door studio; the pet leopard sprawled
at her feet; from the bungalow she
heard the nightingale voice of Winnie.
soaring in some aria Of Verdis; her
father was doing on the veranda.
Out of that, into this! 1t 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, So
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?"
"No, 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.
81 have thought. Let US have no
more of this cat-and-mouse play. 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
riage"
What manner of indignities have
you arranged for me?" Her voice
was firm, but the veins in her throat
beat so hard that they stified her.
Said the spokesman of the council:
I'VE have found a precedent. We find |
that one 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 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
touched for the first time.
But he had gone too far; for the safety
If his own head he must go on.
81 am ready"
The four men salaamed gravely.
They turned. the flowing yellow robes
If the Council fiuttering in the wind,
he sun lighting with green and red
Tres the hilt of Umballa's sword. Not !
me OF them but would have emptied ]
lis private Golfers to undo what he
lad done. 1t was too late. Already a
Iriest had announced the ordeals to {
he swarming populace. You feed
lger to pacify him; you give a pop
lace a spectacle. I
That night Umballa did not rest par
Icularly we'll. But he became de- .
ermined upon one thing; no actual r
arm should befall Kathlyn. He would g
ave marksman hidden nearby in +
9th ordeals. What a woman! She
as a queen, and he knew that he i
ould go through all the hells of Hind /
, call her his. Long ere this he i,
ould have looted the treasure chests a
nd swept her up on his racing ele-
hant had he dared. Sa'adi's houri! r
A thousand times he heard II a
trough the night:
Il am ready" a