Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-12-16
the HANDcLAss

One day party OF EnghsA toor1sts
passed through Jowcuski, in China,
and stayed long enough for one Of the
ladies' to lose a handglass in the jim
rikieha in which she had ridden.
When Xxi Tsum, the owner Of the
vehicle. saw his find, he looked 1t over
intently and with the most astonished
face in the world
as live" he cried, this is the por-
trait Of M dear father. dead these four
years
Going home. he hid the glass in an old
not of cart II. NW".e ANA SAID nothlng
about it to his yoahe wife.
During the next few days Xxi 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 IL his
| treasure was still in his possession.
Ldi Tsee, his wife, became suspicious,
why should he appear with an anx-
ious face and leave with one STEPPED
in importanceY' she unused. Still later
she discovered that Kiki Tsum before
going out made 1t point always to
remain in the little back room for a
minute or two. The key to his secret
behavior must be somewhere in that
room. Lii Tsee made it her business
to investigate, and there was not a
piece of furniture or decoration in the
room she did not turn inside out, hut
her work was all in vain. Finally she
mousetrapped her husband at the mo-
ment he was hiding the pot in which
she kept her rose leaves Xxi Tsum,
like all guilty men, quickly invented
an excuse or explanation of his carry
ings on. He lied. The pot had stood
on one end only. and he had been
obliged to correct the negligence of 9th
ers.
"Ah, yes, poor man." said Lii, kiss
Ing the deceiver goodby, but he had
scarcely got across the street when she
clambered upon chair and discovered
what? A mysterious something. She
lifted 1t with care and brought IT up TO
her face to examine it, Oh, cruel truth,
the portrait of a woman, and Lii had
considered Kiki Tsum a model hus-
band! 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 indigna ton, of wrath. Again
she looked for the portrait and now
wondered that Xxi Tsum could love a
woman with such face-eyes swollen,
cheeks pale and dirty-and now the
eyes expressed rage and contempt
Lii Tsee became frightened. No; she
would never look at the thing again
Then she grew Respondent. Life in
deed was not worth living, and ais to
cooking dinner, she could not think of
it. When Kiki Tsum arrived home in
the evening, he was astonished to find
neither meal nor wife awaiting him.
Searching for both, he made his way
to the back room. *'F'.r r."
$50 that Is the way you treat your
wife after only few months of mar
rage? Where is your fidelity, you who
are always talking about your manli'
ness?
1.-The woman is crazy said Xix
Tsum to himself. and then he added
aloud: What ails you, Lii Tsee? Tel
me the meaning of this nonsense"
"Nonsensew cried Lii Tsee. "You
hide the portrait of your paramour in
nv rose pot and dare dispute its sinful
purport? Take it. Watch over it. Car
~ it on your heart. l don't want to
see it. The monster-the ugly face"
!: But l don't understand" gasped
the husband.
you don't, don't you?" cried the lit
tie woman. "Ah, but l understand II
all. You love that woman in the frame. y
Now it became Kiki Tsum's turn tt
grow angry. THAT picture" he said
J represents my late father. l found II
some time ago in my carriage, thinking
the gods had sent it to me. To save II
and keep it secure l placed it in the
rose pot"
"You must think me an IDIOT" cried
the wife. Have not known your ia
Their, and am l unable to distinguish
between the face Of a man and that OF
q woman"
The two continued their wordy bat
tie, 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 al
once, so l may try to decide who is the
guilty party"
Father" exclaimed Lii Tsee, my
| husband secreted the picture of wo
man in my rose pot That caused all
this trouble"
II swear l never possessed another
portrait but that Of my sainted sire. y
And the husband raised his hands to
heaven. !" '."~ f't.