Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-23

rissa stepped back in alarm. And the
kato fairly fell on the sheet and clutched
it to his bosom. With the tears still flow
ing down his cheeks, he pressed to his
Ups that exact spot of the paper on
which one of Clarissa's feet had rested.
My king! My kling.' he clamored.
1t was a picture of the mikado, of the
son of heaven. on which had rested the
profane foot of this foreign devil. The lit
tie mans patriotic heart was quite broken.
He left within the hour. despite the frantic
repentance of Clarissa.
My wife wept when she recounted the
tragedy to me. She bewailed her UNJUST
ness to kato-and was more patriotic than
before. Now, at last. she turned on me.
1t is pity" she remarked. meditatively
one night as we were on the point of re-
firing. that your folks didn't send you ~
West Point
Oh l replied, modestly, Il guess not
/ don't think l was cut out for a warrior. -
But Clarissa insisted. You would loos
splendid in a uniform, she continued. She
half closed her eyes and gazed at M
dreamily, while l Strengthened up and ex
banded my chest to the best of my ability
and, on the whole, was inclined to agree
with her.
Thus far the matter was agreeable
rather than otherwise. But new aspects
soon developed, and l was plunged int1
misery. In short, Clarissa formed habit
Of regretting that l was not soldier
When she urged the ,adness of my being
a recreant from all the traditions of my
race. I pointed out that the warriors were
Of her family and not of mine. This dis
mayed her for the time being, but the
respite was short She extended her re-
searches, and speedily produced an appall-
ing number of fighters in my own pedi-
gree. This left me defenseless, and !
could only sit in silent misery while Cla-
rissa remarked, mournfully: IF you were
only a general. now, or even a colonel.
with your figure" She really hypnotized
me by the strength of her own regret, un-
til l became source Of anguish to my
self, and felt that l, in my successful pro-
fessional career, had shattered the noblesi
traditions of my race.
Clarissa was tireless in her ways of en-
phasizing the splendors of war. She SANG
of armored knights and sanguinary chiefs
she played selections in which the bass
keys of the piano simulated the clash Of
arms; her literature was significant-innu
merable histories Of innumerable wars
extracts from which she would read to m,
in voice that vibrated between MARTA
sympathy with the narrative and keer
reproach for me. The novels followed
the same line of thought; even the pic.
lures on the walls Of our home gradually
changed. until they showed little besides
charging troops and the smoke of battle
Naturally. all this weighed fearfully or
my spirits. 1 realized that here was a
crisis that must be met. The integrity OF
our home was threatened. I determined
to rise to Clarissa's conception of my duty
as a man, patriot and a descendant
Once resolved on my course, FASTENED to
impart the glad tidings to my wife,
.'Clarissa,' l said, with conscious pride
your ambition is about to be achieved
Within three days 1 shall be soldier"
With cry of rapture Clarissa threw
herself into my arms. ''Oh, my dear" she
quavered, ecstatically. Il must tell Mrs
Tagglety at once. But after a moments
pause, how can you accomplish you.
noble purpose?''
Il shall enlist / explained.
''But-but you will be a private. Oh
Arthur, what disgrace to your august
ancestors. A common soldier.''
Il suppose l can rise" said, modify
What? Rise from the ranks?" Clarissa
questioned. "Oh, no. you couldn't do that
1 became indignant. Evidently my self
sacrifice was not accomplishing the hap
pest results. Moreover, l did not like
Clarissa's dogmatic assertion that 1t would
be impossible for me to rise from the
ranks.
Why not?" demanded.
Clarissa was explicit: why, you see
nobody ever rises from the ranks, in all
I've read, unless he distinguishes himself
by some action of wonderful valera sort
of Victoria Cross thing you know"
and why shouldn't l do something Vic
toria Cross like. l want to know? l guess
I'm brave enough. You forget the blood
that flows in my VEINS
But you would have to fight, so it Is
impossible" my wife replied. imperturb-
ably.