Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-08

faint soft light of an andou. He was an
old man. with white head strongly poised
on gaunt shoulders Broken in fortune
and in health the spirit of the samurai
burned inextinguishably in the fire OF his
sunken eyes. lie took her hand and drew
her down beside him, She knew what was
in his mind.
BE no longer troubled" she said. The
American Ojo-San is as lovely as Anna
terasu, the sun goddess, and as kind as
she is beautiful. 1 shall be happy to be
each day with her"
THAT is good" he said Yet take no
joy from it. You are the last of a family
that for a thousand seasons has served
none save its emperor and its daimyo."
81 am no servant" she answered quickly.
"Rather am /, in sort a companion TO the
Ojo-San, to offer her my tasteless CONVEX
sation and somewhat to go about with her
in this unfamiliar city. 1t is an honorable
way of acquiring gain and thus may UNI
worthily pay my support, for which now
from time to time you are brought to sell
the priceless classics in which your soul
exaltedly delights"
His face softened. Il have lived too
long" he said. MY hand is palsed--
l. a crossword man of the old clan! 1
should have died in the war, fighting for
Nippon and my emperor. But even then
was too dshonorably old! Why did not
the gods grant me son?-me, who
wearied them with sacrifces?"
She did not answer for a moment. Moth
ing in her cried out at this reiterated COM
plant, for she was OF the same blood II
she had been son. that wound I'm her
fathers heart had been healed. Through
I,.v. ~,
Her glorious death-name might even now
be written an Thai on the Budda-shelr,
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 l au-
gustly marry one lot Of too exalted a
station, he could receive adoption into our
family"
He looked into her deeply flushing face.
You think OF the Lieutenant Ishida He
taro,' he said. 1t is true that the GO
between has already degned to sit on my
hard mats. He is, ] think, in every way
worthy of our house. l would rather he
were in the field, with a sword in his
hand-"I know not much OF this Secret
Service What are his present duties?
Doubtless'-with spark Of mischief in
formed than T.
He is in the household of one named
Bersonin, man-mountain like our wres-
tiers whose service Japan pays with q
wage"
His face seemed clouded! ITO cum
ningly watch the foreigners incominRs
and his outgoings and make august report
TO the Board OF Extraordinary Informa-
tion' he said, with trace OF bitterness.
ITO play the clod when one is all eyes
and ears. Honorable It is, no doubt. yet
TO my old palate II savors too much
OF the actor strutting on the circular stage
But times charge, and it, TO live. we
must ape the foreigners why we must
borrow their ways TIN such time-the gods
grant It be soon!-when we can throw
them on the dust heap, And what am l.
u set my debased ignorance against my
princess and my emperor" lie .yaused a
moment and sighed. "Ishlda is well es-
teemed' he continued presently "He has
dwelt In America and learned it's tongue
a necessity, II seems, in these topsy-turvy
times. Yet as for marriage. waiting stul
must be. These are evil days for us. my
child. From whence would come the
gifts which must be sent before the bride,
10 the husbands house? Your mother
he paused and bowed deeply toward the
golden butsu-dan IN its alcoye-"may she
rest on the lotos-terrace OF Amida!-came
20 my poor house with a train Of coolies
bearing laquer chests; silken fton, kimono
as soft and filmy as mist, gowns OF cloth
and OF cotton, cushions OF gold and silver
patternings jeweled girdles. velvet san
dals and all lovely gsrniture. Shall her
daughter be sent 10 a husband with L
chest Of rags? No. no.
Go BE Conunued.l