The Hindoo’s Word.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XX, Issue 37220, 16 September 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Hindoo’s Word.

One woman, one small, lovely woman, in her apartments at the Galbraith, wrote two brief notes. Frailie Temple, theatrical manager, received his tirst. “ My dear Mr. Temple,” the note read, “ cancel at once all my engagements. I cannot appear again—not even to-night. No one knows how I regret the anxiety this will cause you for a few days, but my decision is inviolate.—Yours faithfully, KATHERINE VAIL TRUE.” Erailie Temple was a small, excitable man, who could tear and lacerate feminine emotions in five languages. There was some art in what he uttered, raving tongued, over Miss True’s note, but not enough to redeem the whole. In the workroom of the young playwright, Duflield Ducharme, the scene was different when the second note was torn open. “My dearest Duflield : If you could see me here writing this you ( would pity ‘poor Kate.’ Things that I cannot explain, that I can scarcely understand, have taken possession of the life which I promised (ah, so happily) to give to you. To forfeit my career has cost me not a tithe of the pain of this writing, because I was yours before the drama’s. And my dearest hope for the next season—to play into victory your new ‘ Men and Mammon’—alas, that is gone, too! * • * I pray you upon the sacred all that has been so dear to us, not to ask further, not to come for me, but just to forget.” After many moments of dangerous stillness Ducharme seized his hat and strode out and up to the hotel. He was told that Miss True had departed some time before, and had left no word. He called on Frailie Temple. In the hallway of the theatre the two stricken ones faced each other in entire understanding. “It has been a hard day, Frailie,” the playwright said at last. The other said : “It is religion. She is an apostle of the divine Diva. ” “ Talk sense, man. Who is Diva ? ” “ A Brahmin who has the city by the horns—that is Diva—Ram Chunder Diva ! He comes from the starved breasts of India and he knows all things. He has brought his religion and the robes and sayings thereof. He is a missionary from the pagan heart of the world, and his law is as ancient as the mother of men. He is beautiful. Each feature of his face is ideal; each detail a delight, and the whole an animated symphony. Because he is beautiful, we men hate the superb pagan; and because he is beautiful women tarry long in the spell of his teachings ” “ Frailie ! ” Ducharme uttered the word harshly. “If I could only manage him and his mission work I could make a fortune ! But alas, Earn Chunder works alone ! ” “ But, Katherine ” ' “ You know as well as I,” Frailie resumed in a low tone, “ the heritage of much study. An inclination apart from the unquestioning faith of one’s fathers. Miss True is a brilliant woman. At first her doubts were assailed by the culture of every proceeding. Her imagination was enchanted by mysticism. In satisfying at length an inborn yearning toward the occult, the religion of Earn Chunder became irresistible. Miss True found bo-day that her fad had grown into a fact. The revelation resulted in the two missives of which we each received one.” Ducharme arose. His face was white. “Thanks, Frailie,” he said. “I believe I understand. By the way, Frailie, what policy had I better adopt in the presence of the Diva gentleman ? ’ ’ “ Work it out as you would a play, my friend. If it were me, I should try first of all the policy of courtesy. * * * Ami to understand that you are seeking him now ? * • * Here’s to sunshine! * * • Good-night, my friend.” Ducharme half expected that the Brahmin would be housed amid uncanny environment. On the contrary, he was ushered into a library elegant to the final detail, but quite within the scope of an artistic “whiteman.” The caller had scarcely a moment in which to note a soft odor oi drying herbs, old silks and fresh flowers which brought back kindly memories of Japan, before Diva came forward, his hand eagerly outstretched. “I received your card with exceeding pleasure, Mr. Ducharme,” he said, “am with greater pleasure your hand. A few evenings ago I witnessed an exquisite little drama of your workmanship. For that, i: nothing more, I am yours to serve.” The playwright was slow to answer. It was not the gigantic figure in evening dress that absorbed ais faculties for the instant, nor