Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-21

the labor Of years, started upon sight of his he
reditary friend.
"My Lord Satsuma, is It i'll with you?" he
inquired with solictudc.
He noted that the face Of Satsuna showed as
never before that its master would never live to
see the Restoration. This thought saddend him.
SatSima, though in some pain, smiled gently.
III indeed It is with me" he said
Keik reached out and impulsvey seized the
hand Of the old warrior pressing it with sympa-
thy that words could not have expressed
81 may not he with you," continued Satsuna,
"on the day of the bakufu's undong."
NAY, do not say So"
at is so, nevertheless" said satsuma. "1
must go before"
"My lord, it Is but the common lot--the COM
mon happiness of life to give up to cease to
struggle Your achievements have been many.
This rife by my hand, that cannon in the en-
brasure, all these will speak for you with terri
BILE effect after you yourself are long silent"
"Prince Ked, it is not for myself think thus
sadly of life and death. have daughter. We
are on the eve of war, the country is unsettled.
l cannot leave her unprotected to share its un-
certain fate.'
"But surely" said Keilii, with a mild surprise,
"your daughter will be well cared for among
her many honorable relations"
"Alas, no, that is not possible Her step
mother is i'll disposed towards her, and all of
her brothers are pressed into the Imperialist
vice."
''1'his is very sad said Keih, "and if it were
in my power to aid YOU would beseecb you TO
command me Immediately"
at is possible for your highness to aid me-"
said Satsuma, slowly.
"How? Let me know at once how can do
So"
"By permitting my Insignificant daughter to
have the personal protection Of so chivalrous
prince as your excelency."
"My personal protection!" exclaimed Keiki;
''but am engaged in the work Of warfare"
"True, but my lady would not distract you
from these tasks. Her presence in the fortress
need scarcely be felt"
Keiki sprang to his feet and began to pace
the apartment in a perturbed manner. Under
his thick brows old Satsuma regarded him
keenly.
"Nty lord" said Keiki, stopping suddenly in
his walk. "your suggestion gives me much pain, n,
because am unable to grant your request. Il
is quite impossible. This is not the place for
woman
Drawing himself up proudly, satsuma replied,
in a rufned voice:
very well, your excellency. You refuse me-"
After a moment, Keiki averted his face
and did not reply, he continued:
"I am an old man, travelling over the last stage
nf the journey of life. / had natural longing
to have with me in these my last days my be-
loved child. Hence, feeling assured that you
would not deny the wish Of dying father, |
took the liberty of bringing her hither with me-"
''You brought her here!" cried Keiki, in
amazement.
"She is Within" said the old Prince, quietly,
as he indicated the interior apartment.
With difficulty Keiki curbed his temper. Sat
suma had not long to live He would tell him
his secret: he would bare to him the source Of
his buried grief Thus his old friend would rec
ognize the impossibility of his being brought into
contact with any woman, and perceive how un-
fitted he was for the task of protecting her.
So it happened that while without a storm
ragged, and rainy blasts struck sharply into the
faces of the sentinels about the fortress, Keiki
related his story to his aged friend. Once dur
ing the recital the shoji moved then there ap-
peared in it two tiny holes. Once there crept
into the room mingled with the tempest and the
sentinels sharp cries without, muffed sob.
"You have passed through the hearts mar.
'rowest straits to the minds broadcast realm"
said old Satsuma: "but permit me to still insist
that while your highness' story has touched me
deeply, cannot agree with you that it shou1
be permitted to affect the fate of my daughter"
"You are right" said Keiki, gently. 'It must
not do So"
"You will allow her to remain here?"
eyes"
Satsuma bowed deeply and gratefully.
"The camp" said Keiki, thoughtfuly, "is no
place for woman, but here in my fortress she
will be safe"
"Your hghness," said Satsuma, with much
emotion in his voice. "no words of mine can
press the thanks of a grateful heart. Goodnight,
nv brave boy; the gods comfort and bless you"
In the adjoining apartment small figure,
half crouching by the dividing doors, sprang TO
its feet A girl ran to him with little cry and
threw her arms about his neck, pressing a little
wet fact gratefully against the heavily ilmned
one of the old Prince.
at is well" said Satsuma, patting her head.
"How can thank thee?" she breathed.
"By endeavoring to feel as if thou vert in
deed my own daughter instead of a distant rela-
tive But come, thou art pale, and your gar
ments are soiled and torn with travel"
"The Journey was long" she sighed. gancing
at the frayed ends of her kimono, "and do you
know, my Lord Satsuma." she added 81 could
scarcely hire a runner to carry me, because of
nv unworldly attire, and so ! was compelled to
make much of the journey on foot"
Meanwhile Keil<i sat alone, his hands clasped
before his ewes. All the bitterness of lifetime
welled within his bosom He was trusted above
men; at young years the idol of brave nation;
fate was bearing him upon wave Of the high
est destiny that could not fail to beat down
the rotten dikes of oppression. Yet all this
brought no peace, no happiness. He realized in
a mement the futilty Of all his efforts to put
The soul Of the Lady Wistaria out of his heart
Only in fierce action and strain that should en-
gross all his faculties could he even find tenn.
porary easement. After that, the gods pity him
After that, he could not live. There should no
longer be any delay There should be war, and
that speedily, perhaps on the morrow
u Vi