For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8164, 22 June 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTER Xlll.—Continued.

He now allowed himself the privilege of considering Tessie—since it began to look as though she might be in danger again, he felt as though in a measure absorbed from his stem vow to keep her laughing image out of his mind, and devote himself wholly to seeing the wonderful sights of Tokio, capital of the Flowery Kingdom. Where would they put np—at a hotel, of course, and tha best to be found. Strange that ho had not run across thom thus far, when he had, accidentally, poihapa, haunted all the places of interest to whioh the foreign sightseer ia Tokio is directed. Well, he would look them up. He had renlly not intended to do this, let it be positively under-, stood, relying upon a ohauce meeting among the sbopa and markets. But there was a genuine reason why he should bestir himself to hunt them up, since fate had declined a "rencontre " was McGregor; he certainly must be entitled to learn that the object of his unswerving devotion was still in anger, since the rascals had also come to town. How he would take on upon hearing of it! Why, Armand could almost imagine him dropping into his pet dialect, to scramble out <ho scrawny Scotch words as though his mouth were half filled with hot porridge. It would be an awful scene; and ho could also picture the alarm of the ladies, together with the fury of the .old soldier, eager tu avenge himself for the indignity l put upon him by ' these treacherous friends. • Altogether, Armand found, himself devoting about .hi 3 whole'attention to the affairs of Miss Tessie, which fact did not abash him at all, for was she not a lady, and could he allow' her as such to become a viotim to this accursed conspiracy forgnin? ft was Bearing evening. -Th» mellow glow was over all, end the temples in Shiba park glittered in the dazzling rays of th.fi sotting sun. Soon & myriad of lanterns would twinkle along the streets of the city, set in many coloured paper holders, end then the picture must look very like a Bcene of enobantment, with the music of twinkling bells, of songs sung by "«eisha" girls in tea houses, of "samisen,' "biwa" and "koto" keeping time, with perhaps a drum beaten by the flugeis of the player—these the only sounds save the gay laughter of children and adults on the. thoroughfares. Armani visited 'seven hotels before he found those he sought, and then he abused himself fcr what he called bis stupidity in not coming hero first. v The cart'ransary was one of the best"of finch the Japanese capital boasted, and in all the world there are certainly no hotels like those of Tokio. Just how they strike the tourist may be discovered in the analytical. description which an American bishoy has'published, and which will bear repeating, since i it covers the ground as thoroughly as any more detailed aooonnt could do. Hoar, then, what Bishop Cranston says: "It is a novel affair, even to the travelled foreigner. The entrance is usually, a little area, wnioh is praatioally an extsenion 61 the street or sidewalk, and defined by a low platform or raised floor, j From this modest eminence the proprietor and , those about him greet the new guest with profound bows, their foreheads touching the floor repeatedly. "There is no showy office, no high desk, no lordly clerk, no big book for the guests autograph—only a little table about fourteen inches hieh, with an inkatone, suggesting that here the accounts are made up. But the guest may not yet ascend. His shoes must be left in the area. That explains the shoeshop appearance. Quick servants promptly assise in the correction of his understandings, bring sandals or silppera if he is unsnpplied; then, preceded by his travelling effects, he is led to his apartment. He observes that the stairs are without rails, and that the female servants made their steep ascent much as a child would—often using the, hands as well as the fee*."Ours is a 'ten-mat' room, that is, it requires ten mats, eaoh three by six feet, to cover, or, rather, form the floor.' The mat is made of woven straw, overlaid w'fch ordinary matting and finished with a firm boarder. Be'ug soft and yielding under the fouir, it is comparatively noiseless. "The furniture? A dainty doll table, twelve inohes high, a little lacquer tray with a tiny teapot and two small cups and saucers, two floor cushions and a wall soroll—that is all. The sp l * heating hearing apparatus is a 'of ashes with a nest of coals, ju. j -> the coal is a teakettle. "Between us and the snowstorm raging outside there is first a wall of saeb filled with translucent paper, then a narrow hallway, then a sliding sash filled wih glass. A finger thruefc on either of three sides and your avery movement Is visible from without. Looks 1 What good t All the doors are paper, and work in slides, and all windowß are doors. ■Everything slides, jit "Do yen want the servant? Clap your bands smartly, and than' come from somewhere above or be- > low or-around, a H-i-i-l-i-11, and, sandaled feet are quickly "sliding toward you. At the eounu, of the sliding door you look, only to see him or her approaching yon on sliding knees—at least, so it seems. .Your yommanda are received by. the polite waiter in that attitude add the disappearing is after the fashion of the approaching. '

