For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8154, 7 June 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTEP, lll.—Continued. So deep was his melancholy that it is doubtful whether ho could have had the heart to join in the excitement should that most ominous of all sounds in Jupauese or Chinese towns have broken loose—the clang of the "hauabo" or lire boll; and when a man reaches this depth of misery hi 9 state is almost hopeless. Was ho really a coward—this thought had mure than a few time 3 suggested itself to him for solution, but hitbetio ho had waved it aside with a "don't bother me" air, now it refused to bo so readily quashed, and demanded some sort of an answer. Really, his curiosity was aroused in the matter, and he evinced more or less interest in the answer. She said ho lacked courage, and yet Aratnurl was ready to swear it was not that which kept him from leaping overboard iuto the harbour, since water had little terror for one who loved it so well—rather had it been the amazing aud overwhelming fact that Tessio had of malice prepense actually dropped Fidoovei the end of the "sampan," and shrieked to him to jump ia and rescue her pet only after the soused poodle was far enough away to be beyond reach of arm or onr. Althuugh the young man had done considerable knocking about the earth in his time, strange to say he had avoidoil all manner of tiouble and ructions thus far—perhaps £his good-natnro made cross "palki gam" drivers, "jinrik'sha" runners and camel couriers friendly, and had much to do with smoothing *bo ruts that beset the way of the pilgrim in a foreign land. So that there had as yet been no occasion whereby Armand might discover what manner of man he was under fire—railroad trains refused to collide, steamers ou whioh he was a passenger -persisted in making safe cruises, and there was a magic in. Lis presence that always brought about safety to life and limb. '

All that was in the past—his future might tell an entirely different story, for be had entered udou a new phase of life, and the line of demarkation was that sad hour when the lips beloved breathed his name in coDjuuotiou with the word "coward." So he sauntered on. That he had not dined w«3 impressed upon his mind after a time. lie was far from the hotel—what 6? Miat, since there were tea gardens galore near by, and plaoes where he could devour tbe ( ordinary Japanese dit* goafioa J» *!? e^ oprlbe oil, beloved S ? » aumbla native f \\, was some soft of feast htght, apparently, for gayety beyond the ordinary abounded, the tall tea houses were decorated with Hags and trirle festoons of coloured paper lanterns that mnde the scene look like a glimpse of fairyland. ; Gradually Armaud began to come out of hia fit of abstraction. •JLhe tobacco may have been the chief remedy, or, perhaps, philosophy, that makes stoics out of men, came to his Bid. At any rate, he found hmself beginning to notice the strange and stirring scenes about him with growing interest.

As nsutt!, various proceaaions were threading the streets—like . their cousins, the Ohineso, the Japs delight niose, and confusion, aud ahow—religious ceremonies partake of a most extravagant nature, aud In Tokio, the immense capital of the empire, at certain seasons of the year these religious, birthday, secret society or funeral processions may be discovered everywhere, preceded by Shinto priests or the devotees of JtSuddba, winding in and out of the narrow streets, most georgeous affairs in whioh dragons play au important element.

Children abound everywhere. and use the thoroughfares aB a playground, addiug to the noise and confusion.

When Armand thus came to, he ' bad to puzzle his wits a little in order to discover just what part of Yokohama he was in.

Th»t poiut settled by means of a familiar kiosk, which he remembered assisting Tessio to snap-shot—that is, be took her standing on the' circular stops~-ho set about turning his face in the direotion of thw Bund.

A few days would see him out of this, and, perhaps, when beyond the magical influenoe of her presence, he might feel more like herself.

As he sauntered idly on be allowed himself to be interested more or less iu the allurements of his unique surroundings, for the young man ha-1 a streak of artist Hood in his make-up—he took charming photographs and land ecapes, and could never ignore a picturesque grouping. Perhaps this was why his eye was attracted towards a certain quarter, though, poasibly, fate bad a hand in the deal. Looking back over bis past, who can say that there were not few or many occasions when he seemed gripped by the throat by destiny, and actually dragged face to face with some opportunity intended to have an influence over his whole life?

This group consisted of three persons, one of whom Armand recognised, a remarkable fellow, Japanese by birth, yet owning the Philippines ae hit county, about whom ij: was wbisDered that he had been a member of the famous Hong-Kong Junta, and was still a secret emissary of Aguinaldo, which halo of glory bad made him a marked man to the members of theAmerioan diplomatic family.

