Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-12-03

streets toward Kalrs temple. Bgnda-
pur was en- fete. The opening Of the
great annual festival was the oeSk-
sion for frenzies of fanatical delight,
and the approaching conversion Of
Mannering was the cause Of the Wild
est excitement. Through the streets
rushed fanatics, slashing themselves
with knives The golden image Of
the goddess was borne back from the
procession to the accompaniment Of O
band of temple women, who danced
and caped above the bodies Of the
PROSTATE devotees.
Mannerlng, lying in his palanquin,
was aware OF all this. He knew that
no punishment could expiate his Of
Tense, He was giving his country
that which was infinitely dearer than
life His love, his soul, his honor
he stared at the photograph
which he was holding. 1t represent
ed Mary Trevethan as she had ap-
peared when he was home four years
before. He would never see her again,
but somehow he felt that, at this
crisis where dlshonor and honor met,
her spirit stood beside him.
The palanquln stopped. The cur
tains were drawn back. Mannering
stepped out and entered the grotesque
temple, walking on path strewn with
flowers Inside he heard the throb-
bling of flutes and the sighs Of vast
multitude of worshipers. Then he
was before the altar, beside old MuE-
EUR, who held the sacrihcial knife, and
staring into his eyes were the cruel
eyes of Kali, the stone image with the
many hands, each dripping with hu-
man blood.
Upon his golden throne lolled the
old rajab. he was calculating what
step he should take when Mannering
had accepted Kali 1t 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.
Mannering, 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 wheen he would fall be-
fore Kali's statue, to be anointed with
the blood Of the dreadful sacrifice,
the drawn curtains behind which the
rajshs wives we're gazing curiousiy
on him.
And at the last moment, while the
top.toms indicated that the goddess
wAk awaiting the sacrifice, new
thought took possession of Manner
Ing. He could not carry out his plan.
Generations of Puritan ancestors rose
up within him, clamoripg and crying
that he, a Christian, could never yield
to Bali.
He perceived the hideous pit into
which he had 80 nearly fallen. The
world would ascribe his complaisance
to fear; 1t 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 cou-
rage Of her servants2 How could he
serve 1t better than by remaining true
to his faith, whatever happened1
1t was the moment of judgment,
when, unless he saw his duty clear
as razor edge before him, incalcul-
able Ills must follow. Mannering saw
It.
The blood Of the sacrifice was
drenchlng Kall's altar. Muzzur
turned toward MannerIng, motioning
to him to PROSTATE himself. Manner
ing waved him away and called to the
crowd.
II have come here today" he said,
ito testify to the truth Since Eng
land became your lord, when has she
sought to change your faith or Gus
toms1 Nevertheless, 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 rustic, n sigh, and sud
denly the whole body of worshlpers
was upon Its feet in terror Of the
sacriege that was being accomplished
For, snatching from the priests
hand the hammer with which the VIC
tim had been slaughtered, Mannerlng
brought 1t down upon the head Of the
abominable idol. And Kali, the many
handed goddess, fell from her pedes-
tai and rolled, hideous thing, along
the temple floor.
Then, laying down the hamper,
Mannering awaited death. But since
none dared lay hands on him, he
went out into the street. He walked
to the resldency and waited. Twenty
minutes later he heard the mob come
roaring down the bazaar and toward
the veranda on which he awaited
them alone.
He stood there with folded arms,
patiently, ready for the vengeance Of
the fanatical multitude. But, when
they reached him, he found himself
standing above a. PROSTATE crowd OF
worshipers. For even black-skinned
people grope upward toward the
higher, and by his act the worship Of
the murder goddess had been swept
u,,,au fnravar