Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17

peep its head above the soil. Now the land was
covered with u mantle so soft and tender that its
young life seemed thing that it were wanton
to crush beneath the feet.
Early, early in the morning, before the birds
and flowers had cooked up their little heads to
seize the first sun-kiss, lover stood in garden
all made of gently slopng hillocks, crowned
with trees whtened as if frost.laden, with the
full bloom of the cherry and plum. And the
lovers voice called softly and tenderly TO his
lady's easement:
Lady Wistaria! My sweetest Wstaria!'
At first there no response. Moving nearer
the easement, he called again:
Sweetest, dearest one, will you not come TO
your window for a minute--but fraction of IA
minute?"
Softly hand slid back the shoji-a slender,
small, expressive hand Of perfect form and con-
tour, and then young girls face appeared at
the opening.
Speak to me at once" implored the lover,
''for but moment since | thought you spirit.
Dearest one, assure me that my passion is not
in vain, and that my eyes deceive me when they
fancy that yours are sad.
Her voice faltered and trembled at first, Grad
ually she steadied it,
My honorable eyes, she said, ''are not al.
WAYS faithful mirrors of my heart Yes, indeed,
you will see that--that they do smile"
Yes he replied, regarding her somewhat
wistflllly, sit is true. They do smile, and
yet" lie hesitated. "You do not appear happy,
Fuji-wara."
A straroA little laugh escaped her lips. But
she made no reply She had turned her eyes
from his, staring out before her. As the trouble
deepened in the lovers eyes, he reached up, touch
ing very gently the small white hand on the sill.
The light touch of his hand startled her. Before
he could speak she had recovered herself, leaning
farther over to him. Her words sounded strange.
ly harsh
my lord. do let us resume conversation
concerning this brave cause to which you adhere.
He flushed warmly
1T seems incongruous," he replied, after a
moment, 'that tender maiden should be in-
terested in political conflicts"
THAT is very unkind, my lord. You do not
credit me, then, with amy other quality appar-
emily, than that of pale softness. Indeed, my
vanity has saved me from the knowledge that the
gods have been most unkind."
"Nay do not speak So" he teudery child her.
OF late he had chafed not little at her persist
ent waving aside of all tenderer subjects to dis.
cuss those of larger import to men alone.
'We then" she persisted, "say that / am
capricious whimsical, what you will. But do,
pray, humor me, and If | find it necessary
She stalnemred over her words-''if find it in
teresting to discuss such matters, pray allow me
to do So"
"Do So then, at once, dear onel / am all
ears to listen and all tongue to reply"
"Pray tell me, then, are you truly an I'M
perialist at heart, or merely SO in name because
you are MORT"
'Pray tell me where my insignificant sym
pathies should lie, and there l swear to you shall
they be-"
She protested that he but begged her question.
Dear Wistaria." entreated the lover, 81 pray
you do not disturb your gentle bosom with these
questions which are meant for soldiers, not for
maidens."
"Nay, then" she replied, and there We're tears
in her voice now, "why will you persist sog You
are quite wrong, too. Let me repeat; l am the