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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Advocate, 1913-6-19, Page 21111410111~14,9 of ele 44/ 4omie(fkliqb. One of the garrison Or, A Mysterious Affair. cal4PTER X1.11.—(Cont'd.). wit,. the 'Ria;tall partly blown Meal and i the windows and door in sari disrepair. Tele dwelling, which the poorest Scotch. beggar would have serunk front, was the one which these singular Hien hadp furred to the proferred hospitality of the laird's house. A small garden, now a mass of tangled brambles, stood round it, and through this my aoquafntance picked his way to the ruined door. .He. glanced is h ndi bate me to follow shim then wave4 "You now have an opportunity," he said in a subdued, reverential voice, "of seeing a spectacle whip,• few Europeans have had the privilege of beholding. In side that cottage you will find two Yogis -men who are Only one remove from the highest planeof adeptship. They are both wrapped in an ecstatic trance, other wise I should not venture to obtrude your presence upon them. Their astral bodies have departed fromthem, tb be present at the feast of lamps in the holy lamas- tery of Rudok in Thibet, Tread lightly, lest by stimulating their corporeal luno - tions you recall them before their demo- tions are oompletod. " Walking slowly and on tiptoe, I pinked my way through the weed -grown garden, and peered through the open doorway. There was uo furniture in the dreary in- terior, nor anything to cover the uneven floor save a litter of fresh straw in a oorner. Among this straw two men were crouching, the one email and widened, the other large -boned and gaunt, with their legs crossed in Oriental fashion and their heads sunk upon their breasts. Neither of them looked up nor took the smallest notice of our presence. They were so still and silent that they might have been two bronze statues but for the slow and measured rythm of their breath- ing. Their faces, however, hada peculiar ashen gray color, very different from the healthy brown of m-- companion's; and I observed, on stooping my head, that only the whites of their eyes ware visible, the balls being turned upward beneath the lids. In front of them upon a small mat lay an earthenware pitcher of water and half a loaf of bread, together with 'a sheet et paper inscribed with certain cabalistic characters. Item Singh glanced at these, and then, motioning to 'me to withdraw, followed me out into the gar- den. "I am not to disturb them until ten o'clock," be said. "You have now seen in operation one of 'the grandest results of our occult philosophy, the dieeociation of spirit from body. Not only are the spirits of these holy men standing at the pre- sent moment by.the banks of the Ganges, but those spirits are clothed in a mater- ial covering so identical with their real bodies that none of the faithful will ever doubt that Lal H'ooami and Mowdar Khan are actually among them. This is as complished by our power of resolving an object into its chemical atoms, of con- veying these atoms with a speed which exceeds that of lightning to any given spot, and of there re -precipitating them and compelling them to retake their orig- inal form. Of old it wae necessary to convey the whole body in this way, but we have since found that it was ae ease' and more convenient to transmit mater- ial enough merely to build up an outside shell or semblance of a body. This we have termed the astral body." "But if you can transmit your spirits so readily, I obeerved; "why should they be accompanied by any body at all?" "In comnmunicating with brother initi- ates we are able to employ our spirite only; but when we wish to come in con - toot with ordinary mankind it is essen- tial that we -should appear .in sane form. which they can see ad comprehend." "]lou have interested me deeply in all that you have told me," I said,grasping the hand which Rama Singh had held out to meas a sign that our interview was at an end. "1 shall often think of . our short acquaintance." "You will derive much benefit from it," "But look at the leullavagga," said aur Yieitor, earnestly, "And look at Xing Asolma." shcuted my father, triumphantly; 'When, in the year eel before the Ohristian era --before mind yo'?--hc ordered the Tawe of nud4ha to. be engraved upon the rooks, went elan- g1tage. did he employ, 'eh? Wae it date ecrit?--nol .And why wen it not'eatrserit? Deeause the lower orders of his subjects would not have bean able to understand a word of it, Iia I hal .. Teat was the Tea - eon. ltcw are you geing to get around Ming aeoka's edicts, able "He carved them in the various dia- lects," Ram Singh answered. "But energy is too precious a thing to be veaeted ie, mere wind in this style. The sun has Passed . its meridian, and I must return 'to my companions.' "I am sorry that you have not brought them to see us, said my father, court- eously. Re was, I could see, uneasy lest in the eagerness of debate he had over- stepped the bounds of hospitality. "They do not mix with the world," Ram Singh answered, rising to ltis ,feet. "They are of a higher grade than I, and more. sensitive to contaminating influences. They are immersed in a six menthe' mode cation upon the mystery of the third in- carnation, which: has lasted from the time that we left the Himalayas. I shall not see you again, .7Yir, .Bunter West,, and I therefore bid you farewell. Your old age will be a happy ane. as it deserves to be, and your Eastern studies will have a lasting etfeet upon the knowledge and. literature of your own country, Fare- well!" . And am I also to see no more of you?" I asked. "Unless you will walk with nee along the seashore," he answered. 