Middletown transcript., 1904-07-02
meant a great deal.

she was SO unfortunafe as to be laid uI
with the gout. Her loss was evidently
the gain Of her daughter, who suddenly
laid aside her preiudices and developed
mania for cribbage, much to the delight
Of Colonel Randolph and the distress
Of Mrs Medway, who had never favored
his suit.
About this time DIR. Eastman became
SO busy in official circles that he had
but little time to devote to his daughter
except in the evening so with Mrs
Midway i'll and the doctor absorbed in
/ the affairs of the nation, the young people
were left to their own resources.
1t is quite as impossible to resist hap.
piness in Japan as it would be for the
rice or tea to withstand the influence ol
the mellow sol, the rain and the sun.
shine, or for the flowers to forget to come
with the different seasons. And SO while
Mrs. Midway was nursing her gout and
| Railing at Fate, and DR.. Eastman was
engrossed in legation details, the foui
young people were enjoying life with 3
dolce far aiente that meant more to each
than anyone of the quartette would have
confessed to the other.
No word of loye-making passed be.
tween Richard and Katherine, and vel
by that indefnable law of affinity, each
felt sure of the other, and was happy
in the joy which tliis knowledge afforded.
With all the conservatism of Lee from
Virginia, Richard refrained from bring.
ing matters to climax between them,
and katherine, grateful for his good
sense, encouraged his attitude, though
she sometimes felt piqued by his non
committal ways.
No telling how long the affair would
have drifted in quiet waters had not an
incident occurred which precipitated
matters. This time Fate came in the per-
son of Ito Tanabe, prince by birth, a
scholar by training, and an artist by
profession. katherine met him at lega-
tion soiree, and charmed with his beau
tiful manners and dignifed bearing, she
granted him permission to call, privil-
ege Of which he availed himself the fol-
lowing afternoon and many days there
after.
"Dr. Eastman must be a fool to allow
that sort of thing" said Colonel Ran
dolph one day, after the plain English
way, when Katherine went forward to
meet her Oriental caller.
81 think so myself" answered Mr..
Lee savagely, the green-eyed monster
peering from his eyes.
Miss Midway laughed in tantalizing
way at their remarks, and the usually
mild Richard gIared at her.
"Why don't you speak for yourself,
John?' she quoted saucily, as he trans
terred his savage looks to Mr.. Tanabe.
His face crimsoned, but he made no re-
ply to the thrust.
Meanwhile, perfectly innocent of any
intentions to make Mr.. Lee uncomfort-
able, Katherine was enjoying herself at
the other end of the piazza.
Glow I love your beautiful Japan I"
she exclaimed to- Mr.. Tanabe. ''Do you
know it seems as if | have always lived
here? At any rate. feel as if had been
here before, long ago in the shadowy past"
MIR. Tanabe was transported to the sew
enth heaven Of bliss, and bowling very
low. he responded gently:
II am sure you have been here before,
honorable lady. Sometimes I think we
must have played together when We were
children" Then naiyely, "Why knows?
Perhaps it was, in some other reincarna-
ton, and you were japanese"
Perhaps" she assented doubtfully,
her eyes wandering down the piazza and
meeting pair Of brown ones that were
anything but passive.
When DR.. Eastman appeared in the
doorway with Mrs. Midway, who had
not been downstairs before in two weeks,
Katherine was glad Of an excuse to join
the others, whom she found planning for
the Fourth of July festivities on the
following day.
"Just count us out. please" said she,
when she saw that their plans
included herself and her father. Daddy
and | are going to Kamakura to see Dia-
butsu tomorrow
''Why, DR.. Eastman Y exclaimed Mrs.
Midway, reproachfully, "you told us that
you would be here to help us celebrate
You are deserter !"
"Now don't you scold Daddy, Mrs.
protested Katherine, ,serenely.
"He isn't to blame, for he did not know
he was going until this moment. / de-
cided for him; didn't l, Daddy" and |
she seated herself beside him on the rus
tic seat.
"such tyranny r. calculated Colonel
tragically.
"He isn't growing thin under it," said |
Miss Midway dryly. II believe be
rather enjoys it,"
Right you are, my lady" DIR. East
man answered, putting his arm around |
his daughter, who was explaining apollo
to Mrs. Midway that she de-
tested the Fourth, mot the spirit, of |
course, but the barbaric noises
"0h, but you have never seen real |
Fourth of july" broke in Mr.. Lee,
eagerly. "The celebrations we have in
The Occident are tame to the sort we have
here. DO stay and enjoy it with u.s.
Eyes, do Miss Eastman echoed Mr..
ranabe.
Katherine laughed outright at their
and replied mockingly:
Il, an American girl, have never seen
l Fourth of July? Well, just to prove to
you that | have seen at least one, Daddy |
md ! will sacrifice our feelings on the
altar Of friendship and remain in Yoko-
lama tomorrow. :"
The Fourth dawned beautifully, and /
lie Grand was favorite trysting place
III day. After the naval display between