The Native Born or, The Rajah's People

ntury the gates of the palace were thrown open, and strange

eedy for the long-deferred vengeance. He remembered clearly what they had felt. For a year they had been held at bay by a skill and cunning which outmatched their most heroic efforts, and now, at last, the hour of victory was theirs. He remembered how the thirst for revenge had died down as they stormed the marble steps. No living being barred their course. Stillness greeted them as they poured into the mighty hall, and a chilly awe sank down upon their red-hot rage as they searched an emptiness which seemed to defy them. It was the Colonel himself, then only a young captain, who had hea

fe and heritage I intrust to my conque

arms and borne him thence as ten

e had no children of his own, the memory of the dark baby eyes had never been banished from his mind. He caught himself wondering, not without a touch of emotion, what sort of man had grown out of the minute being he had rescued; but curiously enough-and typically enough of the contrariness of human sympathy-from the moment he caught sight of the tall figure advan

al perfection was added a strength, a force of intellect which classical beauty is too often denied. Quietly and modestly, conscious of his own worth, ignorant and inexperienced of the world, he was utterly unaware of the stone barrier that his guests presented to his own open-hearted welcome. For him the wh

ly been at work, and touched with its illuminating fire the sons of the heroes whose deeds had filled his quiet existence with romance, painting his picture of them with colors which the reality di

betrayed only too clearly his real feelings, though N

re my pleasure and duty to present to you the officers of the regiments-" He stumbled awkwardly, the strangeness of the situation, the direct and

. Though hitherto I have lived apart from them, I am not wholly ignorant of their greatness. I know, for my fathers and my books have shown me, that there is no other nation so powerful nor whose sons are so nob

tle as he knew it, he had succeeded in one short speech in touching two dangerous spots in his relationship to his guests-his

with each of your officers," he went on. "For men w

known that he was seeking familiar features, nor that, as one after another passed on, a cold chill of disappointment was settling on a heart warm with preconceived admiration and respect. They could not have known that his unconscious presumption had hidden a real desire to find among them the hero to whom his man's worship of courage and greatness could have been dedicated. He was too young-and especially too young

ry-no change, at least, visible to the curious eyes that watched. If there was any hidden meaning in his expression during the brief instant that th

e already met?" remarked Travers, who

" Nehal Singh answ

wed itself in his man

de of puzzled surprise

rst words of introduction. The question sounded as though he

yness which made her voice sound troubled and nervous. She seemed to heave a

afford. "I think he is quite the handsomest man I have seen, and he

iss Cary's curious description-beautiful; though, with Miss Berry, I do not care for the word as applied to a man. He s

ty?" she aske

rrow-hearted prejudice,' as you call it. It's more than that. I'm sorry for

demanded

r a brother,' you would have understood well enough. He has been made a fool of, and

better to keep to his old sec

need no words to tell them that each is understood by the other, and that a secret current of thought and feeling flows

f stood alone, and thankful for his loneliness. For the last ten minutes Colonel Carmichael and he had stood side by side, and found no word to say to each other. The past, which might have been a link, proved itself a barrier which neither could sc

usingly decided and matter-of-course, and a smile of not very s

s. Berry whispered to her daughter. "You can see how everything wa

d bitter experience supplied her with a sure key to the loo

" she said. "What I have seen

you for the really very kind assistance you lent my reckless daughter the other

ked at her with

rt. The wonder was reflected so clearly in his tone

r, Your Highness,

ch he was leaning. "If the Rajah Sahib can spare you, do

, her plumes waving, a p

in the direction indica

ound thems

ow?" he asked. "I have s

of Mrs. Berry and her friends, who stood a little farther off whispering and

h Sahib," she said