The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-03-03

Ethanr called Mrs. Clayton over her
shoulder. one hand Oh his bedroom
door.
Certainly You all know the way.
Celia" he found time to murnur ds
her hand rested in his for II brief in
stant this is a surprise-a pleasant
surprise"
81 am glad you feel So she breath
ed quickly. "They urged me to come.
and gave way to the impulse" Thrn
she had disappeared with the other
women, while her husband joined the
men at the fireplace.
At table there was much curiosity
about the stone lantern. "Fland ra
has one that he picked up in the
Aomori province. 1t has all sorts Of
q history-battle, murder and sudden
DEATH" remarked Bob Clayton to his
host.
"Mine has a more modest history"
hesitated Stanley, his eyes meetin;
Celia's across the table for an instant.
at is more of a romance, although
there is a note of tragedy hidden there
in"
Tell it," they urged in concert, al.
thought Celia Stanley's voice Vaa
scarcely heard.
Nasogi, with his strange intuition o.
things as they should be, had arrang-
ed the table so that Celia sat opposi g
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
wife.
Ethan Stanley looked around the ta-
BILE and with slight stiffening of his
shoulders proceeded to tell his guests
the story of the stone lantern.
"And So" he said in conclusion hia
eyes avoiding Celia's wistful gaze, "thc
abode of peace and joy lies desolatc.
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 solitudes there lies
| the one who did not return. In the
studio yonder is the stone lantern THAI
plum trees were in bloom and when
the wistaria hung in long purple clus.
| tc.s from the trellises. The abode o..
peace and joy has become the houss
of sad memories"
There was silence then for several
moments. Even Nasogi had paused
with extended tray, his beady eyes fas-
| tano1 on tbo norro tnr'c fnoa with nm
mistakable excitement. The conversa-
ton shifted to another topic and was
for the moment forgotten. The Japa-
nese moved noiselessly 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 a 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 q ges-
ture of tenderness.
|
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 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 he 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
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 faraway ia
pan. The soldier recognized it imme-
diately, but he did not understand un-
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 60"
"When my work is DONE" said the
man gratefully as he began to clear
the table.
And the lantern, Nasogi-you will
want to restore that to the abode Of
peace and joy"
Excuse" said the japanese softly.
"If my honorable master will keep it
as a recollection of much happiness
he conferred upon a foolish servant it
will cause me gratitude. My garden
win have joy and peace even if it
lacks the lantern" he said happily.
Mine will have the lantern, while