'But you have already been out this morning. and may be tired. I ask too much of you." "Nay, I should be delighted to come," I responded: from my heart, and we sat off together, accompanied for some little distance by my father, who would gladly, 1 could see, have reopened the Sansorit controversy, had not his stock of breath been too limited to allow of his talking and walking at thesame time. He is a learned man," Ram Bingh re- marked, after we bad left him behind; "but like many another, he is intolerant toward opinions which differ from his own. He will know better some day." I made no anewer to this observation, and we trudged along for a time in sil- ence, keeping well down to the water's edge, where the sands afforded a good foothold. The sand dunes which lined the coast formed a continuous ridge upon our left, cutting ns off entirely from all human observation, while on the right the broad Channel stretched away with herder a sail to break its silvery uni- formity. The Buddhist Wriest and I were absolutely alone with Nature. I could not help reflecting that, if he were really the dangerous man that the mate affected to consider him, or that might be in- ferred from tee words of General Reath- eretone, I had placed myself completely in his power. Yet such was the majestic benignity of the man's aspect, and the unruffled serenity of his deep dark eyes. that I could afford in his presence to let fear and 'suspicion blow past me as lightly as the breeze which whistled round us. His face might bestern, and even terrible; but I felt that he could never be unjust. As I glanced from time to time at his noble profile and the sweep et hie jet black beard, his rough -anon tweed traveling suit struck me with an almost painful sense of incongruity, and I re-olothed him in my imagination with the grand sweeping Oriental costume which is the fitting and proper frame for such a picture—the only garb which does not detract from the dignity and grace of the wearer. The place to which ho led me was a small fisher cottage which had been deserted some years before by its tenant, but still stood gaunt and bare, Tea abounds in stirulatirig goodness. A most wholesome and pleasing beverage e IN LEAD PACKETS onn.y. Black, Green and Mixed. M.. 070 Whenever you feel a headache coming on take NA -DRU -CO Headache Wafers They stop headaches promptly and surely. Do not contain opium, morphine, phenacetin, acetanilid or other dangerous drugs. 25o. a box at your Druggist's. 125 NATIONAL DRUG AND cHgMICAL c0. or CANADA. 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BRANCHES; SUSSEX, N.R.; sadithY0oN, SASK,t eaLrlal'Y, AGENTI11:S EV .RVWR1tt, IN CANADA. • he said slowly; etill.,hoiding my hand and looking gravely and sadly into my eyes. "You must remember that what will happen in the future is, not necessarily bad because it does not fall in with your preconceived ideas of right. Be notFhostY in your judgments. There are certain great rules which must be carried out, at 'whatever oust to individuals, Their oper- ation may appear to you to be harsh and cruel, but that is as nothing earn - Pared to the dangerous precedent wbion would be established bynot enforcing them. The ox and the sheep ere safe from us, but the man with the blood of the highest upon hie hands should not and • shall not, live." He throw up his arise at the last words with a fierce, threatening gesture, and turning away from me strode back to the ruined hut, I stood gazing after him un- til he disappeared through the doorway, and then started off for home, me -caving in' my mind all that I had heard, and more particularly this last outburst of the occult philosopher, Far on the right I could see the tall white tower of Oioom- ber standing out clear-cut and -, sharp against a dark cloud -bank which rose be- hind it. I thought how, any traveller who chanced to pass that way would envy in his heart the tenant of that mag- nificent building, and how little they would guess the strange terrors, the nameless' dangei.s. which' were gathering about his head. The blank cloud -wrack wae but the image, I reflected. of the darker, more somber, storm which was about to burst. "Whatever it all weans, and however it happens," '1 ejaculated, "God grant that the innocent be not confounded with the guilty." bity father, when I reached home, was still in a ferment over his learned dispu- tation with the stranger. "I trust, Jack," he said, "that I did not handle him too roughly. I should remember that I am in loco magistri, and be less prone to argue with my guests. Yet, when he 4.t first we had Ornade some pretollsa— she of knitting and I of reading; but we aeon abandoned the useless deceptieee�.t and sat uneasily waiting- starting elle glanotng at each rather wfth gttestionlnsr eyes whenever cite faggot crackled in the tiro or a rat scampered behind the wains' cot. 