her there on the verandah.” She w en t in d o o r s and Rama mounted the steps to speak to his childhood wife for the first time. Miss Moore listened tensely inside the door. “How is the school?” Rama asked after preliminary remarks. “ It is my home,” Asha replied. “This is a Christian school and I love it.” “ But you are a Hindu,” he re monstrated. Miss Moore knew he was impressed by her appearance and education for he began to wheedle and flatter her. “ I will put you above my other wife,” he said. “ She and her children will obey you.” Asha shook her head. “ I’ll become a Christian then,” Rama ventured. “ It would be in name only,” Asha reproved, and Miss Moore breathed a sigh of relief. Both fa ther and husband offered Asha beau tifu l clothes, fine jewelry, home life, everything appealing to a girl. Asha’s voice came firmly and clearly refusing them, and Miss Moore sent up a prayer of gratitude to God for the change in desires Christianity could give a Hindu girl like Asha. But suddenly a commotion arose. Asha screamed. The two men had seized her and were dragging her over the verandah stones out onto the compound as Miss Moore flung open the door and rushed out. “ Auntie!” cried Asha, “ they’re taking me! Come!” Beside the girl in a moment to rescue her, Miss Moore felt re strained from putting hands on Asha to save her. It seemed as if a physical force prevented her from touching the girl. In a flash it came to her that she would appeal to the law herself. Later she affirmed it was the Lord Who ‘withdrew her hands, for she could not have won a physical struggle with the Hin dus. As the men made off with Asha, Miss Moore called breathlessly to Mr. Siegel. “ Please get your car and help me follow these men!” She hurried after him to his car. Around the hedge they saw Asha being forced into another car, be fore hidden from view. “ Get the police!” Miss Moore called to Mr. Siegel, feeling im pelled to jump out of his car, run to
The Hope Woman continued trust Him now?
Christian lawyer shortly before the men came. She could only pray that she was handling the situation in the best way. When the spokesman accused her of having great influence over the girl and of unfair dealing, she said they could wait outside. The men filed out, stationing themselves halfway between the bungalow and the gate under a cork tree. How could these repu table Brahmans be accomplices to abducting a girl? Miss Moore re lented somewhat. The father came onto the veran dah and Asha went out to meet him, Miss Moore remaining inside the door. She heard him greet his daughter and begin to talk about Bama, Asha’s husband. “He wants such a fine, educated young lady for his wife.” Miss Moore felt a surge of untimely pride that the girl’s father should be impressed by her speech and ap pearance. “ I am a Christian now,” she heard Asha say unwaveringly. “ I cannot live with an unbeliever.” “How can you forsake the re ligion of your fathers? Come back with us, Sarji!” “ I cannot!” While they talked, Mr. Siegel, the visiting missionary, approached the Hindus waiting beneath the cork tree. Miss Moore left Asha and her father talking and hurried to Mr. Siegel. The lawyer immediately stepped forward and accused her, as though he had thought of a new approach. “ This is a lawful offense! I shall make a case against you in court.” “On what grounds?” she asked. “Not allowing the girl’s husband to speak to his wife.” On the verge of exasperation Miss Moore entered the bungalow again to read the letter from the Christian lawyer. She found that it ad v ised tha t the hu sband be granted an interview should he be found. Reluctantly she returned to the pleader. “ All right, I do not deny him audience,” she said slowly. “He shall be allowed to speak to
Waiting for the Hindu at the appointed time, she heard the sound of many feet shuffling on the ver andah. Breathing a prayer for guidance as she opened the door, she faced seven swarthy, turbaned Hindus. With inward trepidation she invited them in. Two were huge, muscular fellows, and she wondered why they had come. She took some consolation in the fact that Mr. Siegel, another mission ary, was now visiting the school. She recognized three prominent Hindus, a pleader or lawyer, a medical doctor and a lecturer, all Arya Samajists, avowed enemies of Christianity. Their zealous purpose was to get Hindu Christians back into the fold of Hinduism. “We have come for an interview with Sarji, the daughter of this farmer,” said the lawyer. “Her fa ther and husband are here to see her.” Miss Moore gave a start and stared at the two men he pointed out to her. So Asha had been mar ried as a baby! The two Hindus were by no means distinguished in appearance. She was certain nei ther one had seen the ad and that the Arya Samajists had spotted it, going immediately into action. “ I’m afraid that is impossible,” she replied, trying to subdue her feelings. “ You know the social cus tom. It is not proper for a young girl to appear before so many men not of her family.” “ You cannot refuse to let her talk to her father.” “No, but the man you say is her husband she will not see. Only the girl’s father may speak to her,” she said emphatically. “When will they meet?” he queried, a crafty gleam in his eye. “ After you have all gone.” “Why may we not remain in this room or some place nearby?” he wheedled. Suspecting some evil plan, Miss Moore replied, “ There is no need for it. Our business and visit are finished.” She regretted that there hadn’t been time to read the letter which arrived from the Hindu
16
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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