The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1917-05-24

ais eyes avoiding Celias wlstful
gaze, ''the abode Of peace and joy
lies dcsolate. The widow, broken
hearted because her loved one did
not return from the war, makes her
home with her indulgent parents,
and somewhere in Manchuria's un-
friendly 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 pur-
pie clusters from the trellises. The
abode of peace and Joy has become
the house of sad memories"
There was silence then for sew
eral moments. Even Nasogi had
paused with extended tray, his
beady eyes fastened on the narra-
tors face with unmistakable e1-
citement. The conversation shift
ed to another topic and was for the
moment forgotten. The Japanese
moved noiselessly to and fro, the
impassive mask Of his face now and
then breaking into queer distortions
that might be construed as express
sing joy or sorrow or a mingling Of
both.
Before they adjourned to the
studio for coffee aDI while they
fingered at the tabl. the Japanese
glided from the room. When they
entered the studio he was standing
beside the lantern rubbing his hand
on the stone in manner which In
any other person might have been
construed as a gesture of tender
ness.
Excuse" he said difidently 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. "Haye confidence.
Remember I am your friend. Are
you in trouble"
Master, the story of the abode OF
peace and JOY! A soldier returned
from the wars to claim his beloved
wife. Ere he reached home he was
confronted with the story that she
believed him dead and had married
another, and rather than disturb
his happiness and because he 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 be-
come wise and great and learn to
live without the love of woman. And
the place he came to was great
city, and after few years had pass
ed he served new master, one who
brought into his studio the very
stone lantern that had once stood
in the soldiers garden in faraway
Japan. The soldier recognized it
Immediately, but he did not under
stand until he heard his masters
story"
"You will want to 60 home at
once" said Stanley heartily. "Get
your things together, Nasogi, and
start tonight. Come to me for
money before you go. And the Ian
tern, Nasogi-you will want to re-
store that to the abode of peace and
joy" >,
Excuse" said the japanese soft
". IF my honorable master will
keep it as a recollection of much
happiness he conferred upon a fool
ish servant it will cause me graft
tude. My garden will have Joy and
peace even if it lacks the lantern"
he said happily.
"Mine will have the lantern,
while it lacks JOY and peace" said
Stanley rather bitterly.
But Celia's hand was thrust
through his arm, and her soft cheek
rubbed against his shoulder.
Cannot We have JOY and peace
and the lantern, too, DEAR she
whispered. Il am so sorry, Ethan.
| wonder if l may not stay with
YOU. have never had word from
YOU all the long years, and"-
Nasogi had vanished. From the
studio came the first dreamy chords
from Clayton's violin and a low
murmur of voices as the others
talked.
"Not another word, sweetheart"
mumured Ethan to his wife. eve
have both been to blame. We have
both suffered for our folly. To-
gether We will start anew, with the
stone lantern to light our abode OF
peace and JOY"