Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-10-17


be driven an outc;Ist upon the face OF
the earth, honeless and despised,'
And so ere nightfaIl was little Kane
branded with the curse of ingratitude
and sent forth an outcast forever.
Fair Umay, the daughter of the silk
weaver down the valley road, stood at
the edge cf her garden of poppies.
Suddenly she recognized Kame, whom
she loved. The lad was so changed
that she scarcely knew him.
But the young man, Slluddering at
the sound of her voice, sank to his
knees as he swept his hands before his
forehead, ''Oh. Umay-Sanr' he moaned.
go away, l pray thee. Go, that 1
may not defile with even glance one
so pure and good. For, behold, O
daughter of the just gods, am hence
forth an outcast, branded with shame!
/ struck my fatherI
"Oh, dear little Umay-san! Thou
whom love so much-thou wilt heark-
en- and believe me. Listen, pray
thee
And then he told her all, even from
the beginning, ending again and again,
1T was an accident-Oh. before all that
is sacred TO us, little mother of my
heart, it was an accident. 1 meant no
wrong. and yet, thou seest, here
And tragically he pointed with his pale
fingers to his crime stained brow.
Go to the shrine of our fathers yon-
DER" she whispered "There remain
PROSTATE before them while 1 go and
plead thy cause"
Soon did fair Cmay return, but her
heart was heavy. "He babe me from
his sight forever, even cursed me-"
she moaned. "Go thou forth into the
world, o Kame-san," she added, en-
bracing the penitent. "Go forth, but
take comfort, for in spirit 1 shall be
ever with thee"
he happened upon newly mustered
their way to the transport ships for
China and the wars, and his prayer
found willing ears.
The way was hard and the strife
one of peril and much blood. But step
by step. by valor and strength as well
as wisdom, Kame-san arose from the
ranks, for there was none such as he
now in battle-he was ever in the van.
At the siege of Port Arthur it was
Kame-san who led the charge through
the ranks of the enemy to the heights;
then at last, in hand to hand combat.
in which four Chinese swordsmen went
down before him. Kane himself was
wounded unto death.
Five months later fair Umay was
bowed in dreams among the poppies by
her native valley road when she saw
strangers moving Up from the sea.
There Were two men, with scarlet
crosses on their arms. and upon the
reed couch which they bore lay fig
ure, quite motionless and pale as death
itself. Though dressed in the garb of
an officer, his head was swathed In
bandages, the fond eyes closed.
"Oh, Kame-sanI My Kane -sanw she
walled. rs it indeed thou whom 1
love? Where hast thou been? What
means it all?" But the soldier re-
pressed her with gesture. Follow"
he commanded in weak whisper.
Nori-san. the venerable. was seated
before his cottage, bowed in thought.
He was contained by wonder of the
fate of his beloved son whom lie had
sent forth in anger, marked with a
curse, though he deserved it not
AS the litter approached and the
wounded one upraised. Kame's blur
ring eyes scarce recognized that bent
frame and attitude of sorrow.
The old man struggled forward.
Thou, my SOM" he faltered. rs 1t in
deed thou returned to me?" Outspread-
ing his arms, he sank from sheer weak
ness In the dust.
The soldier wrenched his body from
the litter, gaining his feet. Then lie
cried, Yes, father; it is indeed thy
son. But fear not, for the curse upon
his brow is wiped away in blood. Be
hold, Kame-san is again worthy of his
fathers and of thee, o beloved one,
though the price be soldiers life and
n maiden's broken heart!''
And thus did the hero of Port Arthur
snatch the bandagc from the matted
brow, disclosing the wound where the
black cross of shame had been slashed
away by the sword OF tile last defender
of the fallen fortress, and so fell dead
at his fathers fpet-Critprion