Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17

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daughter of a family whose women have had
their honorable share in the affairs of the ma
| ton"
| True, but your house has stood always on
one side only. They have never deigned even to
hear the argument the pious, patriotic cry of the
other side'
"Ny housed Well my lord, and am
houseY
lie kissed the slender hand on the wndow.ledgc.
| 1t reached just to his lips,
| Nay | swear you are a goddess. 1t could
not be possible that one so good and fair would
favor an evil cause"
Evil? All, then. my lord, is the cause of my
| house an evil oneY
u should be traitor, my lady did take ad-
vantage of the friendly hospitality your house
has offered me to repay it by sowing seeds OF
mischief"
| But if the seeds were not lnischievous, my
lordY If they were worthy and good?"
| lie dropped her hand abruptly, and paced for
time up and down the small grass.grown walk
beneath her window.
In the shadow of the room behind the Lady
Wistaria another face appeared for the space OF
moment only. Long, lean, cadaverous It was,
wherein fierce eyes burned like living GOALS With
q shudder, Wistara clutched her hand over her
heart Back to her easement came the lover.
| My sweetest girl, do not let us discuss so
melancholy subject"
Melancholy, my lord? Nay, you would treat
me as child. You would turn my heart from
QrdcclcSS
it is too melancholy for me-"
"Lady, would turn your heart to the holiest
OF all subjects earth"
Ah, what is that, dear Keiki- No, no. no!
Pray excuse my honorable rudeness. Do pray.
my lord, rather perceive my intense curiosity in
the matter of which we have spoken. Then
when you have enlightened me- speak whatever
you will, my lord. I will listen.''
! "And concerning what am 70 enliohten
your"
"The question which cuts our country into two
bitter factions, each defiant and warlike towards
the other
Into the lovers face there crept vague, baffled
perplexity mirroring the thought beyond. CO.
quetry, OF desire for political truth-which sway
ed his love! If the former, there was no combat
ing it,; if the latter, then-why then he would
speak her true He said:
viii you tell me, then, whom you have been
taught to regard as the ruler of Japan?"
why, our good Shotgun Iyesada," she returned,
promptly.
"Yet he is not SO regarded by every one in
Japan"
"Why is that?"
Because there are many who would see our
rightful sovereign, our divine Emperor, upon the
throne
But, my lord his Imperial Majesty is, in
deed. already upon the throne, is he not?'
Only nominally I fear, my lady, that YOU
have not read the Dai Nihon Shi Of the Prince
of Mori?''
No but am much interested in it."
The history" continued the young man, with
vehement bitterness, "was purged repeatedly by
the Yedo censor of the Shotgun. 1t dared to
speak the truth to the people. / do assure you
it was not destroyed, however, before it had done
its work WELL"
How? Pray do tell me all about it,"
Have you never heard that pious--fanatical,
IT you will-cry, barely half-muffed war.cry
now, 'Daigi Heibunor'" 4" (the King and the
subject).
An exclamation escaped the lips of the young
girl.
."oh, my lord. do not speak SO loudly. would
feign warn you. II"
She broke off in her agitation. But her ap-
parent fear for him only filed her lover with
great joy. His voice softened.
'FlJ-wara, will you suffer yourself to listen
hereafter to a confessed traitor?"
Dear lord, traitor to the wrong?"
"Oh, dearest girl, can it actually be that YOU
sympathize with noble cause?'
II Tell me. do, pray tell me, with whom
does the young Prince of Mori sympathize?"
"Oh, the rascal is descendant of the Mori of
whom / spoke Just now."
And an adherent to his views?'
Possibly"
You do not know for fact" she urged trem-
ulously. Just to what party the Prince does
Iadhere?"
"Aly lady," replied the lover, with some con.
straint, the Prince has his pride of caste He is
also not without the inherited germs of patriotism
in his soul"
"And still they do say that he is as silly as a
butterfly and so given to frivolty that his head
can hold no serious thought
81 do assure you" replied the other, flushing
warmly, that our prince is not all he may seem"
"Aly lord, l have conceived the most over
whelming interest in this young Prince Mori"
Indeed" The young man started back in
humorous dsmay. The girl smiled now, lit
tie, dreary smile
BE assured my lord, that the interest is not
of a sentimental nature. But it would seem that
the young Prince surely born for great
purpose.
"Yes? inquired the other, eagerly.
"And that is. to follow in the steps of his
honorable ancestor"
"Oh, dearest girl, you fill my soul with ioyl
am ready to swear that your sweet heart beats
for the right-the noble cause to which,"
"The Prince Mor is sworn?" she interrupted
quickly.
"Ayl and all the patriotic sons of Japanl"
And what do these of Japan propose to
do? What are the plans of the Prince Mori?"
"AIy lady"
Pray, why do you start so, Keiki,sama?'
You ask weghty question with the same
llghtness you would bestow if inquiring about the
weather."
Then the tones OF my voice do me Injustice
Wlstaria, ] swear | will not speak another
word on this subject. No--not even to YOU"
But"
did arise an hour before the sun, think you.
to preach politics to my love?"
You recall the hour to me now II seems [
must bid you farewell My maid even now is
4Aw1w ~