The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-07-03
BY f. HADLAND DAVIS.

silent. am silent tonight. / love
my work. / love trying to impart to
children that which has delighted my
ownpsoul. And perhaps my greatest
joy is to see a child catch at the books
love and love them too. desire
only your happiness, Mine. If you
are happy with Tessan, / shall be
happy too"
"Yes, yes, my good friend. oh, I
am longing to see Tessan again so,
so muchl He will walk bravely with
a gun and sword, and ever so many
brave looks will come out of his eyes.
And he will be wounded a little
only a little, Hayano, for the honor
of Japan. Oh. there is another stand
ard besides the standard of battle.
It is called the standard of Love!" q
With a little cry of delight, Mine
jumped UP and ran quickly down the
hill.
Hayano still sat under the cherry
trees, and, with his eyes wide open,
he dreamed his dreams. Just as the
dawn appeared he, too, descended the
hill. No gladstone shout came from
his lips. He walked slowly, and
springtime tapped at his heart, and
every time he heard her tapping. he
said: II will not let her I'M"
II.
And Tessan came to the little vii
lage where Mine lived, and thrilled
her heart with battle stories, and
frightened her little with his de-
scriptions of how the Russians once
fired upon makeshift hospital, and
how a japanese soldier, made mad
with cruel wounds, did mock battle
with the trees. Much more she loved
to sail with her lover upon the river,
where the lilies grew, and where they
drifted into peaceful backwaters,
hidden with dropping branches that
had way of stroking the blue sky
with every breath of wind. Here all
the world seemed blotted out. She
forgot Hayano, and saw only the
handsome face of the brave Tessan.
1t was so these days passed by. In
due time the little village was gay
with a happy marriage-the marriage
of Tessan and Mine.
III.
A year went by. Mine carried a
merry baby boy upon her back. But
Mine was not merry. For the last
few months Tessan had grown cold
toward her. He used to go away to
Toxic and remain there for several
days. At last Mine knew why he
went to Toxic, and the knowledge
went deep down into her heart, and
left itsaching and sore and very lone
~. Once when Tessan returned to
her, he said that, as he did not want
her any more, he had obtained di-
vorce-a divorce because she did not
make rice quite as he liked it!
When the trouble came she thought
OF Hayano-Hayano the good but
neglected friend of hers. Many times
she contemplated asking him to meet
her on the little hill, and just as
often she tried to Danish the thought
from her mind. Why should she
trouble him now? And yet, eventual
~, she did write to Hayano, and he
replied that he would meet her.
And so it came about that on a
certain spring night Mine journeyed
up the hill, where the cherry blossom
hung like beautiful pink-white
cloud Her baby boy laughed at the
moonlight. Mine wished that he
would not laugh quite so much now!
How steep the hill seemed tonight,
and how long the way! She rested
many times on a bowlder, and once
she thought she would retrace her
steps. Then she caught sight Of
familiar figure looking in the direc-
ton OF the sea. Once more Mine
pressed YEARLY forward, nearer and
nearer to that calm form SO peace
fully waiting for her coming. 1t
seemed to Mine that Peace sat under
the cherry BLOSSOM, ana she wanted
Peace tonight. s,.bt8t stsass
Just as the little mother reached
her destination a cloud covered the
moon. She put out her hands eagerly
and touched the silent form.
Is that you, Hayano?"
Eyes, replied the man. II am so
glad you have come. I have not seen
n suesR