Aimée Crocker Gouraud

“ And he lashed Kara across the back, again, and again, and again.
Kara stood there, and never made a move, and never uttered a sound.
“You are not hurting him!” cried the Ranee. “You are not trying to hurt him! He does not feel it! Give me the whip! Let me punish him.”
The Ranee sprang up from her couch, and seizing the whip from the hands of the servant, herself began to brutally lash the body of the unfortunate Kara. ”

“ And, as he left the window, and walked away, he murmured, “Monte Carlo!”
[Pg 12]
That night the man dreamed a strange and startling dream.
First he dreamed of black hair.
Hair as black as night.
It covered the heavens and the earth. There was nothing else in the world but black hair.
Then he dreamed of white skin.
Skin as white as snow.
It covered the heavens and the earth.
There was nothing else in the world but white skin.
Then he dreamed of green eyes.
Eyes as green as the sea.
They covered the heavens and the earth.
There was nothing else in the world but green eyes. ”

“ But his eyes—
His eyes were like the eyes of a faithful dog that has tried to lick the hand of its master, and has been rewarded with a kick.
Kara did not look at the Ranee.
He only looked at the Rajah.
“Kara, what thing is this that I hear—” began the Rajah.
“Let him be whipped!” said the Ranee.
[Pg 65]
“Kara, what demon possessed you that you should—” began the Rajah.
“Let him be whipped!” cried the Ranee.
“Kara—after all these years—” began the Rajah.
“Shall I or shall I not be avenged?” cried the Ranee.
“Let him be whipped!” said the Rajah.
A strong man stepped forward. ”

“ Lotus Flower fought off the eunuchs.
She clung to the cobra.
It pressed tightly about her waist.
But Lotus Flower pressed it tighter still.
The eunuchs fought with her.
But Lotus Flower fought against them.
The Maharajah sprang up from his chair.
And Captain Lawrence sprang up from his.
They rushed towards the unfortunate dancer, to assist the eunuchs in attempting to save her.
But it was too late.
Lotus Flower lay on the ground.
The cobra was coiled about her in a grip of steel.
A grip of steel that would crush the life out of any human being. ”

“ There were big pearls in her hair, around her throat, and on her fingers.
Her complexion was as white as her gown.
Not a touch of color, in her dress, or in her face—except her mouth.
But, just as the setting sun will dominate an evening sky, so did this crimson mouth dominate this ashen face, and this pallid figure. One was conscious of the woman’s mouth, first, last, and all the time. ”

“ And in his eyes—was a strange expression....
“I am the Rajah of Raboda,” said the man.
“Oh!” said the woman.
“These pearls are mine,” said the man.
“They are marvellous!” said the woman.
“You like pearls?” said the man.
“I—love—them!” said the woman.
It really was a strange thing that Paula had not made a more advantageous marriage than she had done.
Her husband was not of much account.
And Paula was—quite a beauty.
Her complexion was dark.
Her hair was black and glossy.
Her eyes were black and fiery.
And her lips were full and red.
She was just the type to appeal to an American millionaire. ”

“ In her bedroom Paula had pictures on the walls.
Many were studies of women wearing pearls.
Empresses and actresses.
In her bedroom Paula had books on the tables.
Many were volumes treating of pearls.
Their formation and their history.
Often Paula would go to sleep at night reading one of these books.
Or looking at one of these pictures.
Then she would dream that she had pearls of her own.
Plenty of them.
And she would be happy.
So you see that Paula had a mania.
But she also had a husband.
Her husband didn’t have any money. ”

“ His skin was black.
But his hair and his eyes were no blacker than her own.
If she only looked into his eyes, he might have been a mate for her.
If he only looked into her eyes she might have been a mate for him.
And now he did look into her eyes.
And now she did look into his....
Paula loved pearls.
And the Rajah loved—women.
The Rajah had pearls.
And Paula was—a woman.
So they stood side by side.
And they stared at one another.
Then the Rajah showed Paula more pearls.
He conducted her about the palace.
He offered her some refreshments.
And he invited her to be his guest over night. ”

“ The English officer had watched her feet.
So she put jangling bangles around her ankles.
The English officer had watched her body.
So she swathed herself in gleaming gauze.
And the English officer had watched her face.
So she painted, perfumed and powdered until even the other dancing girls admitted among themselves that Lotus Flower had never looked lovelier.
But still Lotus Flower was not satisfied.
[Pg 34]
The English officer had watched her eyes.
So she put cosmetics around them to make them darker.
And she put cosmetics into them to make them brighter. ”

“ The Rajah took the bloodstained whip from the hands of the Ranee.
He raised it aloft.
But Kara fell to the ground before the blow was struck.
He had fainted.
[Pg 67-69]
BETTY AND BUDDHA
Betty was tired of Bob.
And Bert.
And Reggie.
So she took up with Buddha.
Bob was too hot.
Bert was too cold.
And Reggie was neither hot nor cold—merely lukewarm.
Men seemed all wrong.
But Buddha seemed just right.
One need never worry about him.
He could always be relied upon.
So Betty made a fuss of him.
She got silver for his garments.
And gold for his features.
And pearls for his eyes. ”

“ The next night the Ranee sent for Kara a second time.
“How long have you been with your master?” said the Ranee.
“Seven years, my lady,” said Kara.
“You have been in his personal service throughout that time?” said the Ranee.
“Yes, my lady,” said Kara.
“And you have also been in his confidence?” said the Ranee.
“Yes, my lady,” said Kara.
“Then be in mine also,” said the Ranee.
Kara looked surprised.
“And let me be in yours,” said the Ranee.
Kara looked bewildered.
[Pg 59]
“Your master has had adventures?” said the Ranee.
“Many, my lady,” said Kara.
“Adventures with men?” said the Ranee. ”

“ She put her feet up on the sofa, so that she was reclining at full length beside him.
He moved his chair away.
“Don’t go further!” said Mrs. Perry, “but come nearer!”
He came nearer.
“That’s a good boy!” said Mrs. Perry, “a very good boy!” ”