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her to marry outside her own station in life； besides which there was
another ground upon which we might be equally sure of their opposition。
They had already chosen for her and she was betrothed to Rama Ragobah。
It is of this man that I have chiefly to speak。 By birth he was of the same
Vaisya caste as Lona。 Early in life his lot had fallen among fakirs and he
had acquired all their secrets。 This did not satisfy his ambitions； for he
wished to be numbered among the rishis or adepts； and subjected himself
to the most horrible asceticism to qualify himself for adeptship。 His
indifference to physical pain was truly marvellous。 He had rolled his
naked body to the Ganges over hundreds of miles of burning sands！ He
had held his hands clinched until the nails had worn through the palm and
out at the back of the hand。 He had at one time maintained for weeks a
slow fire upon the top of his head； keeping the skin burned to the skull。
When he came wooing Lona； his rigid asceticism had much relaxed；
but he would still seek to amuse her by driving knives into his body until
she would sicken at the blood； a condition of affairs which； she said；
afforded him great enjoyment。 Ragobah was a man of gigantic build and
immense physical strength。 His features were heavy and forbidding。
You are familiar with pictures of Nana Sahib。 If I had not known this fiend
to have died while beset in a swamp； I should have mistaken Ragobah for
him。 It was to such a being that Lona was betrothed in spite of the
loathing her parents knew she felt for him。 She told me all this one
night at our accustomed tryst on Malabar Hill。 We had chosen to meet
here on account of the beauty of the place and the seclusion it offered。
There； on bright moonlit nights； with the sea and the city below me； the
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〃Tower of Silence〃 in the Parsees' burial plot ablaze with reflected glory；
the majestic banyan over me rustling gently in the soft sea breeze； while
Lona nestled close beside me； … the exquisite perfume of the luxuriant
garden less welcome than the delicious fragrance of her breath； … hours
fraught with years of bliss would pass as if but pulse…beats。 In the world
of love the heart is the only true timepiece。 On one or two occasions
Lona had thought she had been followed when coming to meet me； and
she began to conceive a strange dislike for a little cavelike recess in the
rocks just back of the tree by which we sat。 I tried on one occasion to
reassure her by telling her it was so shallow that； with the moonlight
streaming into it； I could see clear to the back wall； and arose to enter it to
convince her there was no one there； but she clung to me in terror； saying：
〃Don't go！ Don't leave me！ I was foolish to mention it。 I cannot
account for my fear； … and yet； do you know；〃 she continued in a low；
frightened tone； 〃there is a shaft at the back of the cave that has； they say；
no bottom； but goes down； … down； … down； … hundreds of feet to the
sea？〃 It is useless； as you know only too well； to strive to reason down a
presentiment； and so； instead； I sought to make use of her fear in the
accomplishment of my dearest wish。 〃Why need we；〃 I urged； 〃come
here； why longer continue these clandestine meetings？ Let us be brave；
darling； in our loves。 Your people have chosen another husband for you；
… my people another wife for me； but we are both quite able to choose for
ourselves。 We have done so； and it is our most sacred duty to adhere to
and consummate that choice。 Let us； I beseech you； do so without further
delay。 Dearest； meet me here to…morrow night prepared for a journey。
We will take the late train for Matheron Station； where I have friends who
can be trusted。 We will be married immediately upon our arrival； and can
communicate by post with our respective families； remaining away from
them until they are glad to welcome us with open arms。〃
She raised some few objections to my plan and expressed some
misgivings； but she loved me and I was able to reason away the one and
kiss away the other； and with our souls upon our lips we parted for the
night。 The last thing I had said to her； … I remember it as if it all
happened yesterday； … was： 〃Think of it； dear heart； there will be no more
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such partings between us after to…night！〃 and she had replied by silently
nestling closer to me and twining her arms about my neck。 And so we
parted on that never…to…be…forgotten night more than a score of years ago。
The twenty…four hours intervening between this parting and our next
meeting may be passed over in silence； as nothing occurred during that
time at all essential to the purpose this narrative subserves。 The longed…
for time came at last and； with a depth of happiness I had never known
before … a peace passing all understanding … I set out for Malabar Hill。
The night was perfect and the moonlight so bright I could distinctly see
the air…roots of our trysting tree when more than a quarter of a mile away。
I thought at the time how this tree； with its crown of luxuriant foliage and
its writhing roots； might well pass for some gigantic Medusa…head with its
streaming serpent…hair。 As I neared the tree Lona stepped from behind it
and awaited my approach。 She was even more impatient than I； I thought；
and my heart beat more wildly than ever。 〃Sweet saint； have I kept you
waiting？〃 I asked； as I came within speaking distance of her。 She stood
motionless against the tree and apparently did not hear me。 I waited till I
was within ten feet of her and repeated the question； but； although she
fixed her unfathomable eyes full upon mine； she made no reply； and gave
no evidence of having heard me。 I stood as if petrified。 A nameless dread
was settling upon me； paralysing my faculties。 She had always before
sprung forward at sight of me and thrown herself with a bewitching little
pirouette into my arms； now she stood coldly aloof； silent and motionless；
on this； our wedding night！ I waited for some word of explanation； but
none came。 The suspense became unbearable … I could endure it no
longer！
〃For God's sake； what has happened？ 〃I cried； rushing forward to
seize her in my arms。 She raised her right hand above her head and； as I
had almost reached her； threw something full in my face！ Instinctively I
struck at it with my walking…stick； and it fell in the grass at my feet； … it
was a young Indian cobra … Naja tripudians … a serpent of the deadliest sort。
I did not pause to reason how this sweet angel had been so quickly
changed into a venomous fiend； although the thought that somehow she
had been led to think me false to her