Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-07-09
CHAPTER II

The servant carried Wells slowly IN
the long path, at the very head Of
which a spring bursts from a lichen-
covered rock: the spring that keeps
green the garden of the Thunder Gate.
A sliding door opened to dim room.
At the farther end of this chamber
was platform approached by single
step; dark curtain yelled the alcove
behind. An old man knelt upon a
richly ornamented zabuton placed in
the center of the room. AS the panel
moved back, In ghostly silence, the an.
cient arose and drew back with the
atrical gesture the curtain.
There glowered upon Wells unsee-
Ing eyes an apparition, a monstrosity
A huge face, mounted upon a dragon
like body, winged. A face the color
Of polished copper. dull carmine; men,
acing, frightful. Not the tiger frown,
nor the violence Of the terrific mouth,
nor the CHASTITY fury of the head as
whole, nor the weird eyes aroused
Wells. Rather-or so 1t seemed to
him, after-Misako, his old nurse, who,
he dimly remembered, came from the
village of Mitagiri; Misako was tell
ing him story, of Kayama and the
household of the Thunder Gate of
which she mad been a part, and the
terrible god who ruled it, and what
happened to naughty boys when they
saw the god. The lightning which the
god bore in its right paw seemed to
send hot shock to his brain.
While Misako was still telling the
story, his eyes opened.
Only the half-remembered story of
Misako held Wells to reality. He bent
before the god, saying "Harai-tamai"
and clapping his hands in Shinto
prayer. Then, with the nurses in
structions as to reverence for the
aged, he bowed to the old one with
the tired eyes. Aochi gestured to
cushion upon the mating.
From where Wells sat, stupidity, he
saw the god staring at him. The old
man clapped his hands, a maidservant
as ancient as himself entered with
tea; placed cups and pot upon a low
black table and, kneeling, rinsed two
cups.
Hawai- ko wa tabi wo sase'-ths
old proverb Is incorrect" Aochi was
thinking. "a spoilt child should be
made to travel, so 1t goes aeil
this son of mine has but
added to his many Japanese vices.
:" He said nothing audibly,
waiting until the tea ceremony was
completed.
The room was silent. A late wind
from the sea sighed against the stunt
ed pines: faint stream Of perfume
rose from the poured tea. Every sug-
gestion was hypnotic Of sleep. Be-
tween the moment of raising his cup
and the contact with lips Wells was
actually plunged for an instant in
sleep, to become conscious with a
start. Into the eyes of the old man
had crept look of uncertainty: this
was Wells last coherent thought, for
the servant placed a cushion beneath
his dropping head, and then came the
blessed rhythmic GOODNESS from her
fan.
He awoke to find the sun shining
with assurance Of another heated day.
The woman, with rigid though gentle
face, still famed hir. as she had
throughout the night. She fastened
to bring him steaming tea and a
brightly blue kimono. As he slipped
off the kimono which he had worn
when he entered the house, bit of
paper fell to the floor. The servant
handed it to him, and he tucked it I'D
the flowing sleeve.
Furtively he touched the silken
kimono in which he was clad This
was better than what had
been. Clapped hands brought the serv-
ant to her feet.
at is thy father" she whispered.
"Let me assist thy honorable foot.
steps,"