The Native Born or, The Rajah's People

d like a protecting wall about their feet, and as Beatrice and her companion passed a sharp bend it seemed as though they had be

was angry-angry with her mother, with herself and him-chiefly with him. He had been too sure. And yet she was flattered. Also, it was a pleasure fo

for ever," he said.

native dress reminded her vividly that he was of another (implied, inferior) race, and there

u have made the impossible possible. How was I to kno

destiny," he answered

u sure

te s

he had thrown down her weapons, and in the irresponsible pleasure of the moment become herself, she acquired a power of

lf to you, and all the others, I watched you, and I rather fancy I read so

never studied to control my emotions. I show when I am surprised, disappointed, or-startled. Hitherto

he was entering. He was not presuming to place himself on the level with the Englishman; it seemed as if he wer

a moment. "Perhaps you will know better

tment," she answe

contracted

I had never met English people-only heard of them. What I had

ect demigods

ething different. You know the men I have met

stion, though there was caus

tues to light, and hitherto the circumstances have been lacking. All men d

nod

ough to expect heroes to have the face and figure of heroes. It grieved me for a moment to find that I was

leasure in watching her when she laughed. Her statuesque beauty yielded then to a warm, pulsating life, which transformed her and made her

hen she had recovered, "neither in face, nor stature, nor id

fulfilled my

dangerously near another outburst. "Did all

ery dec

hat I am the exception.

ently judged, and we hav

at people, their ideals must be very high, perhaps higher than mine. Since I am now to go

describe the national ideal to you, because I am too ignoran

gopuras of the temple rose in their monumental splendor two hundred feet above them. They were still alone. None

" he said gently, breaking in upon her admi

e more than I

pleaded earnestly.

upon goodness and virtue as exploded myths, should be set to work to draw up an ideal which she did not and could not believe in, seemed a mockery too pitiful for laughter. Yet something-p

on a hoard of long since forgotten toys, and feels an emotion half pitying, half regretful, so Beatrice Cary displayed to her companion things that for years had lain forsaken and neglected in the background of her mind. The dus

a lovely character. The chief thing that we require of him is that he should be above all meanness and pettiness. He must be great-thinking and great-feeling for himself and others, especially for others. You will find that a good man is always thinking or working for those others whose names he may not even kn

e you speaking?" Ne

loyalty-especially loyalty. I do not think a man who is true to himself, to his word, to his friend, and to his country can ever f

nswered. "And this man-this ge

se who profess to regard the whole world with an equal

d then. "Nationality

called to her notice many curious and beautiful things which she would otherwise have passed by without interest. Whether it was his loving descript

s in the atmosphere," she told he

hich had haunted his eyes for twenty-

en world surrounds u

h the warm evening sunshine cast on to the smooth surface. Then they had moved on, and now stood before the entrance of the Holy of Holies. Beatrice drew back with a gesture of alarm. A tall, white-clad figure had suddenly

id. "He defends the entrance again

understand. Immediately the Brahman stood aside, and though his stern, piercing gaze ne

u say to him

gh shook

red; and some instinct made her hes

a frail ray of evening light mingled its pale yellow with the brilliant crimson flame of the Sacred Lamp which burnt before the idol, casting an almost unearthly reflection about the passionless chiseled features. In spite of herself, Beatrice felt that the place was charmed, and that the charm was drawing into its ban her very thoughts and emotions. She felt subdued, quieted. It was as

, while she had stood and wondered, he had been praying; and po

all for me. Here I have spent my most solemn happy

course between them easier and less constrained than it would otherwise have been. They had no responsibility toward each other. They lived in different worlds, and if for

she threw off the mome

nd when that w

to tell you, and you will have a great deal to tell me. You will tell me of y

I have a God?" sh

e walking back toward the entrance. He half

should be otherwise? You are too good and beautifu

e would have laughed at straight in the face, but this simple belief in her goodness threw her out of her usu

which Beatrice at once recognized in spite of the gathering twilight. She had been expecti

ed, with a sudden pleasure. "Is not Travers

llent judgment,"

n her approval, Nehal Singh did not notic

l part of all, and perhaps I should have acted as guide to my other guests.

rs la

mensely, and no wonder, considering all the glories that have been laid open to us.

u to see," Nehal Singh answ

ack to her mother's side. The whole thing had been, as Mrs. Berry said, arrange

so that the distance between him and the

is from a business standpoint. You will perhaps hardly understand me when I say that my flesh simply creeps when I think of all the wealth that lies

s face thoughtfully t

are right. But power is a great clumsy giant, who can a

u have both,

fore the very thought of any effort in the world. Yet I should be glad

outside your gates to find a hundred outlets for energy and purpose. If you traveled two days a

so," Nehal returned, smil

xclaimed Travers. "You

h Sa

ked, after a moment, in a lighter tone, w

shook

e answered. "I couldn't say on the spur of the moment. If

next meeting, then,

ah Sahib that you will condescend to

ut of his eyes. It was that he wanted-to go among this people, from their ow

much pleasure," he

h the willing acceptance aroused. Nevertheles

mbition of the Station to build some place wherein all such festivities could be properly celebrated. But alas!"-he shrugged his sh

uld be required?"

ness of the sum-a mere four thousand rupe

Singh

k my first meeting with you by the gift of the building you require. I place the matter in your hands, S

appeared to be considerably

o himself he commented on the rapidity with which th

out by countless points of light which sparkled starlike against the darkening sky. At the same instant, the temple to their left took form in a hundred colors, and a burst of weird music broke on the ears of the wondering spect

their names were forgotten, but the dark eager face of the girl attracted him and at the same

t well?" he

red. "It is good of you, Rajah Sa

spoken sincerely, warmly, enthusiastically. Others thanked him-the Colonel's little speech at the end was

As they drove through the darkness, the returning guests called terse criticisms to one another which tended to the conclusion t

rmichael in her carriage, and Travers having offered to drive her home, she had accepted, and

rting with Nehal Singh. She made fun of it and of herself, and yet she could not l

ad said, pressing something into her hand. "Now you will ne

tightly clutched in the palm of her hand-some

remonstrate or thank him. She

clockwork. Five minutes' conversation got the whole clubhouse out of him, and what you m

!" she burst

matter? What are

d, tired, tired and sick

irection which the merry procession had taken. A long time it had stood there, motionless, passive, the fine husk of the soul which ha

ted and bent, it stood beside the bold, upright form and li

, Nehal Sing

ce turne

st thou a dagge

God I had! Nehal Singh, I h

thou? Thy e

saw him straight in the eyes. He has grown younger, but it is he. It is the body of the so

gh knit h

thou hi

was called-Stafford!" He crept closer, his thin hand fell like a vise on Nehal

h shook hi

of enthusiasm rang in his voice. "I can not. They ar

gure crept back into the shadow, an

at acceptance of a new era his gaze pierced through the obscurity into a light beyond. The jungle which had bound his life was gone; all hindrances, all gulfs of h