Evening star., 1928-12-23

The sound recalled the chanting of
those who are working in solitude, be-
lieving that no one is watching them
or listening to them. The notes were
sustained and monotonous: they re-
called the moaning of an animal 1t
recurred again and again, Turing me
with an elemental fascination, so that
I felt impelled against my will to make
search for its source. Panya insisted
on accompanying me in my expedition
through the dark garden.
The stars were shining brightly. On
either side of the narrow path, the huge
leaves of the banana trees looked like
the ruinouS columns Of pagan ram
part against the power of malignant
gods or hung tattered in the starlight
like the hide of some lacerated mon
ster.
Close to the cactus hedge we saw
after time the wooden pagoda of a
temple, large and black against the sky.
The garden afforded view into the
courtyard of this temple, and we could
make out the sacred goat among the
brown pillars on the threshold of the
sanctuary. Nothing stirred. A faint.
reddish light glowed from behind a
curtained doorway. The interior was
hidden from our gaze by hangings of
pale red silk.
AS we approached a bamboo grove,
behind the feathery outlines of which
squat building was visible, the melan-
choly chanting ceased, just as the
noise of the cicadaS ceases in the tall
grass when nocturnal wanderer ap-
proaches. We pushed on between the
tall stems, along narrow and barely
perceptible track. Above us the stars
shone through lattice-work of bam-
boo leaves and looked like tiny lam
terms. In the blackneSs, behind a
grated door, could be heard a faint
groaning, which seemed to come from
somewhere close to the wooden slaves.
I'VE must have light" said to
Panya softly.
But this would only have been pos
sible by the use of torch that would
have betrayed US. Assuredly our royal
host would have been ill-pleased to find
us spying on his household by night.
wait but a while, and our eyes will
get used to the darkness" said Panya.
AS stood irresolute, could hear my
heart beating.
1T 1t an animal?" I asked Panya.
He looked at me in amaZement at
my guilelessness.
An animal? No, it is woman" he
returned. Perhaps love has wounded
Ter; perhaps she is being punished"
X X X
A FETID, sitting vapor made me
gasp when I pressed closer to the
wooden grating. The effect of Panya's
words on me had been to change alarm
into the unthinking courage of anger.
| drew to one side. so that the star
light might shine into the dark aper-
t0n f,1Hy L.
and was like a neglected stable.
who is there?" I inquired in Can
areSe.
Panya stood close behind me. After
a brief period of troubled waiting, I
perceived small human face, sickly in
its pallor. which now showed itself at
the grating. The face was framed in
loose strands of black hair, and on
either side by terribly lean fingers.
graSping the slaves of the grating on
level with the eyes. In the dark
this apparition was horrible in its sug-
gestion of doom, as if the face we saw
were that of one who had long since
died and had now risen from the tomb.
The large, dark eyes drank in the
night and shadowed it forth once more
in paralyzing. tranquility. I felt AS if
my heart had stopped beating I stag
gered, and grasped Panya's arm.
Come away, Sahib," said he. eff
she is i'll, the pestilence may seize you
likewise"
rs she ill?"
Il don't know" he answered dubi-
ously.
"You know perfectly well," I cried,
clenching my teeth.
Panya took alarm.
"All I know, Sahib, is that unfaithful
wives are punished in such fashion in
this country. But she may be ill.,"
Beside myself with indignation,
seized the grating with both hands, set
my feet against the threshold, and en-
deavored, with all the strength that
intense anger will sometimes lend us, to
break down the barrier But it was
made Of strong bamboo and unbreak-
able.
Panya drew me away from the graf
ing. / could not recall that he had
ever ventured to touch me before. His
boldneSS did more than anything else
to sober me.
When I thought the matter over,
realized that the position was very
difficult one, though / was firmly re-
solved to do my utmost to help this
unfortunate being. After all, the affair
had nothing to do with me. The king
would never forgive my meddling with
his private affairs. 1t was true that
he was not so formidable a potentate
as he imagined, or as he gave himself
out to be: but, conversely, my own
status was less secure than he sup
posed
1t is a part of British policy In India
to leave the utmost latitude to the
wealthier Hindus, and also to the Brah-