The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-01-21
The Stone
Lantern
And How II United Two
Families
BY CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
chiffon. 1911

priceless oriental rugs were straight
ened. the window draperies carefully
adjusted 10 admit the fading glory OF
y reflected sunset. and Nasogi vanished
from the room at the moment Ethan
Stanley entered from the adjoining
bedchamber
The young man surveyed the luxuri-
Gus appointments Of the studio with a
disconnected frown on his handsome
face. With knitted brows &c crossed
the room to the easel where his Last
picture was hidden bS a curtain.
Presently he dropped the curtain and
turned 10 fiud the japanese standing
at attention I'm the doorway.
what is it. Nasogig" asked Stanley.
THE telephone calls. sir, replied the
man.
"Who Is it,"
"Mr Clayton, sir
"Ah, how are you, BObT' Stanley
was saying over the wire. Certainly.
Delighted. Bring the whole crowd.
was going 10 dine alone, but Nasogi
is n magician and can spread feast
for dozen. Elght-thirty. Good BE
sure to bring your fiddle. Goodby.
"Nasogi. Mr. Clayton and four friends
will dine With me tonight NJ $50.
There win le three ladies In the com
pany Can you manage it in three
hoursT lie looked nc his watch
Most certainly. sir. II viii be-
ready AT the hour / viii go TO the
market again Immediately" In an In.
slant the Japanese had bowed himself
from the room and Stanley was alone
lie flung himself into deep chair and
lighted pipe.
The pagoda shape OF stone lantern
was outlined against the twilight
space OF the window aud reminded
Stanley of the gray day he had first
seen It in neglected garden beyond
the gates of Tokyo. 1t was what he
had been looking for ever since he had
come 10 Japan He might have bought
Il score OF stone lanterns I'm the orien-
tai shops OF New York, but his par
ticular stone lantern must be found
by himself In some place where II had
stood-in the garden Of some rome or
among the ruins ~ :, temple. These
things have associations or they could
find no place IN his collection.
lie r.. .nembered the day. gray with a
fine mist Of rain. He had bowlcd out
Of the city with his favorite rickshaw
man between the shafts, and when the
first light shower came the runner had
turned into tiny tangled garden
where small house stood deserted
among the plum trees.
As Stanley found shelter In the We
randa he spled the stone lantern near
~ overgrown with some clinging vine.
"who owns this houser he asked
quickly
The runner named a man in the
neighborhood. 1T was his daughter
who lived In the house with her hus
band They were newly married, and
they called II the abode Of peace and
Joy But the husband went away TO
war, and he never came back. The
daughter lives with her parents, an in
consolable widow, and the little house
IS place OF sorrow"
Stanley thought over the little trag
cdy that had been briefly played out
here. and then when the rain had stop
ped he sought the house of the owner
and found il easy TO purchase the
stone lantern
MY daughter will be glad II
grieves her to see even "A distant
glimpse Of her former abode, shall
tear down the house one day ana turn
the place into a playground said the
dignlhed old gentleman.
u was dark now, and his pipe had
gone out Stanley switched on the
clcctrics and then extinguishcd them.
lighting Ga their place several softly
shaded lamps
As he dressed for dinner he won
dered idly who the girl was that the
ClaytOns were bringing with them
Bob had said II was friend OF his
wife's. ana Mrs. Clayton had so many
friends 10 was useless 10 puzzle his
head over that The other couple were
TIC istNAtINs liz AlhN ibtin hiiu Aut
Testers were his most intimate friends
and had been Cclia's. too, before she
and Stanley had quarreed and sep
arnted. Celia had returned 20 her par
ents, and Stanley had gone 20 Japan
and lately had returned 10 occupy the
studio alone. Under the circumstances
he rather wondered az the Claytons
bringing along strange girl
Years 81 travel aud hard work had
not softcnod the blow Of Ccllns de
sertion after the bitter. foolish little
disagreement lie Ind written once.
but she had never replied % a. lie
tried not 70 think ~ her IN that way
alone there was pence " mind
EynctlT az S.aO the elevator stopped
al his floor and Nasogi threw open
the studio door To announce the guests.
Maud Clayton and Bessie Lester came
III FIRST aud close behind them was a
third figure, NJ the sight 81 which
Stanleys heart jumped into his throat
aud stayed there for awhile Bob and