Godaigo Takanori bad onoe been a Shinto priest. Indeed, it would be easier to mention the few functions he had not filled'in his time than to enumerate the wonderful

By St. George Rathborne. Author of " Dr. Jack," <« The Witch from India," " Captain Tom," ''Mynheer Joe," "Dr. Jack's Wife," etc., etc.

things h°i had done, aooording to bis own proud boasting. This fellow had been of additional interest to Armaud from the fact that he hail long haunted the path of Therese Morrison.

Just why, our friend had never been able to satisfy himself, for while prouoto believe his sweetheait's loveliness of face and figure might captivate almost any heart, still, be knew thia Junta conspirator of the prince of rogues, and could more easily suspect that he had a darker and more mischievous scheme on foot than merely feasting his crafty upon Tessie's face.

His companions were worthy of remark, for, while one appeared to be a native of the country, the other was evidently a Spaniard. Somehow, it drifted across his mind that old Colonel Morrison had recently been a consul in *sotne Spanish city Barcelona was it. or Seville, perhaps Cadiz—at any rate, the girls had spent a year or so with him, and though their bewitching appeals had come his deserting the post for world travel.

Armaud noted that this Spaniard was young aud strikingly handsome. Perhaps it was strange that he should weave hasheesh fancies concerning the cavalier, and yet, his recent experience at the hands of womankind had begun to make him skeptioal with regard to the sex.

Could it be that this was a for mer lover of Mies Therese? She doted on the heroic, and what manner of man would • be more likely to reach her standard jjthat a native of the one land on earth where obivalry still finds lodgment in the hearts of the people—the country of good Don Quixote and his doughty quire, Sap.oho Panza?

This at least would account for the Interest taken in Miss Therese by the Filipino conspirator. He might be in the pay of the revenge-ful-Spaniard, and seeking to do the young lady harm. Armand had always been so prosaic a chap be was now astonished beyond measure to And such ideas permeating his braid. Was it the influence 01 nis recent trouble? Had Tessie su<3u eoded at last in inoculating him with A P or ' tion of her romantic virus?

Perhaps his environs were to blame, Satnli wonder when the remarkable things around him were taken into consideration. Why shoud be care?

Miss Therese was no longer of prime importance in his eyes. He meant t<j g0 awfly an d forget her, Voave her to the romantic fabrics she delighted to construe! and, really, this Spanish oavalier would be a man more suited to her standard of excellence than a dull fellow like himself,

"I wonder would he have been fool enough to jump over after that confounded dog?" he murmured, and knowing something of the impulsive Spanish oharaoter, he straightway deoided in the affirmative.

"Well, perhaps she might have married him through pity when he came to hobble about on his wooden leg, but I doubt it. Women are inclined to be capricious, and I rather guess she'd have called him to task for so readily .deserting her in the boat," wi*h a grin at the absurdity of the situation, Soylla on one side, Charybdis ou the other. Whatever engaged the attenitou of the irio, they were very earu»st in their conversation, and, Arraann, for onoe, wished he were gifted with phonographlq ears to whioh the faintest whisper would bo brougbt. i This was not because of curiosity, but simply through tbe fact that it concerned Teseie, the girl he *was banishing so bravely from his life.

The men stood in front of a pagoda temple, through the door of whioh came lights and sounds, showing that the priests were conducting some of their strange services within. People passed by, but the trio still stood and talked and gesticulated with uncommon zeal, as though a master plot was being fashioned against the Americans at Manila and the sea islands recently come into the possession of the United States.

Aramnd had halted partly in the shadow, to curiously observe the conference, which, while held before a place of worship, with one of the conferees and ex-priest, he oould not fiuspeot had anything to do with religion. He did not believe any of them had as yet become aware of his presence, and by degrees an overwhelming desire to edge closer and catch at least a portion of their conversion came over him. This was after he had heard Godaigo Takanori raise his voice a little—he was excited, apparently, by some opposition—and plainly utter the name: "Senorita Morrison."

Then bis suspicions were true. They were plotting evil agaiust Therese. Perhaps the crafty Spaniard, knowing of old her devotion to the cause of manly obivalry, was arranging a little programme for her especial amusement in whioh he, of course, would figure as a mighty hero. To be Continued.