Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-24

sent into bis own body.
why must we give up the shop. hon
orable mother?'
Go to sleep. Ishikichi," said his
mother Trouble me not so late with
your rude prattle."
but why, Okla San?''
Because rent money exists not small
pigeon she answered gently. $50 long
as we have ignobly lived here, we have
paid the banto who brings his joy CIV
ing presence on the first of each month.
Now we have no more money and can
not pay"
why have we no more money!"
because the honorable father Is sick
and you are too small to earn. But let
it not trouble your heart, for the gods
are good See-we have almst walked
the Aka-Sanl"
She bent over the pillow and began
again the elfin drumming at the in
fants ear. But Ishikichi lay open-eyed
on his fton. his baby mind graphing
with a new and painfuI wonder.
CHAPTER XII.
In the Street-of- Prayer the Gods.
Haru Unattached a gate across which
visited a plum-branch with furnished,
silver bark. 1t had a garden so Tiny
that It was scarcely more than a rounded
boulder set in moss, with a clump Of
golden icho shrubs. She rang bell
which hung from cord.
''FIai-ai-ai-eer' sounded a long-drawn
voice from within. and in a moment
little maid slid back the shoji and bob
bed over TO the threshold.
Her mistress stepped from her geta
into the small anteroon. A voice was
audible, reciting in a droning monotone.
It stopped suddenly and called Haru's
name.
She answered instantly, and parting the
panels. passed into the next room, where
her father sat on his mat reading in the
faint soft light of an andon. He was an
old man, with white head strongly poised
gaunt shoulders. Broken IN fortune
and in health, the spirit or the samurai
burned inextinguishably in the fire of his
sunixen eyes. He took her hand and drew
her down beside him. She kew what was
his mind.
.sBe no longer troubled" she said. ''The
.merican Ojo-San is as Sovely as ANA
terasu, the Sun Goddess, ard as kind as
she is beautiful I shall be happy 10 be
each day with her.
THAT is good" he said. Yet / take
no Joy from it. You are the last of
amily that for a thousand seasons has
served none save it's Emperor and its
daimyo."
II am no servant" she answ cred.
quickly. Rather am :. III sort, COM
panion to the Ojo-San, to offer her my
tasteless conversation and eomewhat 70
go about with her in this unfamiliar
city. 1t Is an honorable wav of acquir-
ng gain. and thus I may unworthily
pay my support. for which now from
time to time you are brought to sell
the priceless classics in wnlca your soul
exaltedly delights"
His face softened II nave lived too
long" he said. MY hand is palsied- ],
a crossword man of the old clani
should have died in the war, fighting for
Nippon and my Emperor. But even then
was too dishonorably old! Why did not
the gods grant me a son? me, who
wearied them with my sacrifices?"
She did not answer for a moment.
Nothing in her cried out at this reit-
Grated complaint, for she was of the
same blood. If she had been SON, that
wound In her fathers heart had been
healed Through her arm the family
would have fought. Her glorious death
name might even now be written on an
Thai on the Buddha-shelf, her glad soul
swelling the numbers of that ghostly
legion whose spiritual force was the true
vitality of her nation.
Perhaps that, too, might be-" she
said. presently in a low voice. Should
augustly marry one not of too exalted
station. he could receive adoption into
our family"
He looked into her deeply flushing
face. You think of the Lieutenant Ishi-
da Hetaro," he said 1T is true that the
go-between has already deigned to sit
on my hard mats. He Is, think. in ev-
cry way worthy of our house. l would
rather he were in the field, with sword
in his hand-I know not much of this
Secret Service What are his present
duties7 Doubtless''-with a spark of
mischief in his hollow. old eyes-''you
are better informed than t.
He Is in the household of one named
| Bersonin, a man-mountain like our
wrestlers, whose service japan pays with
a wage"
His scanned face clouded. ITO cum
ningly watch the foreigners mornings
and his outgoings. and make august re-
port to the Board of Extraordinary In
formation" he said. with a trace Of Bit
terness. ITO play the clod when one is
all eyes and ears. Honorable 1t is. no
doubt, yet to my old palate 1t savors
too much of the actor strutting on the
circular stage. But times change, ana
| IL. to live. we must ape the foreigners,
why, we must borrow their ways till
such time-the gods grant it be soon!-
when we can throw them on the dust
heap. And what am I, to set my de-
based ignorance against my Princes and
my Emperor He paused moment and
sighed. "Ishida is well esteemed" he
continued presently. HE has dwelt in
America and learned its tongue nee
essity, 1t seems. in these topsyturvy
times. Yet as for marriage. waiting still
must be- These are evil days for us
my child. From whence would come the
gifts which must be sent before the