The Yale expositor., 1911-03-02

were watching him, anc he became
filed with fear. Why should he bs
watched? Had no done a guilty
thing?
SO greatly did the fear swell In
him that he decided to take the letter
back TO the place where he had found
IL. and drop 1t again In the road
But when he got to the place and
looked for a last time at the writing,
1t give him such longing to keep II
that he thrust IL into his breast again
and hurried back to his shop
That night a man came to see
Kimaga
Are you Kimaga. the maker of
vases?' he said.
"Kimaga, all trembling. replied that
he was.
Then, said the man. L have come
to you with high purpose. You have
letter which does not belong to
you. Give it to me-
Does 1t belong to YOU? asked
kimaga, his desire putting armor on
his fear.
That is not to be asked. replied
the man. L am samurai. For the
glory of Nippon you mus give me the
letter
But Kimaga did not wish to let
the letter go. How do you know that
have itT he said. You have not
seen it.
1t is enough that ! know said
the man. Three days l allow you. II
by then the letter has not been placed
on the altar of the war-god, in the
shrine of Samiya, then you will be as.
sassinated
With that the man went away.
"Kimaga was now almos' dead with
fright For the first day he did moth.
ing but weep. The second day he put
on mourning and set his affairs In
order. The third day he held the let
ter in his hand for many hours and
filled his mind with the beauty OF the
writing. He could not give It up.
Rather would he die. And at last he
placed 1t In a lacquer box and buried
it deep at the foot of the largest cher
ry tree in his garden.
HE arose to go back into his
house, an his head was bowed over
with terror. You see, he felt that
many eyes were watching him from
the nearby walls, an he thought he
heard breathings and the whispers OF
strangers. What should he do now !
He dare not advance; he dare not
stay where he was. So exceeding az
frighted was he that he groaned
aloud. From all about him came
groans that answered his. Once more
he groaned, and once more his ears
were filled with the answers.
Then he took one step toward his
house. Nothing happened. He took
another step, an his knees they shook
like the palsy. The breathings an
whisperings seem, oh, so much nearer
now. But he muster all his strength
an put out his foot for the third step
1t did not reach the ground before the
vengeance struck him.
THE next morning his wife found
him dead. His head had been severed
from his body"
The minister stopped and sat bach
in his chair.
How awful" exclaimed the won
an who had asked for a story.
Not So" said the minister affably
I'm serving my country. such things
mus be done. Kimaga should have
given the letter. Don't you think so
Mr.. Orme?"
The parable was quite clear tC
Orme. He understood the threat.
I'm America" he said. drily, I'VE
do not worship penmanship."
but an American might for Other
reasons keep a letter that did not be
long to him"
mot If he was honorable. His
natural course would be to see thai
1t was delivered to the person fol
whom it was intended Certainly hs
would not give it to any man whc
could not prove his right to It,"
Would he not? But If he were
told that he mus die-?"
"In that case he would inform hi:
friends of the threats against him
and they would see that his murderer'
were hanged. Assassination is no
popular in America, excellency."
Orme did not attempt to conceal the
contempt in his words. and several o
the listeners moved in their chairs, be
traying their embarrassment.
Perhaps, then. Mr.. Orme," said the
minister, you could favor us with
story which would show the attitude
, Of an American In such a fair"
Orme laughed. oddly enough" h
replied, Il can give you just such
story-if you all care to hear It,"
. go on" murmured one of the men
1T happened to a friend of mine,
) said Orme. "He had in his possession
, a number of proxies, the use of which
, would determine the control o
a certain corporation. While he wa
, carrying these proxies to the countr!
> house of the man to whom he was t
deliver them, he was attacked by
man who was acting for another fac
ton. This man secured the advantage
over my friend and. robbing him
, the proxies, jumped into waiting