, 1906-04-19

and graceful la the blue water outside
the reef, or was it the Flag of the
Kissing Sum-" which, all day, over the
city had hung like a great bird with
beating wings, eloquent of Japan in
trouble? This he knew: His country
was bleeding and in desperate struggle.
He must go.
But how? 4
He was a waiter at the big hotel.
Aoto." said n soft voice as he
thoughtfully marshaled his glasses late
that evening-'Koto, they say you will
go to the war"
hoto turned and beheld the Japanese
parlor maid who had worked in the
same hotel with him for four years.
II he saw deliverance. 1t was no
time to think of love, he knew, as he
noted the droop of the .demure little
figure, the tremulous smile. She would
smile though her heart were breaking.
1t was the way of the women of his
country. and she would die for him if
need be, he determined. as he fingered
ON the pretty Arranged gface OF her
next remark. which fell in a voice as
soft as her apple cheek.
"hoto do you go to fight for .Iapan?"
Yes" he answered. with difficulty.
Il 50 to fight for Nippon. The aged
parents His face grew sharp.
Yes, koto." she colnforted. He bent
over his task, unable to meet her eyes.
If L, so unworthy, could be a daugh-
ter to the honorable parents she bow
ed formally, a fierce pain in her breast.
Beneath his well ordered Japanese
exterior Koto's heart gave a great leap
of relief and thanksgiving, but he only
said gravely. bowling low before the
woman's soft pallor: Il will marry
you, most honorable of women. Then
You will feel free to watch over the
aged parents, and if 1 die support
them"
The woman laid a pretty brown hand
oVei a.er heart, as if to quiet its tumult,
then said, smiling: You shall go to
fight for Nippon. The aged parents
shall he the first objects oil my I'M
worthy care
He bent over her hands in sincere
delight. Love was not for him. he
knew, and he knew that she knew.
Elencetorth he belonged not to him
self nor her nor to his parents. but
to Japan. 1t was not for the fine man
to show painful emotion, SO he said
simply:
Come, let US go to them
THE prince has drafted me, o my
father ard my mother!' He bowed
low.
THE emperor calls for troops,' he
faltercd miserably, aghast at their pal
lor. Then, snatching at his one ray
of comfort, he gently drew the woman
forward. Here is your daughter. She
will love you and care for you
The aged pair raised their faces,
white, unearthly, celestial. Bowling
low. the mother q%uavered: MY son. it
is the greatest of all glories to die for
Japan, but the soldier, the samurai.
must have no divided heart. Rejoice
with us and with our daughter tina We
may arm The SolGier with the gift O.
our unworthy lives, lest. thinking OF u,
he forgot his duty to Nippon. My SON.
here is your sword; it was your grand
fathers" .
Koto sickened as he beheld his des-
tiny. He %besought the uplifted face of
the m where she knelt. graceful,
and white checked. near the aged pair.
The faces of the three were resolutc,
rapt. radiant.
\ gentle rush of wine filed the room
with a flood of fragrance. Be"onl the
swaying curtain he noted, with the sen
sitive eye of anguish. a moonlit canoe
leap to the crest of the booming swell.
hang above the green abyss for a
breath and'in the next dash with the
momentum Of the universe through
spray and sea drift high on the tawny
sands.
Receive it." the delicate voice Gick-
cred as the red blood leapcd to her
deXterous stroke. Then, her fading
glance embracing the sacrifice. she
whispered, "ConsecrateQ."
By the sword there knclt until dawn
u captain Of the emperor's troops.
drinking deep of the vision that had
found him a light hearted youth ana
in Il few short hours had furrowcd his
sou with the throes of the patriot and
crystaiiized his life to its task.