Meade County news., 1915-02-25

mouths of the defilement.
For the present the soldiers were
his, and groups of them staggered
through the bazaars, chanting drunk
emily and making speech with the light
women and jostling honest men into
the cutters.
All these things Lal Singh saw and
heard and made note of as he went
from house to house among the
chosen and told them to hold them
selves in readiness, as the hour was
near at hand. Followed the clicking
OF gunlocks and the rattle OF car
tridges. A thousand fierce youths
ready for anything-death, or loot, or
the beauties of the zenanas. For patri.
otism In southern Asia depends largely
upon what treasures one may wiring
from II.
But how would they know the hour
for the uprising? A servant would
call and ask for chupatties. Good.
And the meeting place? Ramabais
garden. It was we'll. They would be
ready.
Flicker-ficker went the lights; flick.
er-fiicker went the tongues. And the
peaceful oriental stars looked down
serenely.
Umballa remained in the palace,
burning with the fires OF murder. Mes
senger after messenger came to report
that the fugitives were still at large.
Contrary to Ahmed's expectations, Um-
balla did not believe that his enc
mics would be foolhardy enough to
seek refuge in the house OF Ramabai.
The four roads leading out Of the city
were watched, the colonels bungalow,
and even the ruins of Bruce's camp.
They were still in the city, but where?
A kings peg, and another, and Um-
balla stormed, his heart filled with
Dutch courage
Ramabai made his preparations in
case the hunters entered the house.
He opened secret door which led
into large gallery, dim and dusty but
still beautiful. Ancient armor covered
the walls-armor of the days when
there existed in Delhi a peacock
throne; armor inlaid with gold and
silver and turquoise; and there were
jewel incrusted swords and daggers
blazing helmet which one Of Pun
dita's ancestors had worn when the
Great Khan came laundering down
from China
Here" said Ramabai to the colo
nel," you will be safe. They might
search for days without learning this
room existed. There will be. no need
to remain here now. Time enough
when my servant gives warning"
They filed out of the gallery solemn
ly. And Kathlyn went out into the
garden, followed by Bruce.
DO you know" said Kathlyn, the
sight Of all that armor, old and still
magnificent. seemed to awaken the
recollection Of another age to me?"
He wanted to take her In his arms,
but he waited for her to continue the
thought
81 wonder if in the dim past l was
not an Amazon?"
II wonder, too," he said.
1T is marvellous how this horrid
country has brought out iG me things,
emotions, and the like, that l never
dreamed existed. Tonight | feel like
pagan. want 10 put on one of
those amazing chain armors,, take
sword and go forth"
She stretched out her ar MS and sud-
denly he caught them ar d drew them
down.
"Kathlyn, we may or may not get
out of this alive. l have my doubts,
for all Ramabai's thousand guns.
There will be desperate men about,
taking whatever side promises the
most loot; and they will be every
where, like poisonous flies. God
knows l ought not to speak, to say
anything, but my heart is too full this
night"
She tried to draw away her hands.
Il love you, Kathlyn!"
mo, mol" She struggled back from
him.
with all my heart and soul. You
are as irresistible as breathing. And
want you for my wife, Kit"
mo, John! Perhaps my poor father
is right. A curse of some sort seems
to be hanging over us. For look: how
many times has everything looked
bright, only to turn out like this!
The cable saying that Winnie was on
her way, the brigands, Ahmeds long
sleep, the mistake this afternoon of
the mahouts. | wonder If my own
God has forsaken us?"
"Kit!"
mo, no! / refuse to let you be
dragged into this. want you to go,
to go now while there is time. COM
mand it. AS you say, we cannot tell
what may happen. The rebellion may
prove a fizzle; but, one way or the
other, there will be death. ! want you
to leave US. for we are indeed ac-
cursed!"
The man at her side laughed To
her ears 1t was the same laughter she
t.. -