1940-05-10 — Page 17

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 10, 1940.

THRONE OF NARSHINGH

(Continued from Page 16) friendly wise at the Rajah whose pre- sence on the throne they had never ceased to resent.

"

"We have considered well the Rajah of Bhalbak's request-for-our—daugh.... ter's hand in marriage," the Rajah said to the envoy, "and here in open Durbar we send him his answer. Bear word to him that it is our pleasure to grant his request—"

A man's voice near at hand said urgently, "Majesty!"

The Rajah wheeled. A young man had detached himself from the throng of onlookers and come forward to the foot of the throne; a tall young man, poorly clad, with no ornaments save a necklace of tiger-claws, but wearing at his side the sword that proclaimed him a member of the proud Ksha- triya caste,

The Rajah's fierce glance played over him like a flame before signall- ing the guards to deal with the in- terrupter:-But before they could. reach him the young man spoke again.

"Majesty," he said, "this marriage cannot be. Her Highness the Princess is already a wife."

The Rajah faced him thunderously, and the envoy stared, and among the people a low murmur swept like wind through grass; but the young man stood his ground.

The newly wed Mrs. J. W. Thirlwall (nee Andrade) receiving con-- gratulations of her friends after her wedding at St. Joseph's Church last Sunday. (King's Studio),

ence.

were

ing. There followed a moment's sil-¡ He and no stranger shall inherit the throne and rule over you when we are "Majesty," the Raj Rishi said at gone. Therefore let the old enmity "Either you lie or you rave," the length, "since the young man, though between you and ourselves be ended

is not of now for ever!" Rajah said sternly. "Who are you, of the Kashatriya caste,

He ceased, and waited; and from the and what brings you here at such a kingly birth, the wedding can of neces-

sity be declared void and the Prin- still throng a mutter rose; and, listen- moment with these wild words?"

marry. Yet thinking, he could hear that there "Majesty, they are true," said the cess still free to young man. "I am Nanda the shepwell; whether that course is a wise those among them who were pleased, herd, and the Princess and I were one or not remains to be seen, and it and those who were mistrustful still, married two days ago, in the forest, may be that this happening was de-, and those the older folk-who whis- pered one to the other with nods and with all her maidens present. She creed by the Gods.”

strange, bewildered glances; and bis thought, as did they, that it was no more than a mock marriage carried

heart sank; for he had gambled the that one kingdom and its welfare on out in sport; but I knew it was a true one, for the mantras I chanted were

chance, and behold, he had lost.

He turned to Nanda. the solemn mentras of the wedding

"My son," he said, and the words ceremony; and the rites were perform- ed by Saral, daughter of the Raj

were bitter on his lips, "speak to our Rishi, and therefore a priestess by

people.” birth. The Princess and I are man and wife, Majesty; and I am come to claim my bride."

The old Pradhan removed his stead- fast gaze from Nanda and looked at the Rajah.

"Those are wise words that the Raj he said. "Your Rishi has spoken,” Majesty has never desired the alliance with Bhaibak; only the disaffection of your own subjects has forced you to it. Majesty, consider. If you proclaim this young man here and now to the people of Narshingh as your son-in- "If this is true” the Rajah began law and heir to the throne-no strang- furiously; and turned to the balconyer but one of themselves will that where Rujni and her attendants sat, and Rujni's face with its mingling of fear and joy, and Saral's frightened one, told him all he needed to know. "It is true indeed, my father," Rujni faltered.

Beneath the blazing wrath in the Rajah's eye a meaner 'man would

Nanda did have quailed; but

not quail.

not win them over to you at last, so that, united, you can laugh at Bhal- bak and bid him do his worst?"

"There is wisdom in what you say, Pradhan-Ji," the Rajah said slowly. "True, it is only a chance; nevertheless it is a chance worth taking."

Nanda smiled; and his voice rang out clear and blithe above the slowly swelling hubbub.

(

truth,

"People of Narshingh," he said, "look. well upon me! There are those among you who, remembering my father in his youth, will see his face again in mine, and know that I speak and that none is more fitted than I to be heir to the throne. For I am the son of Ghansham who was your Rajah twenty years ago; I was born when he was dead in battle and my mother a fugitive; and in token there- of, behold his sword!"

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and

"I believe so," said the Pradhan gravely.

ed shout of acclamation and joy; and The Rajah stood up,

beckoning

And he drew the bright blade from rapture shone in Rujni's face;

in his The envoy stood back out of hear- Nanda close; and the trumpets blared

and the herald cried for silence. its scabbard, and held it aloft, and the Rajah, sudden, wonder

"People of Narshingh!" the Rajah cried the words aloud that were carv-flerce eyes, took him by the hand and said. "Behold the husband of Princessed thereon-"Bhavani mata ki jaya!" embraced him, as a man may his own Rujni—Nanda, a man of Narshingh, of and the people of Narshingh ans-son, and drew him up to the steps your own land and your own blood. Iwered him in one united, full-throat-of the throne,

Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Thiriwell, photographed after their wedding at St. Joseph's Church 'last Sunday. The bride was Miss C. C. Andrade, and the groom. is the son of Cap- tain and Mrs. Thirlwall, öf Taikoo.

(King's-Atudia),"'"

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