Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-15
CHAPTER XVIII (Continued)

At another time this sudden isolation
would have been alarming But the many
strange adventures experienced during the
last few hours had accustomed Una to dan
ger. SO that the disappearance of SaJipona
served merely TO arouse her to keener
sense Of her surroundings. Her faith IN
this beautiful Indian, moreover was not
easily shaken. in spite of the repelent at
ttude she had first assumed toward her
Treachery from such a source, it seemed 10
her, was inconceivable.
Stepping back from the direct rays OF
the great ball of fire. the manifestations OF
whose mysterious power had until then ab-
sorbed her attention, Una found herself IN
the midst Of throng of people. all OF them'
apparently. watching her. By their dress,
simple and flowing that worn by the fol-
lowers of Anitoo. she perceived these were
cave men and women, some forty or fifty In
number each one standing motionless along
the wall farthest from her with heads
bent forward and arms outstretched toward
the center of the court. where Una stood.
they appeared to be engaged in some sort OF
devotional exercise, the visible object of
which was a great round disk of gold set in
the tesselated pavement that flashed beneath
the light pouring upon 1t from above.
Inlaid within this disk. at the outer rim
Of which she had been standing moment
before Una could now discern cabalistic
figures wrought in emeralds whose deep
effugence was in striking contrast with the
haze of rolden light surrounding them. The
intricate design formed by these figures was
difficult to trace, but that each figure, and
the pattern into which It was woven. bore
a mystical meaning was suggested by the
reverence with which this whole glittering
pool of light was regarded by the silent
throng.
Eagerly Una scanned the whte-robed wor-
shippers before her hoping that among them
she might discover David. Not finding him.
she sought Sajipona, with the same disap-
pointing result at first. Then her gaze.
wandering away from these strange faces
rested upon a slightly elevated platform at
one end of the court. There. beneath a gold
and gem-encrusted canopy. seated upon a
massive throne of pure crystal, she beheld
the Indian queen.
From the first Una had felt the spell of
her beauty. but its force had been tempered
by the flashes of anger. the suspicion. the
disdain that had alternately marked their
Intercourse. Now. although arrayed and
staged, as It We're in all the splendor belong
ing TO her high station-with crown and
scepter and glttering robe of state-this
proud beauty had softened to an almost girl
ish loveliness. wistful. touched with a melan-
choly as hopeless as II was appealing. That
she a queen aloof from those about her.
seemed strangely pathetic. Nor did this
| expression of sheer womanliness change as
her eyes met Una's. Across the width CT
the great presence chamber mysterious
wave of sympathy seemed to bind these two
together. Completing It's wordless message,
Saiipona arose and stood expectantly while
Una approached the throng before her SILENT
w falling back until she reached the foot Of
the throne Then. with hands clasped in
greeting the two women faced each other,
| the enmty that fist had sundered them
apparently forgotten, or. at least. held In
| check by some subtler purer feeling. Again
| INA wondered II this could be genuine--if
| the suspicion with which she had been
| regarded at first might not still Turk behind
| this outward graciousness Little versed in
the arts of discrimination however and apt
TO take for current coin whatever offered OF
friendliness, she accepted this unlooked-for
| warmth of welcome with undisguised graf
| tude Sajipona drew her gently forward until
the two stood side by side on the platform
| facing the great court, the silent groups OF
| attendants below them. The dazzling light.
| the flashing splendor of co)umned walls and
| vaulted ceiling. the white-robed figures, the
| ieweled throne, furnished forth fairy spec
| tacle not easily forgotten.
| "These are my people" said Sajipona
proudly. They viii protect you as they
| protect me-. -
| As IL in answer to her assurance the wait
| ing courtiers. absorbed until now in the con-
| templation of the mystical figures within the
| ,rcIe of light at their feet slowly turned
| and made grave obeisance before the two
| women standing in front of the throne Fol-
| lowing this sign of submission. they came
forward as II expectant Of some further COM
L rnand. Sa1pOna snlllnBly Watcned the euect
20 this ceremony on her companion.
"Ah! It Is not here as in Bogota," she
| said 'or in the world where you come
| from far from Bogota. You think all this
| that YOU see is unreal--a dream. perhaps NY
| neopie are so different from yours-and all
these many years they live forgotten.
unknown.
| have lived in Bogota. There they do not
| know OF this great cave that belonged 10
| the ancient rulers Of the mountains. They
aon,t know that am queen here. or OF this
aaiace that is mine-and the light that burns
like the sun. All wonder what your wise
uncle will say when he sees our sun -
| saipona laughed noiseessv with the half.
concealed delight that a child hugs to itself
svhen II hides some simple secret from the
",,ss Of its elders. Una. more bewildered
go ever at this alluson to leighton. sought
,a,n,v for a reasonable explanation Of the
maryels surrounding her.
..Nav uncle - she exclaimed. How do you
rrow that he is wise-and he island thai
hs ts hereg Yes this sun OF yours--what Il
j a. where does II come FRONT"