The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-16
A TRIPLE PORTRAIT.


moved from outside influences. Among
the agents and helpInates of civilization
completely unknown in Jowcuski on ao-
count of it's all forlorn situation, which
enables the people to live so happily among
themselves, is the looking glass. One day
several years ago a party of English tour
lists passed through Jowcuski in their
usual hurried style, but staid at any rate
long enough for one of the ladies to lose a
handglass in the jinrikisha in which she
had ridden.
When kiki-Tsum, the owner of the We
hicle, saw his find, he looked it over in
tently and with the most astonished face
in the world.
GAS live.'' he cried, "this is the por-
trait of my dear father, dead these four
yearsl There is his good brown face,
which always seemed to wonder at some
thing or other; there indeed are his pierre
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-
Gle in his silk handkerchief and placed it
carefully in the pocket of his wide shirt
When in the evening he arrived home, 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-Tsun said nothing to his
young wife about his adventure, for, he
calculated, women are too curious and
too talkative, and 1 do not want all the
neighbors' advice of my good or bad luck,
whatever it 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 or
his work to go and see if his treasure was
still in his possession. Lili-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' 8
explanation that he had come home just
to see iier lovely face, but when he kept it
up day after day she grew suspicious.
"Why should he appear with anxious
face and leave with one stepped in impor-
tance?'' she unused. Still later she discov-
cred that Kiki-Tsum before going out
made 1t 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-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, but her
| trapped her husband at the moment he
was hiding the pot in which she kept her
rose leaves. Kiki-Tsum, 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.
"Ab, yes, poor man!' said Lii, kissing
the deceiVer goodby, but he had scarcely
got across the street when she clambered
upon a chair and discovered-what? 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 a model husbandl 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 a
woman with such a face-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 Kiki-Tsum
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 you treat your wife
! after only a few months of marriages
/ Where is your fidelity, you who are always
talking about your manlinesss''
1.-The woman is crazy" said Kiki-T sum
to himself and then he added aloud
what ais you, Lili-Tsee? Tell me the
/ meaning Of this nonsense
"Nonsenser' cried Lii Tsee. you hide
the portrait of your paramour in my rose
pot and dare dispute it's sinful purport?
/ Take it; watch over it; carry it on your
heart. don't want to see it. The mon
ster-the ugly facer'
''But 1 don't understand gasped the
/ husband.
"You don't. don't your cried the little
woman. "Ah, but 1 understand it all.
You love that woman in the Frame
Now it became Xxi sum's turn to
grow angry. "That picture" he said,
represents my late father. I found it
some time ago in my carriage, thinking
the gods had sent it to me. To save it and
| keep it secure placed it in the rose pot. -
"You must think me an idiot cried
the wife. "Have not known your father,
and am 1 unable to distinguish between
the face of man and that of woman?'
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.
| The bonze came. ''My children, - he said,
'"what are you quarreling for? Tell me at
cnce, SO l may try to decide who is the
guilty party?''
Father" exclaimed Lii Tsee, "my
husband secreted the picture of a woman
in my rose pot. That caused all this trou-
! ble."
81 swear I 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 see the portrait -