Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-19

hours of your little daughter. Nothing like making
things doubly You know am older than YOU"
And of course the young woman bowed to the judy
ment of the elder according to the time honoed usage
in Japan
so, when little after midnight officer led the
- Korean into the empty cabin the wife of
Charmed Life waiting for them On the bench
beside her a candle burning. 1t picked out the
pale features OF the woman who sat waiting timdly,
ginger1y afraid. The cabin had other furniture
than the rude wooden bench. 1t had wooden floor.
but plain, COOL hard earth.
After the exchange of formal salute the officer left
the two in the uncertain light of the single candle
When she heard the steps of the officer outside the
cabin, the Korean sunk to her knees the earthen
floor prostrang all the Korean prisoners wont
do in the primitive of their country. The
wife of Charmed Life stepped to her at once bowed
tremendously; then seeing that the Korean did not
lift her head from the earthen floor touched her Shout
der with the tip of her pink finger Then her pale fea
lures tense and drawn second melted in the daint
est of smiles in the world She turned her open hand
palm upward and motoned the prisoner to the bench
which she had been keeping company with the soil
tary candle Courtesy is courtesy and nowhere should
it put its holiday costume scrupulously than
field of honor She young, this Sendai woman;
she of the New Nippon. All the same, it in her
blood; the centuries of her Samurai training it seemed
could not be washed away from ones nature within
generation.
The Korean woman lifted up her head; but seemed
wonder struck; light of understanding in her
eyes.
"The BENCH" said the wife of Charmed Life, 3wont
you degn hang your honorable waist?" Bowling she
waved the prisoner with her open palm
toward the bench.
The Korean woman was dumb with amazement as
the meaning of the Japanese broke slowly upon
her understanding. Without word she shook her
head from side side and Frustrated herself more
THE wife of Charmed Life resumed her seat beside
the Pickering candle. She said to the Korean,
"Have you a dagger"
The Korean raised her head and stared.
1.-THE dagger, is it in your girdle?' repeated the
avenger:
steady, calm, unafraid NO. the dagger the officers
took away from me, the dagger with your husbands
blood"
aYou are unarmed, them"
4Yesn
aHere, then, take this, and walking over to where
the Korean sat. the young woman Offered her short
dagger The Korean did not take it; she only stared
at it. speeches.
aDeign to take it. 1t is of the same temper as mine
See?" So saying, the wife of Charmed Life pulled out
SO that the Korean might Judge with her eyes
@But, why-why should l take the dagger? l am to
die at your hand this night" said the Korean simply
3But you must! And deign to rise"
@Why?" and in the steady voice Of the Korean there
was note of defiance.
u am not your executioner."
@But you to avenge the death of your man,
as l have done last night-ah, how deeply my dagger
struck home!" said the Korean
dyes, am to avenge yes! Take the dagger
@But why? / ready to die. | have done my
work. l satisfied. Do your will!' Her glare
as defiant as her voice. Il don't the dagger"
3But have told you am no executioner. And only
the executioner strikes at the unarmed. Dshonor my
dagger Make haste! Rise and face me! My enemy
must be armed and ready when strke!"
"But-but l struck your when he was asleep
and from"