Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-03-10
CHAPTER xxIrl-contInued.

"Pundita, they Kissed us as We
passed"
mot the soldiers. my lord"
And this poor mani Pundita, he
was murdered, and am powerless to
avenge him. 1t was Umballa; but
what proof have I? None, 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 1t and 60. or
repudiate 1t and stay?"
Il am my lords chattel; but l
should despise him II he took the base
course"
"And 80 should l. flower Of my
hearti" Ramabai folded his arms and
stared down moodily at the man who.
had he lived. could have made Pun
dita his successor. "Pundita, ! have
not yet dared tell you all: but here,
in the presence Of death. truth will
of property and death face US at every
gate. No! Umballa proposes to crush
me gradually and make my life hell.
No man who was my friend now 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 re-
nounce our religion. Do we that, and
We are free to leave Allaha."
Pundita smiled. MY lord is not
capable of SO vile an act"
"No."
And hand in hand they stood before
the perfect understanding between
them.
"Ai, ali"
It was but a murmur; and the two
turned to witness the approach of the
woman Of the zenana. She flung her
self down before the catafalQue. pas
sionately kissing the shroud. She
leaned back and beat her breast and
walled. Ramabai was vastly puzzled
over this demonstration. That hand
some young woman should wall over
the corpse OF an old man who had
never been anything to her might have
sorrow. Always in sympathy, how
ever, with those bowed with grief. Ra.
nabai 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 bub-
BILE under water, that which had been
striving for utterance came to the sur
face. She snatched one of Ramabai's
hands.
"Ai. al! am wretched, lord. wretch
cd! There is hot lead in my heart and
poison in my brain! l will confess.
confess!"
Ramabai and Pundita gazed at each
other. astonished.
What is It? What do you wish to
confess?" cried Ramabai quickly. Per-
She clung to his hand. They will
order my death by the silken cord.
am afraid. Krishna fend for mel"
What do you know"
His majesty was murdered" she
whispered.
Il know that" replied Ramabai.
But who murdered him? Who built
that cage In the palanquin? Who put
the tiger there? Who beat and over
powered the real bearers and confis-
Gated their turbans? Speak. girl; and
II you can prove these things. there
Will be no silken cord"
But who will believe a poor wom-
an of the zenana?"
Il will"
But you cannot save me from the
power"
And you sEnil give 1t back to mel"
TT"
Even SO. Come with me now. to
the temple"
Tho temple?"
Aye; where all the soldiers are
the priests and Durga Ram!
"At al! Durga Ram; It was he!
Ard helped him. thus: ! secured per
mission to go into the bazaars. There
an assault took place under the com
mand OF Durga Ram. and my bearers
were made prisoners. Durga Ram
disguised as bearer. himself freed
the tiger which killed the king. Yes!
To the temple! She who confesses II
the temple. her person is sacred. II
is the law, the lawl / had forgotten
To the temple. my lord!"
Before the high tribunal OF priests
before the unhappy Kathlyn. befor'
the astonished Umballa. appeared Ra
mabai and Pundita, between them thu
young woman OF the zenana. now al
most dead with terror.
Hold" cried Ramabai when thu
soldiers started toward him to ejec
him from the temple.
What" said Umballa; will you re
cant7"