Putnam patriot., 1911-01-27

Celia's across the table for an Instant
1T is more of romance. although
there is a note OF tragedy hidden there
in
Tel it." they urged in concert. al
thought Celia SANKEY'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 hushand-in fact. il 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
wife
Ethan Stanley looked around the ia
Bile and with a slight stiffeniEg of his
shoulders proceeded TO tell his guests
the story of the stone lantern.
And So" he said in conclusion, his
eyes avoiding Celia's wistful gaze. '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
churias unfriendly solitGdes 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=
tiers from the trellises. The abode of
peace and joy has become the house
of sad memories
There was silence then for several
moments. Even Nasogi had paused
with extended tray, his beady eyes fas-
tened on the narrator's face with I'M
mistakable excitement. The converse
ton shifted to another topic and was
for the moment forgotten. The Japa-
nese moved neiselessly to and fro. the
impasSive mask of his face now and
then breaking into queer distortions
that might be construed as expressing
joy or sorrow or mingling of both.
Before they adjourned to the studio
for coffee and while they fingered at
the table the Japanese glided from the
room. When they entered the studio
he was standing beside the lantern
rubbing his hand on the stone in a
manner which in any other person
might have been construed as ges-
ture of tenderness.
"Excuser he said difidently as he
passed from the room. Stanley saw
his face and followed him into the
dining room.
What is the matter, Nasogi?' he
asked quickly. Have confidence. Re
member l am your friend. Are you in
trouble?''
A look of proud reserve froze the
emotion from the mans face; then.
with Stanley's encouraging smile, tears
came into the onyx eyes, and his head
bowed humbly.
Master. the story of the abode of
peace and joy! A soldier returned
from the wars TO claim his beloved
wife. Ere be reached home he was
confronted with the story that she be
lieved him dead and had married an
other, and rather than disturb his hap
piness and because he was jealous that
she had cared so little for his memory
the soldier turned back and went to
the new country that in another land
he might become wise and great and
learn to live without the love Of wom-
an And the place he came to was
a great city, and after a few years
had passed he served a new master,
one who brought into his studio the
very stone lantern that had once stood
in the soldiers garden in PARKWAY ia
pan The soldier recognized it imme-
diatelx but he did not understand I'M
til he heard his masters story
''You will want TO go home at once,
said Stanley heartily. Get your
things together. Nasogi and start to-
night Come to me for money before
You GO
"When my work is done" said the
man gratefully as he began te clear
the table.
"And the lantern, Nasogi-you will
want to restore that to the abode of
peace and jcyF'
Excuse" said the Japanese softly.
IF my honorable master will keep 1t
as a recollection of much happiness
he conferred upon a foolish servant it
will cause me gratitude, My garden
will have joy and peace even IL it
lacks the lantern" he said happily.
Mine Will have the lantern, while
1t lacks joy and peace" said Stanley
rather bitterly.
But Celia's hand was thrust through
his arm. and her soft cheek rubbed
against his shoulder
Cannot we have joy and peace and
the lantern. too. DEAR" she whispered
81 am so sorry, Ethan. ! wonder If
may not stay with you. | have never
had a word from you all the long
years. and
Nasogi had vanished. From the
studio came the first dreamy chords
from Clayton's violin and a low muir
muir of voices as the others talked.
Not another word. sweetheart.
murmured Ethan to his wife. I'VE
have both been to blame. We have
both suffered for our folly Together
we win start anew. with the stone
lantern to light our abode of peace
and joy
Ike His Gun.