The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-15
A TRIPLE PORTRAIT.

the agents and holpmates of civiliSation
completely unknown In Jowouslh On @.
count Of its all forlorn situation, which
enables the people to live SO happily asnans
themselves, Is the looking glass; One Day
several years ago party Of Ensfish teuys
lists passed through Jowouski In tkMr
usual hurried style, but sttrfa as ~ rate
long enough for one Of the ladies 10 lose
handglass in the jinrikisha In which she
had ridden.
When Kiki-Tsum, the owner of the ve-
hicle, saw his find, he looked 1t over In.
tsntly and with the most astonished face
In the world.
GAS I live" he cried, "this Is the por-
trait OF my dear father, dead these four
years! There Is his good brown face,
which always seemed to wonder at some-
thing or other; there indeed are bis pierc.
ing eyes, only he appears so much younger
and sturdier than he was when last knew
him. But what does IT meanP Perhaps
It's warning from the gods; perhaps It's
a present from some saint"
Kiki-Tsum wrapped the mysterious arti.
ole In his silk handkerchief and placed ID
carefully in the pocket of his wide shirt.
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, be
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 be left his bed or
his work to go and see If his treasure was
still in his possession. Lii ,Tsee, the
young mans lovely bride, could not make
out what brought her husband SO frequent
ly 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
explanation that he had come home just
to see her lovely face, but when he kept 1T
up day after day she grew suspicious,
"Wby should he appear with an anxious
face and leave with one stepped in impor.
tsnces" she unused. Still later she disc
cred that Kiki-Tsum before going out
made it a point always to remain in the
little back room for minute or two. The
key to his secret behavior must DO some
where in that room. Lili-Tsee made it her
business to Investigate, and there was not
q piece Of furniture or decoration in the
room she did not turn inside out, but her
work was all in vain. Finally she mouse.
trapped her husband at the moment he
was hiding the pot in which she kept her
rose leaves KikiTsum, like all guilty
men, quickly invented an excuse or ex-
PLANTATION 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 man!' said Lii, kissing
the deceiver goodby, but he had scarcely
got across the street when she clambered
upon chair and discovered-w A
mysterious something. She lifted 1t with
care and brought it up to her face to ex-
anime 1t. Oh, cruel truth, the portrait of
woman, and Lii had considered Xxi
Tsum a 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
woman with such faoe-eyes swollen,
cheeks pale and dirty, and now the eyes
expressed rage 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 Xxi Tsum
arrived home in the evening" he was aston
ished to find neither meal nor wife await
ing him. Searching for both, he made his
way to the back room.
$50 that is the way yon treat your wife
after only few months of MARRIAGE
Where is your fidelity, you who are always
talking about your lnanliness2'
'The woman is crazy" said Kiki-T sum
to himself, and then he added aloud:
"What ais you, Lili-Tsee9 Tell me the
meaning of this nonsense"
''Nonsense!'' cried Lii Tsee "You hide
the portrait Of your paraInour In my rose
pot and dare dispute its sinful purport?
Take it; watch over it; carry it on your
heart. don't want TO see it. The mon
ster-the ugly face!'
"But don't understand" gasped the
husband
You don't, don't you?" cried the little
woman. "Ah, but I understand it all.
You love that woman in the frame"
Now it became kiki-Tsum's turn to
grow angry. "That picture" he said,
represents my late father l found ID
some time ago in my carriage, thinking
the gods had sent it to me. TO save 1t and
keep it secure placed 1t in the rose pot. "
"You must think me an idiot" cried
the wife "Have not known your father,
and am unable to distinguish between
the face of a man and that Of woman?'
The two continued their wGTdy battle,
which became moro fierce every minute,
until the neighbors were aroused. They
sent for the village priest to restore order
Tho bonze came, my children" he said,
'wEat are you quarreling for? Tell me at
once, SO l may try to decide who is the
guilty parity"
Father" exclaimed Lili-T see, "my
husband secreted the picture of II woman
IN my rose pot. That caused all this trou-
ble"
Il swear l never possessed another por-
trait but that of my sainted sire" And
the husband raised his hands to heaven.
"Children, Children said the holy IA
ther with much dignity, before decide
your quarrel let me see the portrait
1t was handed to him, and the bonze
looked into the hand glass steadily for
minute Or longer. Then he shook his white
head and decided in voice ringing with
authority: You are both in tho wrong.
This picture represents Il venerable and
holy man. 1t is q wonder to me you did
not recognize the saint in it. will take
1t with me and place it among the holy
relics Of our church"
Then the bonze blessed the young couple
after Kiki-Tsum and Lili-Tsee had made
up and kissed and went away praising the
gods for the great discovery he had been
permitted to make Exchange.
Filled the Order.
"Here, Smitby! told you only to put