The morning times., 1896-08-16
~ THIS PAGE IS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

mulberry In front OF the door. gazing
vacantIy at the purple hills. His rosy
face had lost its color, and as be beheh
his father and the soldiers, great fear
came into his eyes. lie rose up, and as
he bowed to kiss the old mans hand he
cried:
20, father, what is this? Wig come
these soldiers here?''
II know not, son OF my heart" said
Haikaru, brokeBiy; '.tbey would see thee"
Yoritomo laid his hand lightly on the
boys shoulder, and looking straight in
his eyes. he said
Il would zee thy red scarf, Makoro,"
With pale face and trembling limbs the
child suffered:
IL have it not. my lord"
20. Makoro, jewel CT my home. what
is this? Hast thou lost it?'' walled Hal
karu.
Tie boy started 10 speak, then besi-
tated and looked down On the ground
while a tear trembled on his wan cheek.
but he answered nothing.
-Speak, Makoro,'' said the old man.
sternIy.
At this the child. who had never in
his short life been so roughly addressed
by his loved father, dropped oD his knees
before him and graspcd his hand, on which
he laid his wet face. sobbine:
20. my father, ask me not. csnnot
answer"
Here YoritOmo interposed:
.'Tis enough Come -witf1-as' 70 the lord
Daimio. Mayhap he viii find a way 10
make thee speak
And so, the lad between the soldiers and
the distressed father following, they went
down the hill in the gathering twilight,
and through the rice fields where lights
were twinkling from fishing parties whose
merry voices could be teard afar in tho
still evening.
As they reached the grounds about the
Daimio's palace they encountered great
crowds of servants and retainers, who
eyed them curiously and whispered COIN
Inents as they passed, for the bright, snil-
ing boy was a familiar figure there and
well liked for his gentle ways.
Entering the courtyard they made their
wa through double ranks OF silent spear
men into the judgment hall and up To a
richly carpeted platform where in the
light of innumerable lanterns swinging
from the roof and flariBg torches held by
scores Of guards sat Sanokesashun and
ON an inlaid table beside him lay :ed
silk scarf, embroidered with gold thread.
Yoritomo, bowling to the ground, present
ed his little prisoner with the report that
he refused TO say what had become u his
scarf
..'Tis weil,'' answered Sashun coI'iiy,
then fixing his keen, Clark eyes on the hoy
he seemed to bc studying him intently,
After 3 few moments pause he picked up
the silk and quietly said: Child, look on
this Is I your scarf?''
1T is, my lord whispered Makoro.
family.
Where hadst thou it last?''
Il wore il, great MASTER" sobbed the
boy, ION the evening Of the tenth day OF
Blossoms when i went with my fathers
permission TO the Hill Of the Suzuniu usl.i
tCrickets, to whistle against oni the Bad
with the other boys"
And them asked Sashun.
.Then-O. my lord. l dare not say any
thing more and his eyes wandered af-
frightcdly along the line of guards
The Dairuio turned To the father, who
stood trembling by his son, and said:
..Haikaru this scarf was found by the
guard VINO discovered the fire laid at the
corner OF The residence. II was lying On
the ground but a few spans from the flame
Now ask your son TO tell me how il came
there
Haikaru put his trembling arm around his
hoy and with a Chokin. voice. he said.
"Makoro, my only one. l command thee
TO tell the truth to our lord about this
natter
20, my father" walled the child, "never
have disobeyed thee in my life, but now
l dare not say anything" and again his
eyes wandered fearfully To the front rank
of the stolid guards.
"Makoro.'' said the Da;mio. gently, IF
thou hast fear OF any one by talking Will
protect thee. Obey thy father and me-"
The child wept> silently, but made no
sound.
Haikaru now stepped forw ard and, kneel-
ing down, held out lis trembling hands Ia
the Daimio and in broken tones addressed
him:
Dear lord and master. IL i have served
thee and thy house faithful and true for
forty years-and no man can gainsay til
entreat thee now to spare my title son. He
is under the influence of some evil one that
he now for the first time disobeys me AMI
thee. Spare him, and when this has passed..
as il will, ne will serve theee as faithfully
as have ever done.ss
Continued Next Sunday.