The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1917-05-24
The Stone
Lantern
And How 1t United Two
Families
By CLARlSS.A MACKlE

The japanese servant moved
noiselessly about the studio, bring
ing order out of chaos that always
followed one of his masters busy
days. The priceless oriental rugs
were Strengthened, and Nasogi van
ished from the room as Ethan STAN
ley entered from the adjoining bed
chamber. In a moment Nasogi re-
turned
"What is it, Nasogi?" asked Stan
ley
"'The telephone calls, sir" replied
the man.
"Who is it?"
"Mr. Clayton, sir"
"Ah, how are you, Bob?" Stan
ley was saying over the wire. Ger
tainly. Delighted. Bring the whole
crowd. l was going to dine alone,
but Nasogi is magician and can
spread a feast for a dozen. Eight
thirty. Good. Be sure to bring your
fiddle. Goodby.
"Nasogi, Mr.. Clayton and four
friends will dine with me tonight
at $50. There will be three ladies
in the company. Can you manage
it in three hours?" He looked at
his watch.
'Most certainly, sir. 1t will be
ready at the hour. I will 60 to the
market again immediately" In an
instant the japanese had bowed
himself from the room and STAN
ley was alone.
The pagoda shape of a stone Ian
tern was outlined against the twi-
light space of the window and re-
minded Stanley of the gray day he
had first seen it in a neglected gar
den beyond the gates of Tokyo. He
had bowled out of the city with his
favorite rickshaw man between the
shafts, and when the first light
shower came the runner had turn
ed into tiny tangled garden where
a small house stood deserted among
the plum trees.
As Stanley found shelter in the
veranda he spied the stone lantern
nearly overgrown with some cling
ing vine.
"Who owns this house," he ask
ed quickly.
The runner named a man in the
neighborhood. 1T was his daughter
who lived in the house with her
husband. They were newly married,
and they called it 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 inconsolable wild
ow, and the little house is place
of sorrow"
Stanley thought over the little
tragedy that had been briefly play
ed out here, and then when the rain
had stopped he sought the house OF
the owner and found it easy to pur-
chase the stone lantern.
As he dressed for dinner he won
:lered idly who the girl was that the
Claytons were bringing with them.
Bob had said it was a friend of his
wife's, and Mrs. Clayton had Sc
many friends it was useless to puz-
zle his head over that. The other
couple were the Testers. The Clay
tons and the Testers were his most
intimate friends and had been Ce'
lia's, too, before she and Stanley
had quarreled and separated. Celia
had returned to her parents, and
Stanley had gone to Japan and late
lv had returned to occupy the studio
alone.
Years of travel and hard work
had not softened the blow of Celia's
desertion after the bitter, foolish
little disagreement. He had written
once, but she had never replied
to it.
Exactly at $50 the elevator stop
ped at his floor, and Nasogi threw
open the studio door to announce
the guests. Maud Clayton and
Bessie Lester came in first, and
close behind them was third fig
ure, at the sight of which Stanley's
heart jumped into his throat and
STAYED there for awhile.
"Shall We take off our things in
here, Ethan" called Mrs. Clayton
over her shoulder, one hand on his
bedroom door.
"Certainly! You all know the
way. Celia" he found time to muir
mur as her hand rested in his for a
brief instant, "this is surprise-a
pleasant surprise"
Il am glad you feel So" she