The Monte Vista journal., 1920-12-25
ECkl NAN
by Dorothy Kinney

by Dorothy Kinney
A quaint old japanese garden lay
smiling under tho sanshin. Of a
morning Ia early spring. The sun.
having flooded the outside world
with dazzling iiGht. seemed to sink
To . tender radiance a. II woocd
leaf and bud into nov life and love
iincss. Il iooscn-d tho tiny rivuict
from the ICY fingers Of the cruel
winter. sad scnt II speeding mcrrily
on its way 10 y small lake. Il stole
into the shadows Of . great pine
tres. touched the white wings OF
the dovsa - they cooed tho song OF
mating time. Il cleaned on tho
saady path that led to the stone
image Of the Goddess OF Mercy and
1aally lost itself In the trees BE-
yosd.
Under the gnaricd plum trce that
for uaeountsd years had braved tho
saow and answered joyously the
arst call Of spring. = little maiden
stood aud held out eager hands to
catch the falling blossoms. A soft
bresss coming across the river. blew
. stray petal Into tho chiid's face.
To Yuki San Il was . challenge and
with oststrstched hands and ayins
test she gave chase to the whiriing
blossoms. A sudden stilinesa In the
air eadsd the romp and Yuki san
dropped on the soft grass. stretch
Ing her slim. graceful body In the
warmth OF the sun. In every line
vas the tmprint Of high breeding
her white face. 20 unusual with her
race. was stamped with the 70.
nance and tragedy OF centuries:
while her eyes looked out at the
world with Questioning interest.
The quiet dream was suddenly
broken BY . peculiar cry. She start
Cd ~ In amasement to nnd that the
cry came from Il mother robin and
through the shower OF blossoms ahe
saw . tiny half-fcathered thins
struggling In the sharp claws OF her
cat. Before she could move she
saw big red drops slowly dripping
from either side OF the whiskered
mouth. Terror held her for q mo-
mont ~ she heard the crushing OF
small bones. then white passion en-
veloped her as she stole noiselesAly y
from behind and tightly ciasped her
hands about tho furry neck
Back" she cried as she shook
tho cat back and forth. You'll pay
dear for this. today will ask Budd-
ha to turn you into stone You
cruel. cruel beast.~
Looking stcrnly at the offender.
her lips rounded into long drawn
80" and the light of anticipat-
nd revenge danced in her eyes. At
last she knew what she would do.
She would throw her into the ditch
whore flying bugs would bite and
stinG. She ran out OF the gate and
was crossing the street quickly when
an approaching jinrikisha tumbled
her over and sent her rolling to the
side Of the road. Still ciutchinE the
kitten. she sat up and rubbed the
dust from her eyes. Standing be-
side her was the jtnrikisha man and
Rtaa
boy. whose light hair and blue eyes
hold hcr spellbound. He was brush
Ing her klmono and his foreign
tongue made strange sounds which
she could not understand.
The kitten tried to wiggle free and
at the struggle which ensued az
Yuki San frightened her grip, the boy
laughed. Yuki San grew crimson
with anger. With q swift move
ment she fastened toward the
ditch.
Seeing her purpose. Harry Brown
went to the rescue OF the cat.
mo you don't. kiddie." he cried
Your cat is not going into the
ditch II We have to scrap for It,"
Harry caught Yuki and again and
again tried to loosen her grip from
the struggling kitten.
"Iya. iya!" screamed the child
hut Harry held her and finally end
ed by lightly slapping first one lit
tie hand and then the other.
Thus coming In contact for ths