the dark, massive face, mature, vet without a trace of years ; but the Brahmin’s C y es _the, largest, darkest, deepest eyes he had ever seen in man or woman ! “Forgive me,” Ducharme murmured, “ for staring so rudely, but I was ttruck at first glance with a memory of having seen you before. Of course, I kirav differently now.” _■* That is highly interesting. Let us be seated. Who knows but that we may have talked away some aeon long afternoon in another world ? ” The Brahmin spoke with utmost cordiality. Ducharme suxfod, and after a moment s thought said : “ You can readily understand that I would not have called at this Hour without a pressing errand. lam in great trouble, fou have a disciple; I have a fiancee. She is a woman, not n girl; lam a man grown, \esterdrty wo toilod each in our wn way, each happy in the approbation of flie other, toward a future as one. We were mature; we understood each other and enough of the world to rob it of tinsel and not too much to lose our faith. I believe, as most men do, that mine was a romance of exceptional beauty. M e loved. Understand me, I say it not rashly, and not-,, heaven forbid as a fool tells of a conquest. It was the fairest truth in all the world to me! * * * This morning I received a letter telling me that the fruition was not tc be. An hour ago I learned that you were mightier than my creation of years.” _ Ducharme paused. Diva raised his eye? from the ivory paper knife in his hand, aim said’ softly: “Your words have exlraordr nary interest. May I ask you to continue? “ The letter gave me no reason, no hope,’ the caller resumed, “but begged me to re frain from inquiry and to cause my love tc die To obey is beyond my province. Snt must have known. There stands betweei earth and the remotest sun one single condition that would make me refrain from hope and striving and to suffer my defeat in silence. } * “ Lest I may err, tell me, Mr. Ducharme, tell me that condition’” As the Brahmin spoke, his eyes found the other’s and held them, his head bending slowly forward. The color left Ducharme’s face. The tone of his voice rose and became hard. I ‘lf I learned that another man had surpassed my own image in the heart—in the heart of the woman —I would withdraw in becoming humilitv —in becoming humility—but rejjpion—could net —do battle—oppressively hot -I’lii falling ” . . Ducharme dropped back into his chair unThe Brahmin bent over the inert form, and under his ejrcfi the stony set of the sleeper's face relaxed. ~ k kind,” Diva imittei-Vi with a queer he let down Hie back oi the chair and ioosem-d the other s collar. Aljjyjst thou persuades* me to be a Christian.

It was broad day when Duclmrme awoke to tind the Brahmin smiling above him. ® ,; You have a habit, Mr. Ducharmc, of looking into the eyes of the person you address. For reasons that you shall presently hear, I caused you to sleep when you looked into my eyes last evening. A hath is now ready for you, and then, after you have honored me at breakfast, we will continue the conversation.” An hour later, once more in the library, Diva spoke : ‘‘l have passed through the strangest night of my existence. If appears, my dear Mr. Ducharme, that I have imbibed some-

thing that may be called an occidental conscience. Last evening you came to me in great trouble. As man to man you told mo your story. I should have laughed had you raved at me ; had you groveled and prayed I should have despised you. At the point when you fell asleep I know what your next words would be. You had stated your position. You were ready to declare yourself at war were I standing in the attitude of a priest; and if I proved to you that I was a more effectual lover than yourself you were prepared to silently withdraw. It was, indeed, fortunate that I had a night in which to frame a reply, for I might have answered unjustly. “ Now, let us say that Ram Chunder Diva came to this country to make a fortune. All but the few will say this when I am gone, and the daily press has so hinted, I am told, already. Now, let us suppose that in making this fortune I encounter among a host of shoddy products one labor of love—a woman. (I try to speak of this women, my dear Ducharme, in the same delicate and admirable spirit that you did last evening.) She is brilliant. The art of my teachings, the zeal I impart, the secrets of the old, old East, where we number decades as you number days, impel her to follow me. As for myself, were I a