The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-01-23
THE HAND GLASS

uAu StdSeu loAS euouSu lOr Oue OIL Lue
ladies to lose a handglass in the fin
rikisha in which she had ridden.
When Kiki Tsum, the owner of the
vehicle, saw his find, he looked it over
fntently and with the most %astonished
face in the world.
CAS- l live" he cried, "this is the por-
trait of my dear father, dead these four
years.
Going home, he hid the glass in an old
pot OF earthenware and said nothing
about it to his young wife.
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, his wife, became suspicious.
"Why should he appear with an anx-
ious face and leave with one stepped
in Importance" she unused. Still later
she discovered that Kiki Tsum before
going out made it a 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, but
her work vas all in vain. Finally she
mousetrapped her husband at the mo-
ment he was hiding the pot in which
she kept her rose leaves. Kiki. 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 Lili, kiss
ing 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 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 reaso 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.
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 as 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.
$50 that is the way you treat your
wife after only a few months Of mar
riage? Where is your fidelity, you who
are always talking about your manli-
ness?"
1.-THE woma is crazy" said Kiki
Tsum to himself. and hen he added
aloud: What ails you, Lii Tsee? Tell
me the meaning of this nonsense"
"Nonsense..', cried Lii Tsee. "You
hide the portrait Of your paramour in
my rose pot and dare dispute its sinful
ry it on your heart. | don't want to
see it. The monster-the ugly facew
But | don't understands gasped
the husband.
"You don't, don't you?" cried the lit
tie 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 it
some time ago in my carriage, thinking
the gods had sent it to me. To save it
and keep it u 1 placed it in the
rose pot"
"You must think me an idiot" cried
the wife. "Have I not known your IA
ther, and am I unable to distinguish
between the face of a man and that of
a woman?
The two continued their wordy bat
| tie, which became more fierce every
minute, until the neighbors were
aroused. They sem for the village
priest to restore order. The BONE
came. my children" he said, "what
are you quarreling for? Tell me at
once, so 1 may try to decide who is the
guilty party"
"Father," exclaimed Lii Tsee, my
husband secreted the picture of a wo-
man in my rose pot. That caused all
this trouble"
81 swear I never possessed another
portrait but that of my sainted sire"
And the husband raised his hands to
heaven.
Children, Children" said the holy
father, with much dignity, "before I
decide your quarrel let me see the por-
trait"
1t was handed to him, and the bonze
looked into the handglass steadily for a
minute or longer. Then he shook his
white head and decided in a voice ring