'There was a heavy eleotrieai thee Mg in the air, which weighed ue down Meng a the indopr opo nto gacdmit ande e vepet bacrog f the ekiyli, eat aetile . einoan peeped out at times between theirdhurry ing fringes, bathing the wholecountry- side in its 4ola, Weito radiance- Pram where. I stood inthe doorway I eaule eee the edge of the Oloom'be ' wood, though the house itself was only, visible from the rising' ground some little distance o At stet/Keay ste's suggestion we, walked to- gether, :she with her shawl over liter. head, as far se the summit of this ele• vation, and looked out in the direction of the Wall. There was no illumination of the windows to -night. From roof to. basement not a light twinkled in any part of the great building, Its huge mass doomed up dark and sullen amid the trees which surrounded it, looking more like some giant sarcophagus than a hu- man habitation. To our overwrought nerves there was something 'of terror in its merebalk and its silence. We stood for some little time peering at it through the darkness, 'and then we made our way back to the parlor again, where we sat waiting waiting, we knew not for what, and yet with the absolute conviction that some terrible experience was in 'store for us. It was twelve e'elook or close on to it when my sister suddenly sprang to her feet and held up'her finger to bespeak attention. "Do you hear nothing?" she asked. I strained my ears, but without suoeeae' thing"Dom?"e to the door," she cried, with a. trembling volco. "Now can you bear any - In the deep silence of the night I 'dis- tinctly heard a dull, murmuring, clatter- ing lattering sound, continuous apparently, but very faint and low. "What is it?" I mired in a subdued voice, "It's the sound of a man running to- ward us," she answered; and then, sud- denly dropping the last semblance of self-, command, she fell upon her kneee beside., the table and began prayingaloud with that frenzied earnestness which intense, overpowering fear can produce, breaking oft now and again .into half hysterical whimperings. I could t''etinguish the sound clearly enough now to know that her quick fem- inine perception had not deceived her, and that it was indeed caused by a run- ning man., On lie came, and on down the highroad, his footfalls ringing out clearer and sharper every moment, An urgent messenger he ' must be, for he neither paused . nor slackened J's .;pace. Thequick, criep rattle was changed sud- denly to a dull, muffled murmur. He had reached the point where sand had been. recently laid down . for a hundred yards or so- In a few moments, however, he was back on hard ground again and hie flying feet were nearer and ever .nearer. He must, I reflected, be abreast of the head of the lane now. Would he boll an? or would he turn down to Brank omne? The thought had hardly crossed my mind took up this most untenable position, I when I heard by the difference of the could not refrain from attacking him and sound that the runner had turned the hurling him out of it, which indeed I corner, and that leis goal was beyond all did, though you, who are ignorant of question the laird'e house. Rushing down the niceties of the question.' may hale to the gate of the lawn, I reached it just failed to perceive ft, You observed, how- ever, that my reference to Bing Asokia's. edicts was so conclusive that he at once rose and took his leave." "You held your own bravely," I answer- ed; "but what is your impression of the man now that you have seen him?" "Why," said my father, "he is one of those holy men who under the various names of Sannasis, Yogis, Sevras, Qua- lenders, Salinas', and Cute have devoted their lives to the study of the mysteries of the Buddhist faith. Ile is, I take it. a .theosophist, or worshipper of the God of knowledge, the highest grade of which is the adept. This man and his compan- ions have not attained' this hig'1i"•posi- tion or they could not"have crowed time sea ,:without oontamination. • It is prob- able that they are all advanced ebelas who hope in time to attain to the 811. preme honer of adeptship." "But, father," interrupted my sister, "this does not explain why men of such sanctity and attainments should choose to take up their quarters on the shores cf a desolate Scotch bay." "Al, there you get beyond me,". my father answered; el. may suggest, how- ever, that it is nobody's business but their own, as long as they keep the peace and are amenable to the law of the land." "Have you ever heard," I asked, "that these higher priests of whom you speak have powers which are unknown to ,us?" 'Why, Eastern literature is full of it, The Bible is an•Eastern book, and is it not full of the record of such powers from cover to cover? It is unquestionable that they have in the past known many of• Nature's secrets which are lost to us. I cannot say, however, that the modern theosophists really possess the powers that, they claim." "Are they a vindictive class of pee. pie?" I asked. "Is there any offence among them which can only be expiated" by death?" • "Not that I know of," my father an- swered, raising les white eyebrows in surprise. "You ' appear to be in an in quiaitive• humor this afternoon—what le' the object of all these . questions?. Have our Eastern neighbors aroused your cur- iosity or suspicion in any way?" I parried the question as beat I. might, for I was unwilling to let