Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-06-04
is SHE
HAPPY?-THE
QUESTION
By MICHAEL WHITE

Nv l. that is, you did not run up
against a mental blank wall
the moment you passed the region of
conventional courtesy. If his use of
English acquired in Japan was per-.
haps trifie quaint, he made up for
this disadvantage by an evident de-
sire to be pleasing. That was why
Bingham exerted special effort to
respond to a letter of introduction on
behalf Of Hiroshima. That was how
they came to be seated together at the
grand opera, waiting for the raising
Of the first curtain.
Hiroshima regarded the scene
through his gold-rimmed spectacles
with much interest, never having wit
messed grand opera before. He
watched the filling up of the house,
the entry Of the orchestra, then swept
his eyes over the tiers Of boxes, and
expressed his admiration for the ex-'
quisitely gowned and bejeweled Occu-.
pants. What Hiroshima thought of
our decOllete custom, which would be
so terribly shocking In Japan, he kept
discreetly to himself.
As matter Of fact his whole inter-
est was presently conferred on par
ticular box. Among the party that
took possession of 1t was as charm
ing and dainty an appeal to the eye. as
was to be met with in the whole house.
In contrast to her fashionably attired
companions, u Japanese woman's pic
turesque kimono and rich obi was most
extremely pretty.
Bingham, following Hiroshima's
gaze, also noticed the stranger, and
recognized her as the bride OF an
American who had resided in Japan
for some years. Mr.. Garelock, the hus-
band, stood behind his wifes chair,
and seemed proud of the attention she
received In glasses leveled on her from
other boxes. She was evidently more
Of "A novelty than the latest extrava-
gance in diamond tiaras. Then the
curtain went up on the first act.
Hiroshima was too polite to stare
continuously at the box containing his
fellow countrywoman, but Bingham Is
certain he saw and heard little Of the
opera. His eyes, 1t Is true, were fixed
steadily in front, but 1t was as II the
present scene were lost to view, In
some far-off "reminiscences Of which his
impassive features failed to disclose
any significance. Toward the end of
the last act he seemed to display more
Interest in the theme Of the opera, and
at its conclusion rather surprised Bling
ham with a pointed comment In the
form of a question.
II think your opera very nice, yes,
very nice; but the lovers were-as you
say-to be happy In the end2"
YES guess that was about how It
finished up" replied Bingham.
abr calculated Hiroshima refec-
lively. 1--WE wish 1t should be-as you
say-llke that finish up. But with you
is 1t always so in that way?"
mo, I am afraid not always" re-
piled Bingham.
"Ahl not so always" nodded Hiro-
shima.
To complete the evenings entertain
ment Bingham took Hiroshima over to
fashionable restaurant. Hiroshima
was much pleased, gratihed, and i'm
pressed with the whole mise en- scene
the artistic decorations, the flower
adorned tables, and the prevailing at
mosphere Of sparkle and gaiety. At
least he was struggling with the Eng
lgl lnn 30 IL t..
such wise, when the party from the
opera, Of which the japanese woman
was member, entered. Hiroshima at
once grew silent. He did not turn to-
ward the table occupied by the opera
party but looked as II he were again
distracted. In the meantime Bingham
nodded toward one or two members of
the party whom he knew, and ad-
dressed his japanese guest.
"What a delightful picture your fel-
low cOuntrywoman makes" he said,
with genuine admiration. "She is re-
markably pretty"
Hiroshima came out Of his mental
haze with as much Of start as Is pos
sible with one OF the vigorously self
controlled subjects Of the mikado.
"Ah, she looks, yes yes las you
say-very pretty. That is how she
looks"
WELL" ventured Bingham, detect
ing subtler meaning in Hiroshlma's
words than lay upon the surface.
"Well, II she feels as happy as she
looks, | guess there's not much more
to be said"
Hiroshima methOdcally removed his
spectacles and wiped them, adjusting
them again so that the focus was ex-
actly right. He was particular about
his spectacles, having, as he casually
explained, once found difficulty In
training a gun on the Russians owing
to a slight imperfection In one Of the
lenses That was merely an incident
relating 10 the capture Of a whole bri-
gade of Russians, the important thing
being the necessity for absolutely per-
feet spectacles in such contingencies,
which he reported to the proper au-
thOritles. Presently he waved his hand
toward the bouquet Of flowers on the
liable.
"They look very pretty. In the gar
den IN which they grew, think they
were happy In this place $3.50 diff
ferent much finer than their gar
den, they sin look very pretty. But
because-as you say-they were cut
off, they are dying, I would like to
know II they are as happy as they
were In their garden"