Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-01-21

HcT ldHu FeSlcu III Ills lVI u bAlsA Az
slant, this Is u surprisca pleasant
surprise"
II am glad you feel So" she breath
ed quickly. They urged me to come.
and ! gave way to the impulse" Then
she had disappeared with the other
women, while her husband joined the
men ut the fireplace.
At table there was much curiosity
about the stone lantern. FLANDERS
has one that he picked up In the
Aomori province. 1t has all sorts OF
n history-battle, murder and sudden
DEATH" remarked Bob Clayton to his
host.
Mine has a more modest history"
hesitated Stanley, his eyes meeting
Celia's across the table for an instant.
ut is more of a romance, although
there Is note of tragedy hidden there
in
"Tell 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 husband-in fact, II was her old
place as the mistress OF his household.
only 1t SO happened that Nasogi had
never before seen or heard of Celia,
nor did he know that his master had a
wife.
Ethan Stanley looked around the ia
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. 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
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 that
lighted the garden at night when the
plum trees were In bloom and when
the wistaria hung in long purple clus-
tiers from the trelliscs. The abode OF
peace aud joy has become the house
of sad memories"
There was silence then for several
moments. Even Nasogl 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 noiselessly to and fro, the
impassive mask of his face now and
then breaking into queer distortions
that might he construed as expressing
joy or sorrow or a mingling of both.
Before tney 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 n
manner which In any other person
might have been construed rs a ges-
ture Of tenderness.
Excuse he said efficiently 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. "EIave confidence. Re-
member | am your friend. Are You in
trouble:"
4 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, \ soldier returned
from the wars TO claim his beloved
wife. Ere he reached home he was
confronted with the story that she be-
lievcd him dead and had married an
other. and rather than disturb his hap
pincss ana because lie 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 lie came TO was
great city. and after a few years
had passed he served Il 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 II immc-
diatcly, but he did not understand un-
I'll he heard his masters story"
"You viii want to go home nj once"
said stanley heartily. Get Your
things together Nnsosi. and start to-
night Come 10 me for money before
you go"
"When my work is done" said the
man gratefully ms he began TO clear
the table
And the lantern. Nasogl-you viii
want TO restore that to the abode Of
peace and joy"
Excuse" said the Japanese softly.
III my honorable master viii keep II
MS n recollection Of much happiness
he conferred upon foolish servant II
will cause me gratitude. My garden
will have JOY and peace even II 1t
lacks tho Inutaru " In snid hauplly