Rock Island Argus., 1911-01-18

and had been Celia's. too, before she
and Stanley had quarreled and sep
arated. Celia had returned to her par
ents, and Stanley had gone to Japan
and lately had returned to occupy the
studio alone Under the circumstances
he rather wondered at the Claytons
bringing along a strange girl.
Years of travel and hard work had
not softened the blow of Cella's de
sertion after the bitter. foolish little
disagreement. He had written once,
but she had never replied 10 it. He
tried not to think Of her. In that way
alone there was peace Of mind.
Exactly at $50 the elevator stopped
at his floor, and Nasogi threw open
the studio door to announce the guests.
Maud Clayton and Bessie Lester came
in first, and close behind them was
third figure, at the sight of which
Stanley's heart jumped into his throat
and stayed there for awhile. Bob and
Tony brought up the rear, covering the
awkward situation with frivolous talk
snd laughter.
shall we take or our things in here,
CthanT called Mrs. Clayton over her
shoulder, one hand on his bedroom
door.
Certainly, You all know the way.
Celia" he found time to murmur as
her hand rested in his for a brief in
slant, this is a surprise-a pleasant
surprise"
Il am glad you feel so," she breath
ed quickly. They urged me to come.
and l gave way to the impulse" Then
che bod NTH tho nfbar
women, while her husband Joined the
men at the fireplace.
At table there was much curiosity
about the stone lantern. FLANDERS
has one that he picked up in the
Aomori province. 1t has all sorts of
a history-battle, murder and. sudden
DEATH" remarked Bob Clayton to his
host
Mine has a more modest history"
hesitated Stanley, his eyes meeting
CeIia's across the table for an instant.
at is more of n romance, although
there is note of tragedy hidden there
in
Tell it." they urged in concert. al
thought Celia Stanley's voice was
scarcely heard.
Nasogi, with his strange intuition of
things as they should be, had arrang-
ed the table so that Celia sat opposite
her husband-in fact, IT was her old
place as the mistress Of his household,
only it so happened that Nasogi had
never before seen or heard of Celia,
nor did he know that his master had a
wife.
Ethan Stanley looked around the ta-
BILE and with a slight stiffening of his
shoulders proceeded to tell his guests
the story of the stone lantern.
And so." he said in conclusion, his
eyes avoiding CeIia's wistful gaze, 1.-The
abode of peace and joy lies desolate.
The widow, broken hearted because
her loved one did not return from the
war, makes her home with her indul-
gent parents, and somewhere in Man
churia's unfriendly soitudes there lies
the one who did not return. In the
studio yonder is the stone lantern that
lighted the garden at night when the
plum trees We're in bloom and when
the wistaria hung in long purple clus-
ters from the trellises. The abode of
peace and joy has become the house
of sad memories"
There was silence then for several I
moments. Even Nasogi had paused /.
with extended tray. his beady eyes fas- |
tened on the narrator's face with un- I
excitement The conversa- /
ton shifted to another topic and was .
for the moment forgotten. The Japa-
nese moved noiseiessIy to and fro. the .
impassive mask of his face now and 4
then brea king into queer distortions
that might be construed as expressing
Joy or sorrow or a mingling Of both.
Before they adjourned 10 the studio
for coffee and while they fingered at 4
the table the japanese giided from the
room. When they entered the studio
he was standing beside the lantern
rubbing his hand on the stone in a
which In any other person
might have been construed as a ges-
ture of tenderness.
"Excuse" he said difidentIy as he
passed from the room Stanley saw
his face and f9llowed him into tina
dining room.