Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-02
The Kingdom of Slender Swords
Author of Hearts Courageous" Satan sauderson ETC.
Copyright 1910 The -Bohbs-Herril Company.
By Halle Erm,,.,s R,uss

/ falling rain. Sunsets of smouldering
crimson and nights under blue-black
vault FACILITATING with star swarms or a
waste of turquoise, liquid with tropic
moonlight
dangerous days of autumn by the In
land Sea, when the dying summers
breath fingers like the perfume of in
license, and the mirroring lilac water
deepens to bishops purple.
So the mild Japanese winter comes
slowly, under a high, keen sky, bringing
at last its scourging of dust and wind
it's chill, Opaque nights with their spec
trail fog yelling the trembling flames of
the consultations. and its few, rare days
when the evergreen earth is covered with
blanket of snow.
There came one such day when Daunt
stood with Barbara by the huge stone
tori at the gateway of the Mon-to tenn
pie on the Hill-of-the-Spirit. The air was
softly radiant but not cold, the trans
lucent heavens tinted with a fairy mauve,
which on the horizon merged into dying
hyacinth. The camellia hedges stood like
blanched rows of crystalled beryl, the
stalwart mochi trees were cased in argent
armor, and the curving porch of the
temple, the roof of the nearby nunnery,
the forest of bronze lanterns and the
square stone tablets in the graveyard
were capped with soft rounded mounds of
snow. 1t lay thickly over the paved
space save where wide way had been
cleared to the temple steps, for the day
was saijits', a holy day, when the peo-
pie gather to worship.
Across the lane they could see the chap
Ell lifting it's white cross into the clear
blue From it's chancel arch was hung
cruciffx of gold lacquer, where the declin-
ing sun, shining through the stained
glass of the rose window, each evening
touched it to shimmering color. The al
tar today was fragrant with the first
plum blossoms; two hours ago the bishop,
standing before it, had read the sacred
office which had made them man and
wife, The carriage which was to take
them to Shimbashi station waited now at
the end of the lane while Barbara brought
a branch of the early blooms to lay on a
Buddhist grave in tenantless garden.
In one of the farther groups before the
temple steps was miniature rick'sha
drawn by servant. 1t held a child who
had not walked since night when, with
| clenched hands and brave little heart, he
lad run into the path of speeding motor
car. On the breast of his wadded kimono
was a knot of ribbon at which the other
children gazed in awe and wonder. 1t
had been pinned one night to a small
hospital shirt when the wandering eyes
were hot with fever and the baby face
pinched and white. by lady whom
Ishikichi had thought must be the sun
goddess at very least, and before whom
the attendants of that room of pain had
bowed to the very mass. He knew that
in some dim way, without quite knowing
how, he had helped that great, mysteri-
Gus something that meant the govern
ment of Japan, and that he should be
very proud of 1t. But Ishikichi was far
prouder of the fine foreign front that
had displaced the poor little shop in !.
Stree -of-prayer- to-the-G Gods.
Nearer the gateway. on the edge of the
gathering, stood an old man, his face
scanned and lined. but with eve clear
and young and a smile on his face The
crest on his sleeve was the mon Of an
ancient and honored samurai family.
He leaned on the arm of his adopted
soma commander of the imperial navy
whose name had once been Ishida He
taro. They stood apart. regarding not
the temple but the low building across
the hedge. behind whose bamboo lattice
dim forms passed and repassed.
Look" said Barbara suddenly, and
touched Daunt's arm. woman's figure
had paused at the lattice of the nun
merry. She was dressed in slate-color and
her delicate features and close-shaven
head gave her a singularly unearthly
appearance, like an ethereal and angelic
DOy- Inc Illus .IWO-W1CClCO CdIIldBG
drew up at the lattice and a slneder
hand reached out and patted the round
cropped head of it's occupant. AS the
vehicle was drawn away, the nun looked
up and across the yard-toward the old
samurai and the young naval officer.
The wrath of a flush crept into her
cheek. She smiled, and they smiled in
return, the placid Japanese smile which
is the rainbow of forbidden tears, A
second they stood thus, tSsn the slate
colored figure drew back and was gone,
and the old man, supported by the
younger arm, passed slowly out of the
yard.
Barbara's eyes were still on the late
tice as Daunt spoke. what is it2'' he
asked
THE face of the nun there," she said.
with vague usefulness. 1T reminds me
of some one L have known. Who can 1t
be. I wonder'
They crossed the yard, and entered the
deserted garden. The great ruin at its