the old man know what was in my mind. No good pur- pose could come from his enlightenment; his age and his health demanded rest rather. than anxiety; and indeed with the best will in the world I should have found it difficult to eitpiain to another what was so very obscure to myself. For every reason I felt that`. it was best, that he should be kept tri the dark. Never in all my experience have I known a day pass so slowly as did that event- ful 5th of October. In every possible manner I endeavored to while away the -tedious hours, and yet it seemed as if darkness would never arrive. I. tried to read, I. tried to write, I paced :about . the lawn, I walked to the end of the lane, I put new flies on my 'Etching -hooks, I be- gan to index my father'e library—in a dozen ways I endeavored to relieve the suspense which was becoming intolerable. 3 y sieter, I could see, was suffering front the same feverish restlessness, Again; and again our good father remonstrated with us in his mild way for our erratie behavior and the continual interruption of his "work which arose from it. At last, however, the tea was brought, and tee tea was taken, the ourtains were drawn, the lamps lit, and after another interminable interval the prayers were read and the servants dismissed to their rooms. My father compounded and swal- lowed, his nightly jorum of toddy, and then ahufiled off to his room, leaving the two of us in the parlor with our nerves in n' tingle and our .minds full of the most vague and yet terrible apprehen- eiOns. as our visitor dashed it open and fell into my arms. I equld see in the mcoelitht that it gas none other than Mordaunt Beatherstone. CHAPTER XIV, It was a quarter past ten o'clock be the parlor time -piece when my father went off to hie room, and left Esther :and MY- self together, We heard his slow stens dying away up the croaking staircase, until the distant elamming of a door an- nounced that he, had retuhcd his sane- tuin, The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak paneling,' and casting strange, fantastic ehadowc from the high -elbowed, straight- backed furniture. My sister's white, aux loos' face stood out in the obscurity with a Startling exactness of : profile Pike ono of llombrandt's portraits. Wo sat oppo- site to each other on either side of the table, with no sound breaking the nil- erice eave the measured ticking of the clock and the, intermittent eihiriing of a ericicce beneb,tlf the grate. There Was something awe-nspiring in the abrydtite stillness, The wbietling of a beleiod pe: s• ant upon tee higbrwad wag a relief to us, and we strained our earn to catch the loot of hit notes es he plodded • ntoa.dile homeward.. "` YII-1 r VIM Are you one of those to whom every meal Is another source of suffering ? Na-Dru-CoDyspepsiaTab.Iets will help your disordered stomach to digest,any'reasonable meals, and will soon restore it to such perfect con- dition that you'll never feel that you have a stomach. Take one after each meal. 50c. a. Box at your Druggist's:. Made by. the National Drug and Chemical Co. of Canada, ;Limited. 150 "Idy God!" 'I cried, "what has happen' ed? 11''hat is amiss, /10r -daunt?" "Aly father! ho gasped --"pay father!" Bis het was gone, his eyes dilated with terror, and his fsiae as bloodless as that of a corpse, I Oeuld feel that the hands Which clasped ley argrifl were quivering and shafting with unction. "You are exhausted," I eatd, leading hint into the parlor. "Give yourself a moment's rest before you speak 4-o us, lie calm, lean, you are with your best friends." I laid him on the old horsehair sofa,. while Bather,` whose fear, had all dawn to the winds now that something practical was to be done, dashed some brandy into a tumbler and brought it to him, The stimulant bad a marvelous effect upon him, for the oolor began to conte baok into his pale oheoke and the Tight of recognition into his eyes. Re sat ep and took tether's hand in both his, like a man who is waking- out of some bad dream end wishes to assure himself that he le really in safety. - (T�o be continued,) PARIS IS OVERCROWDED. 1,200,552 Persons Living in Unhy- gienic Conditions. The aetezltion of the medical world has been attracted by statis- tics compiled by Dr. Bertillon show- ing that in 1911 the number of per- sons in. Paris living in unhygienic conditions was not less than 1,200,4- 552, of whom the greater proportion were sleeping, eating, Iiving in overcrowded apartments. Condi- tions were better than they were ten years earlier, but only because families have become smaller, Since 1901 the number of people belonging to families of five, six and seven persons has decreased by TI -IE PERFECT SHOE FOR SUMMER SPORTS(' ASK YOUR DEALER. MIRK eseeeeesseW of eo . 56,000, while the number p plel belonging to families of one .and, two persons has increased by 144, 000. While this state of things is bad from the point of view of pope- lotion, it is !good so far as housing' conditions go, although even now' I091 families out of 1,000, says Dr. .. Bertillon, live in conditions con- ducive to the spread of tuberculo-, s5. Work. No plan to get rich will work 1111 - less the man is willing to, Nearly all of the really great thoughts have, already been thought, but cheer up. 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