The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-23
LOOKING CLASS.

duccd in the Fifth Avenue theatcr, New
York, mighs be enacted there~any day in
tho midst Of the populnce without evOk-
ing one particle Of comment. Among the
agents and belpmates Of civilization COM
pletely unknown In Jowcuski on account
OF its all foplorn situation. which enables
tho people 20 live so happily among them
selves, is tho looking glass. One day sew
erai years ago a party Of English tourists
passed through Jowcusld in their usual
hurried style, but staid at any rate long
enough for one OF the ladies to lose a hand
glass in the jinIikisha In which she had
ridden.
When Kikl.Tsum, the owner OF the ve-
hicle, saw his find, he looked it over in
tcntly and with the most astonised sace In
the world.
''As live" no cried, this Is the por-
trnif.of my dear father, dead these four
yearS There is hisIgood brown face, which
always seemed TO wonder at something or
other; thorc indeed are his piercing eyes,
only he appears SO much younger and
sturdier than he was when last knew
him. But what does Ii meant Perhaps it's
a warning from the gods; perhaps it's q
present from some saint"
Xxi Tsum wrapped the mysterious ar
ticlc In his silk handkerchief and placed it
carefully I'm the pocket of his wide shirt.
When in the evening he arrived home, he
looked for "a hiding place for his treasure,
and finally hU resolved upon an old pot OF
earthcnware, which was not In actual use
and therefore never troubled. There was
no more secure spot in his household, no
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 IL may be-"
During the next few days Kiki-Tsum
labored under great excitement. Day and
night he thought about the portrait ho had
found, and frequently he left his bed or his
work to go and see If his treasure was still
I'm his possession. Lili-Tsee, the young
mans lovely bride, could not make our
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 expla.
nation that he had come home just To see
her lovely face, but when he kept it up day
after day sho grew suspicious.
why should he appear with an anxious
face and leave with ono stepped in impor
lancet she unused. Still later she discov-
cred that hiki-Tsum before going out
made il "a point always To remain In the
little 6ack room for minute or two The
key to his secret behavior must be some
where In that room. Lili-Tsee made it
her business TO, investigate, and there was
not piece of furniture or decoration in
the room she did not turn inside out, hut
her work was ali in vain. Finally she
mousetrapped her husband at the mo-
ment he was biding 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 hc
had been obliged TO correct the negligence
of others.
"Ah, yes, poor mani" said Lii, kissing
the decciver goodby, but he had scarcely
got across the street when she clambercd
upon a chair and discovered-whats a
mysterious something. She lifted il with
care and brcnght 1t up TO her face TO ex.
amino IL. Oh, cruel truth, the portrait o.
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. Tho feeling Of injury
gave woy TO that of Indignation, of wrath.
Again she looked for the portrait and now
that kiki Tsum could love a
woman with such faco-eyes swollen,
checks pale and dirty, and now the eyos
expressed rago and contempt. Lili-Tsee
became frightened. No. she would never
look at the thing again. Then she grew
fn mr.
living, and rs to cooking dinnor--she
could not think Of 1t. When Kiki-Tsum
arrived home in the evening, he was as
10 find neither meal nor wife
awaiting him. Searching for both, he made
his way to ihe hack room.
SO that is the way you treat your wife
after only few months of marriagei
Where is your fidelity. you who are al
ways talking about your manlincss?"
The woman is crazy" said Klki-Tsum
to himself, and then he added aloud
What ails you, Lili-TseeS Tell me the
meaning OF this nonsense"
"Nonsenscr' cried Lili-Tsee. "You
hide the portrait of your parainour in my
roso pot and dare dispute its sinful pur-
portg Take Il; watch over IL; carry it on
your heart. i don't want to SEQ it. The
ugly faccr'
" But l don't understand" gasped the
husband
"You don't don't your" cried the little
"Ah, but | understand it all.
You love that woman In the frame more
han myself.
Now 10 became Klki-Tsum's turn TO
grow angry. THAT picture" he said,
represents my late father. / found il
'omc time ago in my carriage. thinking
he gods had sent IL to me. To save IL and
Keep IL secure placed it in the rose pot.
You must think mo an idiot, !" cried
he wife. "IIave / not known your father,
md am unable to distinguish between
he face o. man and that of womanr'
The two continued their wordy battle,
which became more fierce every minute,
Until the neighbors were aroused They
cnt for the village priest to restore order.
The bonze came MY children, he said,
what are you qunrreling fors Tell mo
Il once, so may try to decide who is the
ypilty partys"
Father" exclaimed Lili-Tsee, "my
husband secretcd the picture of woman
n my rose pot. That caused all this trou-
lie.