The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-03-15

She held his hand little tighter and
pressed closer to him, laughing softy.
He stood as IL made Of iron, and that
only made her laugh the more.
'Tales of the Heart Of the Ellis
have puzzled the raj, haven't they,
these many years? They sent me to
find the source of them. Mel They
chose WELT There are not many like
me! have found this one dead wom-
an who was like me. And In ten years,
until you came, I have found no man
like him!"
She tried to look into his eyes, but
he frowned straight in front Of him.
His native costume and Hangar turban
did not make him seem any less a
man. His jowl, that was beginning to
need shaving, was as grim and as sat-
isfying as the dead Romans. She
stroked his left hand with soft fingers.
II used to think / knew how to
| dance!" she laughed. "For ten years
have taken those pictures Of her for
my model and have striyen to learn
what she knew. have surpassed her!
used to think I knew how to amuse
myself with mems dreams-until
found this! Then dreamed on my
own account! My dream was true. my
Iwarriorl You have comet Our hour
has comet"
She tugged at his hand. He was
hers, soul and harness, If outward
signs could prove it.
"Come!" she said. SIS this my hos
pitality? You are weary and hungry.
Comew
She led him by the hand, for 1t
would have needed brute force to pry
her fingers loose. She drew aside the
leather curtain that hung on bronze
rod near the bed, led him through 1t,
and let 1t clash to again behind them.
Now they were in the dark together.
and 1t was not comprehended In her
lie fallow. She pressed his hand. and
sighed, and then hurried. whispering
tender words he could scarcely catch.
When they burst together through
curtain at the other end Of a passage
in the rock, his skin was red under
the tan and for the first time her eyes
refused to meet his.
"Why did they choose that cave to
sleep in?' she asked him. 'Is not this
a better one? Who laid them there?"
He stared about. They were In
| great room far more splendid than the
| first. There was a great fountain In
the center splashing in the midst Of
flowers. They were cut flowers. The
Hills" must have been secured for
them within day.
| There were great cushioned couches
all about and two thrones made Of
ivory and gold. Between two couches
was a table, laden with golden plates
and a golden jug, on pure white linen.
There were two goblets Of beaten gold
and knives with golden handles and
bronze blades. The whole room
seemed to be drenched in the scent
Yasmini favored, and there was the
same frieze running round all four
walls, with the woman depicted on 1t
dancing.
''Come, we shall eat!" she said. lead
ing him by the hand to couch. She
took the one facing him, and they lay
like two Romans Of the empire with
the table in between.
She struck golden gong then, and
a native woman came in, who stared
at King as If she had seen him before
and did not like him. Yasmini nodded
to the servant, who clapped her hands.
At once came a stream of hillmen,
robed in white, who carried sherbet in
bottles cooled in snow and dishes fra
grant with hot food. He recognized
his own prisoners from the Mir Khan
Palace Jail, and nodded to them as
| they set the things down under the
maids direction. When they bad fin
ished eating Yasmini drove the maid
away with sharp word; he brought
an ivory footstool and set it about a
| yard away from her waxen toes. And
she, watching him with burning eyes,
wound tresses Of her hair around the
golden dagger handle, making her jew
els glitter with each movement.
"The gods Of India, who are the only
real gods, what do they think of it all |!
They have been good to the English.
but they have had no thanks. They
| will stand aside now and watch a
greater jihad than the world has ever
seen! love them, and they love me
as you shall love me, too! If they did
not love both of US, we would not both
be here! We must obey them!"
None of the East's amazing ways OF
courtship are ever tedious. Love
springs into being on an instant and
lives a thousand years inside an hour.
She left no doubt as to her meaning.
She and King were to love, as the East
knows love. and then the world might
have just what they two did not care
to take from 1t.
His only possible course as yet was
| the defensive, and there is no defense
Iya ctf1