The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-07-28

d.rYr xcs q fe:e. The opening of the
IT c;oanl fc3:i--2l was the occa'
s:-.n :-r G..,. .;,S .; fanatical delight,
art lr% g., r-.....5 CONVERSION ~
,;a!:i::.:'.:s. - -. c2use CT the Wild
est axC;:c. i. Through the streets
rrshe.. tl:2ucs, *!ashing themselves
~ III hive ~, ~c!den image of the
goddess vas a>:nc back from the pro-
cc%:icG = he accompaniment OF a
t.Hd oi temple women. who danced
az: lc:,Hc "53ra the bodies of the
PROSTATE de?ntees
M2"ncr:a2. l5':aS in, his palanquin,
was a3arc Ct al! this. He knew that
10 Punishment could expiate his Of
fcnse IIc vas giving to his country
That Vii, T. IS infinitely dearer than
Lie. His icve, his soul, his honor
he stared at the photograph
which lie was holding. 1t represented
Mary Trcvothan as she had appeared
when he was home four years before.
He would never see her again, but
somehow he felt that. at this crisis
where Gishoncr and honor met, her
spirit stood beside him.
The palanquin stopped. The cur
.tains were drawn back. MannerinS
stepped our ard entered the grotesque
temple, walking On path strewn with
flowers. Inside ne heard the throbbing
of flutes and Tie sighs of vast multi
tude OF worshipers Then he was be-
fore the altar, beside old Muzzur, who
held the sacrifcial knife, and staring
into his eyes were the cruel eyes Of
Kali, the stone image with the many
hands, each dripping with human
blood.
Upon his golden throne lolled the
old rajah. He was calculating what
step he should take when Mannering
had accepted Kali It upset the plans
that he had built; yet he was shrewd
enough to have others in view. With
Mannering's aid he could yet carve out
his empire.
Manrering, standing beside the
priest, let his eyes roam over the
huge interior OF the temple He saw
the decorated walls, the breathless
crowds, completely silent, waiting for
the moment when he would fall be-
fore Kalis statue, to be a1ointed with
the blood of the dreadful sacrifice, the
drawn curtains behind which the ra-
jah's wives were gazing curiously on
him.
And at the last moment, while the
sound of the tom-toms indicated that
the goddess was awaiting the sacrifice,
a new thought took possession of Man
nering. He could not carry out his
plan.
He perceived the hideous pit into
which he had so nearly fallen. The
world would ascribe his complaisance
to fear; it would be said that an Eng.
lishman had accepted Kali to save his
life. Was not the empire built upon
faith and loyalty, and the courage OF
her servants? How could he serve it
better than by remaining true to his
faith, whatever happened?
It was the moment Of judgment,
when, unless he saw his duty clear as
razor edge before him, incalculable
ills must follow Mannering saw it.
The blood Of the sacrifice was
drenching Kali's altar. Muzzur turned
toward Mannering, motioning to him
to PROSTATE himself Mannering waved
him away and called to the crowd.
81 have come here today" he said,
"to testify to the truth. Since Eng
land became your lord, when has she
sought to change your faith or Gus
toms? Nevertheless, I am here to tell
you now that your faith in Kali is the
faith of the sandpiper that walks
among the marshes before the sand
has set"
He heard a rustic, sigh, and sud-
denly the whole body Of worshipers
was upon it's feet in terror Of the sac
rilege that was being accomplished.
For, snatching from the priests
hand the hammer with which the VIC
tim had been slaughtered, Mannering
brought it down upon the head of the
ahominable idol. And Kali, the many