The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-01-01

long since VANISHED into the after
noon haze. ana a droWsy peace SAM
like Yeil over the narrow street.
Only Rama Pa. remained Through.
our the proceedings he had kept he
silent watch by the door OF the mis-
sion house. his race insCrutAble his
eyes passing from one figure 10 an
other with a passive disinteresied-
ness No one had noticed him. Ia
the general ieaNe-takins he had been
ignored and no change IN his set tea'
lures BETRAYED resentment OF mOrsih'
cation The ,ntani converts hal
scrambled past him grateful Tor re-
lease. and he had not seemed 10 see
them. He stood there motiOnless aud
apparently indifferent. Presently ne
lifted his head Tho }rahman priest
had come out from the house opposite
and now slowly crossed the street
stopping midway as though AN ina
visible barrier barred his passase For
q moment the tWo- men considered
each other ia silence The Brahnah
had thrown lhe end 81 ais AglI9M
mantle over his shoulder and with
folded arms stood and waited In an
attitude OF uuassumed dignity tie
was tall man well past the prime
% life. peculiarly talr OF skin, vim
handsome and naughty features ana
eyes OF that piercing gray when can
be- as oriental as ile dalkest nToN ~
The three vertical lines across the
high and even noble forehead pro.
claimed the purity ol his caste. and
when be at last spoke il was with
the arrogance OF immeasnrahle su'
periority
Though thou art ali outcaste from
among thy people would speak WIN
thee. he said Bat keep Thy place.
FOR thy shadow defleth
THE convert bowed his head WIN
"A ianguid acquiescenee
Speak ne said
Thou hast forsakeR the gods OF
thy fathers to follow this English
Christ the Brahman went on. Tell
me a little OF thy new faith have
heard that His disciples preach JOY
and universal love and brotherhood
Vet thine eyes are heavy as death
and thy friends lett thee without
farewell not IS brothers leave their
brother And | have seen strange
things -Christiau against Christian.
though they call the same Lord mas
ter What love and brotherhood Is
this
a lie. came the swift answer
The Brahman was silenl for mo
ment. his finger placed musingiy 70
/ his forehead
And FOR this lie thou iorsakest thy
race and followest a two-faced God y
! he asked
Il have no God The convert
I threw an his arms with a startling
rt-t-vt-
from me-they took me from my PEG
I ole They gave me a faith which
/ their lives belle and a brotherhood oI
! bitterest humiliation They made me
IAN outcaste-without people and
without God lie pulled himself tI
with a convulsive effort What II
that TO thee" he demanded sul!enly
Thou wearest the Triple Cord-my
shadow defles thee
The Brahmaus face lin with a swift
cunning.
Once was Thy shadow pure he
said. once was the mark OF Nishnu
on thy brows-the privilege OF tne
! highest thine. All was stolen from
thee even AS thou vert stolen-by
! those whose crust thou eatest Is the
strong blood in thy veins stasnant
that no thought o. revenge lights thy
thoughts? Great wrong has been
done thee-.-only a Pariah bears III
patience eternally
II am a Pariah was Tue answer;
goddess and hopeless.
The Brahman's eyes narrowed.
"The way back TO Brahma is Ions
and arduous be said significantly.
but the way is there Thou sayest
thy old gods are dead. Nay, but there
Is but one God. the Almighty ali-per-
vading, an-containing One thy God
and mine "a there" --he stretched out
his arm toward the horizon and
here. He laid his hand upon his
own breast.
Yet AT morning and at evening
thou bringest sweet offerings TO thy
wooden idols. Rama Pal returned
sneeringly rs that too. lie
"A lie eeven as lie itself is lie,
delusion. vision II is for the
people who struggle On through
countless generations toward fh's
truth. They make themselves Idols
out OF their desires aud until desire
dies their idols uust live and We
must serve them But the truth is
! ours. He drew himself up 70 his
| full height. Not VishnG nor silva
nor thy Christ is God. bu{ God Is al
OF them and us.
'trp CUgver7 sr1tfr7di satTr-rrr ~
but the fire OF some rising passion
smoldered in his eyes.
Thou art priest or Nishnu. and
speakest 10 Pariah. he said id a
low voice What am ! 10 thee?
The BrahInan appeared not to near
him His gaze was hxed straight