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

"Dispose of yourself as best you can. The Utile platform at the end of the loonf, with your roll of rags, may give you relief from standing or sitting on your heels. I have been fortunate enough thus far to be entertained where a ohair could be had for the asking. But when one cornea to meals—whiob ace served in one's room it is quite a condescension from the foreign ohair to the little Japanese table. 'Foreign food' also is to be found in the best hotels. BeefsteaK, chicken, butter, eggs, potatoes—one can get on very well with such 'hardships' if the fare is not spoiled in the cooking," ' With Buoh surroundings Armand found the McGregor, who upon catching sight of the New Yorker hustled bin up to his room, where they could reoline upon the rugs in true Japanese style, smoke pipe or cigar, and enjoy, a good, old-fashioned powwow. For Armand had already informed his friend be had important news for him, and that there wad danger brooding in the air, so Uor.lie ;was in a feverish state of impatience to learn the truth.

When the suoret was out he saw. a prospective chance to do still more for his sweetheart, and while deploring the new danger on account of the girls, was quite ready to assume his own part in the drama, be it comedy, or tragedy., An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, and the ladies must be named at once. ! Armand made . a protest—said he ought to be back at his own hotel and attending to the duty of securing bis supper, but it was a very feeble effort, and MoGreggor, jumping up, seized him by the coat, remarking, broadly and emphatically: "Ye gillie, d'ye think I'd let ye gang awa' not o' this the noo, when supper is ready? Man, 1 ken the baith bairns would reproach me if I were ho peetiful a fool. 'Alaug with me ye maun ' go, and repeat, the story ge tauld me in the presence of all!" And he went.

CHAPTER XIV. IN HARNESS AGAIN. The apartment whiob Armand entered aDd where he found the others assembled was a startling.innovation so far as a Japanese hotel was oonuerned. , It was an apology for a diningroom—Heaven save the mark!— fourth-class hotels in other countries could see this, atttempt and go one better.

Still, Anglo-Saxon tourists considered it a grand stride toward independence, a breaking away from the old, time-honored custom of sending all meals to the chambers of individual guests, and began to have hopes that some day one might enjoy a few of the Oooidental com forts in Oriental countries. Armand had no eyes for the apartment. Had it been lined . with double eagles or suveriegns nailed to the walls, and furnished with the lavish extravagance of a New York Fifth Avenue magnate, still he must have utterly ignored the startling fact for a brief time. ,

He was watching the little party seated at the table, or, rather, had had his eye 9 glued upon one member in particular. It would not be difficult to guess the identity of that person.

The servants came and went with such a shuffling, almost silent movement that the entrance of any one with heels on their shoes must naturally attract attention, so that all looked up. Tessie turned a little white, and then, as if embarrassed by having betrayed her feelings, blushed quite beautifully. At whiob the gentleman who was to be held accountable for all this felt decidedly better. "She does care—a little. Perhaps in time, if I pursue my policy at indifference, it may come out <all right God grant It," was what he whispered to himself. Evangeline was, of course, demonstrative—it would hardly be the "infant" otherwise. She ran forward and caught Ar> maud's band, g\ ring it the most ardent, pump-handle shake and all the while rattling along in ner laughing manner, over whelming him With thanks, reproaching him for leaving their party so and even on the sly whispering that sLj knew bow it was, bad been there herself many times, and could sympathise with him; be must cheer up; the cloud might have a silver lining; "weeping and sorrow may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning," and much mo.o ... -Jae same sort. Armand actually took hope under her manipulation of his case; surely she must know something of Tessie's sacred feelings, whether they were confidants or not. He had carefully groomed and ooaohed himself for this meeting, and proceeded to act his part. ('JIO be Continued.)