Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-10-24
THE LOOKING GLASS.

i Inc uttI0 vllluBo VI JoWcushis ~ Wv
south OF the Flowcry Kingdom, Is so far
removed from outside especially import
ers, influences that the scenes and incl
dents OF 1.-THE Mikado" as recently pro-
duoed In the Fifth Avenue theater, New
York, might bc enacted there any day IN
the midst of the populace without ovok-
ing ono particle Of comment. Among the
agents and helpmates OF civilization COM
pletely unknown In Jowcuski on account
Of Its all forlorn situation, which enables
the people to live SO happily among them
selves, is the looking glass. One day sew
trail years ago party Of English tourists
passed through Jowcuski In their usual
hurried style, but staid at any rate long
enough for one of the ladies to lose hand
glass in the jinrikisba in which she had
ridden.
When Kiki. .Tsum, the owner Of the vo-
hicle, saw his find, he looked 1t over in
tently and with the most astonised face In
the world.
"As I live" he cried, "thisis the por-
trait Of my dear father, dead these four
years! There is his good brown face, which
always seemed to wonder at something or
other; there indeed are bis piercing eyes.
only he appears SO much younger and
sturdier than he was when last knew
him. But what does it mean! Perhaps it's
. warning from the gods; perhaps it's
present from some saint"
i Kiki-Tsum wrapped the mysterious ar
ticle in his silk handkerchief and placed 1t
carefully In the pocket Of his wide shirt.
When in the evening he arrived homo, he
looked for hiding place for his treasure,
and finally he resolved upon an old pot OF
earthenware, which was not In actual use
and therefore never troubled. There was
no more secure spot In his household, he
thought. Kiki-Tsum said nothing to his
young wife about his adventure, for, he
calculated, women are too curious and
too talkative, and do not want all the
neighbors' advice Of my good or bad luck,
whatever 1t may be-
During the next few days Kiki-Tsum
labored under great excitement Day and
night he thought about the portrait he had
found, and frequently he left his bed OK his
work to go and see II his treasure was still
In his possession. LiliTsec, the young
mans lovely bride, could not make out
what brought her husband SO frequently
to their hut when engaged outside. She
never knew about his leaving her bed.
That would have made her unhappy. First
she was content with Kiki-Tsum's cxpla.
nation that he had come home just TO see
her lovely face. but when be kept II up day
after day she grew suspicious.
''why should he appear with an anxious
face and leave with one stepped in impor-
tances' she unused. Still later she discov-
eret that KIki-Tsum before going out
made it point always TO remain In the
little back room for minute or two. The
key to his secret behavior must be some
where in that room. Lili-Tsce made IL
her business to investigate, and there was
not piece of furniture OF decoration in
the room she did not turn inside ont, but
her work was all in vain. Finally she
mousctrapped her husband at the mo-
ment he was hiding the pot in which she
kept her rose leaves. Kiki-Tsum, like all
guilty men, quickly invented an excuse or
explanation Of his carvings on. He lied.
The pot had stood on one end only, and he
had been Obliged to correct the negligence
of others.
"Ah, yes, poor manl' said Lii, kissing
the deceiver goodby, but he had scarcely
got across the street when she clambered
upon a chair and discovered-whatf A
mysterious something. She lifted it with
care and brought it up to her face to ex-
anime it, Oh, cruel truth, the portrait Of
a woman, and Lii had considered Kiki-
Tsum model husband! The poor girl sat
down upon the floor and cried bitterly.
That, then, was the reason why he came
home SO often. The feeling Of injury
gave way to that of indignation. OF wrath.
Again she looked for the portrait and now
wondered that Kiki-Tsum could love n
woman with such a face-eyes swollen,
checks pale and dirty, and now the eyes
expressed rago and contempt. Lili-Tsee
became frightened. No; she would never
look at the thing again. Then she grew
Respondent. Life indeed was not worth
living, and as to cooking dinner-she
could not think of it. When Kiki-Tsum
arrived home in the evening, ho was as
tonished to find neither meal nor wife
awaiting him. Searching for both, be made
his way to the back room.
$50 that Is the way you treat your wife
after only n few months of marriagcs
Where is your fidelity, you who are al
ways talking about your manlincss?"
''The woman is crazy" said Kiki-Tsum
to himself, and then he added aloud:
What ails you, Lili-Tsees Tell me the
meaning of this nonsense"
''Nonsense'' cried Lili-Tsee. 'You
hide the portrait Of your paramour in my
rose pot and dare dispute its sinful pur-
ports Take it; watch over it; carry it On
your heart. 1 don't want to see it. The
monster--the ugly face!'
but I don't understand" gasped the
husband.
. "You don't, don't your" cried tho little
woman. "Ah, but I understand it ALL
You love that woman in the frame more
than myself"
Now it became Kiki-Tsum's turn to
grow angry. "That picture" he said,
represents my late father. found it
some time ago in my carriage, thinking
the gods had sent it to me. To save it and
keep 1t secure placed it in the rose pot"
You must think me an idiot" cried
the wife, "Have not known your father,
and am I unable to distinguish between
the face of man and that of a womans"
The two continued their wordy battle,
which became more fierce every minute,
until the neighbors were aroused. They
sent for the village priest to restore order.