Evening star., 1914-06-07


ing Ramabafs hand. Courage" For
Pundita understood the man at her
side. Had he been honorless. she
would this day be wearing a crown.
'Pundita, they hissed US as we
passed"
mot the soldiers, my lord"
and this poor man! Pundita, he was
murdered, and I am powerless to
avenge him. 1t was Umballah; but
what proof have I? Nome none Well,
for me there is left but one thing: to
leave Allaha for good. We two shall
go to some country where honor and
kindness are not crimes but virtues"
MY lord. 1t is our new religion
And shall we hold to it and go. or
repudiate it and stay?"
Il am my lords chattel, but 1 should
despise him If he took the base course"
"And SO should I. flower of my heart"
Ramabai folded his arms and stared
down moodily at the man who, had he
lived, could have made Pundita his
successor. "Pundita, I have not yet
dared tell you all; but here. In the
presence Of death, truth will out. We
cannot leave. Confiscation of prop
erty and death face US at every gate.
No. Umballah proposes to crush me
gradually and make my life a hell
No man who was my friend new dares
receive me in his house. worship is
denied US, unless we worship in secret
There is one pathway open.'' He paused
And what is that, my lord?"
ITO kneel in the temple and renounce
our religion. Do we that, and-w are
free to leave Allaha."
Pundita smiled. my lord Is not
capable of so vile an act"
No"
Ana hand in hand they stood before
the catafalque, forgetting everything
but the perfect understanding between
them.
"Ai, ali"
1t was but a murmur, and the two
turned to witness the approach of the
woman of the zenana. She flung herself
down before the catafalque. passionate
ly kissing the shroud. She leaned back
and beat her breast and walled. Rama
bal was vastly puzzled over this dem
onstration That a handsome young
woman should wall over the corpse of
an old man who had never been any
thing to her might have an interpreta-
ton far removed from sorrow AL
ways in sympathy, however, with those
bowed with grief, Ramabai stopped and
attempted to raise her.
She shrank from his touch. looked up.
and for the first time seemed to be aware
of his presence. Like a bubble under
water, that which had been striving
for utterance came to the surface. She
snatched one of Ramabai's hands.
"Ai. al. I am wretched. lord, wretch
ed, There is hot lead in my heart and
poison in my brain. I will confess.
confess"
Ramabai and Pundita gazed at each
other, astonished.
What is it? What do you wish to con-
fess?" cried Ramabai quickly. Per-
haps-'
She clung to his hand. They will
order my death by the silken cord
am afraid. Krishna fend for me-"
What do you know
His majesty was murdered" she
whispered. }
II know that" replied Ramabai. But
who murdered him? Who built that
cage in the palanquin? Who put the
tiger there? Who beat and overpow-
cred the real bearers and confiscated
their turbans? Speak, girl and If you
can prove these things, there will be no
silken cord
But who will believe poor woman
of the Zenana?"
II will"
But you cannot save me from the
cord. They have taken away your
power"
"And you shall give it back to me~
"IT
Gwen so. Come with me now, to the
temple"
'"The temple?
AYE; where all the soldiers are, the
priests ana Durga Ram!r
"Ai. al. Durga Ram; it was he! And
I helped him, thus: I secured permis-
sion to go into the bazaars. There an
assault took place under the command