Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-04-05

| were Watching him, auc ne became
| hlled with fear. Why should he be
watched? Had he done a guilty
| thing?
SO greatly did the fear swell in
him that he decided to take the letter
back to the place where he had found
1t, and drop it again in the road.
| But when he got to the place and
looked for last time at the writing.
1t give him such longing to keep it
| that he thrust it into his breast again
and hurried back to his shop.
That night a man came to sea
! I<imaga
Are you Kimaga, the maker of
vases% he said.
Kimaga, all trembling, replied that
he was
Them said the man, I have come
to you with high purpose. You have
letter which does not belong to
you. Give it to me.
Does it belong to YOU? asked
kimaga, his desire putting armor ON
his fear
That is not to be asked, replied
the man. I am samurai. For the
| glory of Nippon you mus give me the
letter
But Kimaga did not wish to let
the letter go. How do you know that
have it?' he said. You have not
seen it.
1t is enough that / know, said
the man. Three days l allow you. If
by then the letter has not been placed
on the altar of the war-god. in the
shrine Of Samiya. then you will be as
sassinated
With that the man went away.
"Kimaga was now almos' dead with
fright. For the first day he did moth
ing but weep. The second day he put
on mourning and set his affairs in
order. The third day he held the let
ter in his hand for many hours and
filled his mind with the beauty of the
writing. He could not give it up.
Rather would he die And at last he
/ placed it in lacquer box and buried
it deep at the foot OF the largest cher
ry tree in his garden
He arose to go back into his
house, an his head was bowed over
with terror. You see, he felt that
many eyes were watching him from
the nearby walls, an he thought he
heard breathings and the whispers Of
strangers. What should he do nowY
He dare not advance; he dare not
stay where he was. So exceeding af-
frighted was he that he groaned
aloud. From all about him came
groans that answered his. Once more
he grOaned, and once more his ears
were filled with the answers.
Then he took one step toward his
house. Nothing happened. He took
another STEP an his knees they shook
like the palsy. The breathings an
whisperings seem, oh, so much nearer
now. But he muster all his strength
an put out his foot for the third step.
1t did not reach the ground before the
vengeance struck him.
The next morning his wife found
him dead. His head had been severed
from his body"
The minister stopped and sat back
in his chair.
How awful" exclaimed the wom-
an who had asked for story
Not So" said the minister affably.
I'm serving my country, such things
mus be done. Kimaga should have
given the letter Don't you think so,
Mr. Orme?"
The parable was quite clear to
Orme. He understood the threat
I'm America" he said, drflY we
do not worship penmanship."
But an American might for uther
reasons keep letter that did nor be-
long to him
Not if he was honorable His
natural course would be to see that
it was delivered to the person for
whom it was intended. Certainly he
would not give it to any man who
could not prove his right to it"
Would he not? But If he were
told that he mus die"
I'm that case he would inform his
friends of the threats against h.n.
and they would see that his murderer3
were hanged. Assassination is not
popular in America, excellency"
Urine Qlu uOL dIL6upI 10 COuCG6l lh5
contempt in his words, and several OF
the listeners moved in their chairs. be-
traying their embarrassment.
Perhaps, then, Mr. Orme,' said the
minister, you could favor us with
story which would show the attitude
of an American in such fair
Orme laughed oddly enough he
replied, Il can give you just such
story-if you all care to hear it"
GO on" murmured one of the men.
TT happened to friend of mine"
said Orme HE had in his possession
a number of proxies, the use of which
would determine the control OF
a certain corporation. While he was
carrying these proxies to the country
house of the man to whom he was to
deliver them, he was attacked by a
man who was acting for another fac
ton. This man secured the advantage
over my friend and, robbing him OF
the proxies, jumped into waiting
motor car to make his escape"
"And did he escape?" the minister