The Washington weekly post., 1900-06-05


In truth. Il fitted his notions al well
enough, since he wanted 70 keep KORo 10
wait on him when the old woman feu
sick. as she did every now and then
For my part l think that that arrow
which IS shot farthest is quite near
enough-it can't be over ten PAGES" went
on Koko.
Twenty, twenty" answered the old
man, 81 measured II. The other side 90
the sail bush-nsver nearer"
mo doubt he could shoot Il nearer. but
he Is AFRAID Of hitting you as you sit
here" said the girl
.HO. no. cried the old man: I'D Ike
to see him do it,
We'll, twenty IS near enough-Tm will
ing 10 throw of the other seventeen"
answered the girl
Her words aroused the old mans sus-
picions. as Il Nahsig who shoots that
arrow TO the bush?" he asked.
How should l know answered the
girl. Besides. what do l care? It's my
duty TO take the husband that my father
chooses. Ike a good daughter"
Then you don't care for Nahsig?'
Not In the least"
And he doesn't care for you2"
81 suppose not"
''Then he can't be taking the trouble TO
shoot"
''Of course, he Is shooting every day,"
The truth Is that the old man didn't
like Nahsig. since he knew that the other
could shoot almost as well as h. could
himself. and that some day he would
shoot better
II happened the next day that Nahsig
said 10 himself flor Il was really he VINO
Nr.nH Lei
no use for me TO try any longer TO plant
an arrow within three PAGES Of that o.
rascaTs door l must get help" so be
went to the cave Of old Somg0. the bes-.
Now old SomgO WAS really a demon 80
had been condemned by the king OF tue
mountain TO take the form of a very n'.s-
shapen bear for being. while demon. no
better than he ought 10 be: but no one
knew this. NahSig laid the whole case ne
fore Somgo and implOred his help. Go
and make bow twice as stiff as the one
you now have" answered the bear.
But l could never draw ii, answered
Nahsig.
Did you come here for my help or "a
tell me what really know growled the
bear
So Nahsig went of and did as the bear
told him.
Now Il happened that Old Somgo was
just as much in love with KokO as any 81
the rest Of them, but being only bear a.
the best, and demon who was no better
than ne should be at the worst, he knew
he could never hope to win her So what
should enter his heart. which was not ~
much unlike the heart of devil, but this:
that If he could not have her himself no
one else ever should.
Wall Ia do 10 ha,
pen but that KOko should say to herself.
He's truly the dearest and the hand
soonest and the best man In the world, but
the truly dearest and the haudsomest and
the best man in the world can shoot no
farther than he can. 1t seems 10 ma thar
1t would be very proper to get help" 81
she went TO a pool hard by and laid the
whole case before the head stOrk OF the
place and implOred assistance.
THE matter Is simple a. eels," answer
ed the old stOrk. Il will take my place
behind the sail bush and when his arrow
comes down swift as the wind. | will eaten
IL in my beak before it strikes the ground
and cast it over at your door. Ho, hs.
you did quite right to come TO me-. quite
right. I'm the sharpest creature here
about" For the st0rk also loved KOko.
but having good heart he was willing 10
help her.
SO the stork went and took his place be-
hind the sail bush when old Nantoneka
wasn't looking. and cooked up one eve fOr
the arrow. but with the other on Koko.
who stood in front of her door. more beau
tiful than ever before, 80 that the winds
turned from their course in order 10 touch
her Gneek
Nahsig came up toward where the gold.
tipped arrow stood In the ground. Soon
Somso started out from some bushes anJ
began creeping ei9ss sshind hin 80 Lhgl
ne could not be seen from old Nantonrkl',
mousse. The young man placed his knee
against the arrow In the ground Then
Somgo rose up and put his paw against
Nehsig's left elbow and seized the other
with his right claws and drew the arrow
back TO Nahsig's ear. Twin-n-u-n-n-g.
went the cord, and the arrow shot away
faster than the light when II comes over
the mountain in the morning after rain;
and the wicked bear MADE off. even with
his demon heart unable to look upon
what he had done
Fer the arrow, going like the sunbeam.
was speeding straight for the bosom Of
KOko, standing there too beautiful to tell
over th- old stOrk IL whiZzed like light
ming. This Old grandpa made mighty leap
for 1t, but his great bill cIapped together
on Itself like the swapping OF the bamboo
fhe cruel arrow found its mark ana KO-
ko fell down ar one whom her friends
would bear out 10 TIE grave
Nahsig had seen what would happen
when IL was too late He had thrown
down his bow and followed little less swift
than the arrow Itself when he came up
and saw the very terrible thing which was
done he stood and cried out: "NantOneka
take Uiumeet and shoot me through"
The old man leaped up and seized Ulu-
meet and drew an arrow 70 his ear. But
just then the stork, getting his poor wits
together at last. rushed forward and cried
In his own language which they all under
stood, Hold" and he seized the arrow
In the bosom Of Koko and plucked II out.
and then snapped of a wind-bell blossom
and said: The kOkO Is her own flower.
and must love her more than any OF Us,
and cIapped it over the wound and the
blood was stanched and the girl opened
her eyes and sat up. Nahslg rushed up
and knelt beside her and ciasped her !u
his arms.
Hail. cried the old man. why did you
never shoot 50 well befOre|'
Il have always been AFRAID 10 let my
self out" said Nahsig.
But didnt / see ola SDmBo behlnd
YOU" asked AantOneka with scOWl.
Yes. he tripped me a. / drew back the
rroW 20 nay ear. otherwise IL had gone
over the house and harmed no one
So they were married, and the Old stoTk
came and danced taOi on ths green be-
fore the house. very aWkWardly, and his
bill clatteFiDg a good deal. bu; ne meant
we'll enough Then the wedding company
went. with NahsIg at the head, and hunt
ed out the bear who was really The demon
less good than he should BE-. and shot him
with a flight OF arrows Ike grass stems
driven before The wind. and ne wSs az a
man Il when no longer alive.
Copyright 1900 DAILY Sl0fy Pl5llsAlHg COMPANY