Achmed Abdullah

The Ten-foot Chain Achmed Abdullah

Book Excerpt: ...wn from the Himalayas. The madness of the storm and the waves is upon him, but there is no answering surge in the tide of my soul. In my heart he sees the world golden and white and flashing with laughter. In his heart I see the world grim and drab and haggard and seamed with tears. For--generous, fair, unstinting--he is also selfish and foolish, being a man unwise in the tortuous, glorious ways of love. Daily he tells me that I am the well of his love. But never does he ask me if his love is the stone of my contentment.""Perhaps he does not dare," cackled the old nurse."Being modest?""Yes.""Only the selfish are modest, caring naught for the answering spark in the heart of the loved one. And the love of woman is destroyed by humble selfishness as the religion of a Brahmin by serving kings, the milk of a cow by distant pasturage, and wealth by committing injustice. There is no worth in such wealth--nor in such love. This is Veda-truth."And in a high, proud voice she adde...