woman or a basilisk, it would make no difference ! And this woman surpasses my other disciples as the mind of man mounts above the understanding of babes. I find my strongest, strangest powers thrilled to the uttermost in handling this single adherent. In a word she is the creature for whom I have sought through all civilised lands. “And now, fortune hunter or not, Mr. Ducharme, I must have you know that the supreme achievement of Ram Chunder Diva lies in finding a soul in which to perpetuate his powers! ” The Brahmin spoke the words with exceeding solemnity. He lit a cigarette, and then added, in the same impressive tone: “ In this woman I have found such a soul—aye, a worthier one than the Brahmin administrator before you, seeking the heir I ” Diva arose and paced the floor. ; “ Last night you came,” he resumed, in a ■ low, swift way. “I listened. You fell asleep. I called you a hinderer because you were young and brave. I said ; ‘ Diva must [ not allow this gentleman to destroy his achievement. Diva must cause him to go . his own way and forget!” But you came to ’ me as man to man ! I walked the floor before yon, even as now, and, sleeping, you overwhelmed me with your cause. I fought mv way into a compromise. I wrote two , letters—the first retaining my achievement I without reservation; the second directing ; the lover to the lady. I meant that you i should choose between two envelopes this , morning. Then I laughed, for I could have ’ caused you to choose the wrong or the right with my eyes !” , “ You had said that I, in a moment, dell troyed your creation of years. Believe me, f Mr” Ducharme, I say without merriment I could not deceive myself into the right of an f equal chance with you. I tossed the cn- ( velopes into the fireplace yonder, and they [ lit me on the way to my bath, for the day ! was scarcely broken. And now, if you will > honor me further to-day, I would have you meet me in one hour and twenty minutes. My carriage is at the door. Direct (he man to'drive you to your rooms, for you are still in evening wear. Good-bye for the moment 1” The condition of Ducharme’s mind no man can tell. He was not unhappy. He obeyed exactly. The Brahmin and he, later boarded a train and journeyed for several hours. In the afternoon, at a small village set in forest environment, Diva announced the end of the ride. “I have fished here in the summer and shot ducks at other times. ’’ Ducharme said dully. “ I remember that large house. It belongs to her dearest friend. No one stays here in the winter but the keeper and his family. It cannot be that she is there alone now?’’ “ If that is Orchardine she is there,” Diva answered eoldlv, “ alone, if you wilt, but in communion with what the Brahmin conceives to be the noblest spheres in the totality of existing things. But I am forgetting our mission. Let us hasten to destroy her altars.” Do not be alarmed. Mr. Dncbavmo, if she does not speak or appear to know us. For the time she is obeying my will. They ascended the broad verandah of the island” bouse. The caretaker answered the bell. “ I have a message for Miss True that must be delivered at once,” Diva said. “It 1 mistake not the lutly is ready to receive us. ” Even as the Brahmin spoke a dour opened and Ducharme saw, carved in the firelight from behind, the slender figure and thrilling profile of his life’s quest. And then, as if from alar off he heard: “ In a few minutes, Miss True, you will awake—you will awake to find that, my teachings have become light as impressions upon a° brain that lias dreamed-not unpleasant impressions, but intangible, and quickly to be forgotten-like dreams that awake no fear —too harmless fur regret, too fanciful for ponderings —each one to form a smile and lice away—each one of Diva’s lessons to form a smile and pass av.aj • The Brahmin, offering his arm, led Miss True to a chair before llu. fireplace, and then turned swiftly to Ducharme, holding out hu hand. “It “will be as I have said,” In whispered. “Now I will go away. Good bye, my dear Mr. Ducharme !” The “front door was opened and softly closed again. Miss True sat motionless, her eyes directed unwear,yingly upon the flaming logs. At length Ducharme brushed his eves vaguelv, tiptoed to the window, and raised the curtain rim.ugh an impulse unknown. . • ■ The clock a hove th e fireplace chimed the hour of five. Mb-s ’J rue s eyelids fluttered and she sighed softly. “ Ah, Dullield,” she whispered, it was so