The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-14

In the hunting tent the ma.
haranee sat cross-legged on 8
little dais with the old Princes:
Of Bewanager. facing the circle OF
men-Raschid, Ali Kahn. Colonel
Ranjit Singh. Homer Smiley, Nj
Kant Rao and Ransome. One By
one. the Muslin. the Sikh. the
American. the Mathratta and the
Englishman were telling her what
they had TO tell of the progress OF
the fight; and what each one had
to say brought new courage and
new life in the heart of the hand
some old woman seated on the
cushion OF Benares brocade. She
looked tired now and worn, but the
old untamable beauty was still
here. accentuated by the deep
shadows from the flame OF the
wick burning in oil.
She had fought-all her life she
had fought against superstition
and intrigue and prejudice. There
had been times when she grew
weary. and moments when she
had been tempted to turn evil and
bitter. like so many Of the princes
of India.
There had even been a moment.
one terrible moment, a little while
before these men, sitting before
her. had come into the tent, when
she had been tempted to give up
the battle and flee, to leave by
airplane for the security of Bonn
bay; perhaps of Europe. In her
WEAKNESS, it had seemed to her
that everything for which they
fought, her dead husband and her.
self, had been swept away for
ever. For little time she had
felt too old and too i'll to begin
the battle all over again.
But that terrible moment of
temptation was gone now. AS she
had watched these men and listen
ed to them she felt shame that
the moment of weakness had ever
come to her.
The men were talking now
among themselves and she did not
trouble to listen, for their own
business they knew far better
than she could know it.
Then through the cloud OF
reverie she was aware that the
curtains had been thrust aside at
the far end of the tent and that
the young major had come in hur-
riedly. He advanced straight to-
ward her and, bending low, with
his fingertips pressed together, he
excused himself for being late by
saying that he could not escape
from the hospital.
She frowned at him in pam
tomime of displeasure, as it was
her duty as queen to do, but
the frown passed quickly when he
smiled with bold glance which
told her that he knew the frown
was false. With him she could
never be bad-tempered, because he
was young and good looking and
affectionate. Her own sons were
tragically dead. slain by the West,
but the Major had in a way taken
their place.
He brought her news of the cpl
/ demic, news which he made a
little better than the fact because
he understood that she was tired
Then he talked with the other
men for time, and when at last
they went away she asked him to
stay behind, partly because his
presence always cheered her and
made her feel young and partly
because there were things which
she wished to discuss with him
and gossip which she wished to
hear.
When the others had gone she
awakened her friend, the old prin-
cess, who sat nodding, asleep bolt
upright on her cushion, and said,
Go put yourself to bed, Sta"
When the old princess had gone
sleepily away they talked together
in Mahratta. which was her own
language and his by adoption
She said: There are a great many
things to discuss - non official
things. First, before his highness
died he told me that you thought
of marrying
Yes, your highness."
Are you still of the same
mind ?"
Yes. your hignness."
How old are you
"Thirty-six."
She grunted thoughtfully and
said: If you are to breed strong
children you must begin"
She opened the gold and ruby
box at her side and took out car
damon seeds to chew. when
things are more settled III send
for the girl and her parents" She
regarded him shrewdly 1T does
not matter to you that she is only
half Indian-that the other half is
European or American ,"
mo, your highness. His high
ness told me about the girl"
Again she looked al him shrewd-
ly. You have no nonsense about
a love match ?"
mo, your highness that is,
within limits. / should want to
know my wife before l married
her That is only fair to both of
us"
There is good deal of non
sense in the west about love mar
riage. She is a nice girl. II l
had sons l would choose her for
wife for one of them"
u am sure your highness is
good judge"
And then there is the question
of Ransome. she said. He has
worked we'll ,"
Yes, your highness. ne could
N2akeNlXe