THE SPOILS OF WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1907, Page 14

THE SPOILS OF WAR.

(Complete Sketch.) . (By Helen .T. Cletand.) Seigu Sekiguchl and Sasa Sail had been married for two years when the call came, •and still no chiW had come to bless their union. He was of the Samurais, and for generations his fathers had led in battle, and it had been his ambition at least to "nand his name down to one who could "honour it and carry on ite tradition: hut ■the time had come for him to go to the and leave Sasa alone and childless. 'Sasa knew his "Rsappointmenr: biy; as he 'was .leaving she only tried to cheer hltn

"It Is best as it. is." he said as he went. "In all the world there is only so much "nvp, and we have that—we now have ii tfll between lis—between just us two. If another came to us. the love would be shared by three, and so there might be ".ess for'you and mc."

Sasa beld lum close and said not a word. •She too was descended from warriors, and ■could not weep—at least not before Seijro. That was for her to do in the niglit when she was alone after he had gone and. when !>-> -one could see her.

'"No son conld wish more for yon than I." she said after a moment. "And when 'yon return I will bid you welcome Tor Ojoth.'' , '-Get if - • .'"'"hen will Ibe a true wife—a true mother. Your grave shall never want for •my cure, nor for the tears of those who loved yon and honour your memory."

There was no more leave taking. Tliere were no more tears nor good-bye.. She was a daughter—a mere womau—of the eSamtirats, and he a servant of the Mikado. And the Emperor had summoned him.

; Japan and China were at war, and Seigo ••Sekiguchi— now Captain Seigo Sekiguchl, •with a company of his own—wa_ under General Yamatch! during his famous at•tack on Port Arthur. It was in the heart <;f winter,, and Manchuria seemed colder than ever that year. Miles of country lay desolate, fast in an icy grasp. Cutting wind pierced the cloaks of officer and man as a knife would rip a leaf. The earth was wTiitc and heavy with many

i One day in tlie fae-e ot the cruel wind 'from the Siberian 'mountains, and Tialfblinded by the snow, a small company beaded by Captain Sekiguchl attacked a Chinese fort near Port Arthur. Surprised and bennmhed by cold, the garrison soldiers fled Jn terror at the enemy's approach.

„As Captain Sekuguchl marched at the head of his troops, a strange cry came to (him. it was not the wail of a strong wind, •out shrill, and It sounded human. His jaws were set. and he was iv the frenzy «f 'he charge when again he heard the s-_d. Seigo was a Samurai, and this was his first big ehance--and his first '•'laneo to show vie Mikado—-and Sasa. He 'must not falter, and yet the sound came again. By now it was a thin, pitifnl cry * r om under a enow-covered bush just ahead of him on the road; hut he could not stop. If he faltered for an Instant. his troops would see it—they might mls"nderstand.

Kow he was beside the bush when the >="_nd came again, fainter, but just as human, and he looked. lv an Instant while o flurry erf blinding snow hid him from his troops, Sekiguchl reached under the bush «nd seized a tiny buntile, which he prcsset\ close to his heart. For a moment he forgot that he was a' Samurai—that he was .fighting for the Mikado—and Sasa. lie only knew that lie held a baby, which was now gently purring in the warmth of the great coat. And holding it. safely In his lti< arm, he marched doggedly on at the head of his men.

Amid a storm of shell and fire, he pressed into the eneemy's camp; his sword in fliis ri?ht hand aud hugging the baby to this breast tightly w_t his left. At his _J of "Charge'" the Utile child lorjked up into his face and smiled, while a chubby tiand clutched at the gold cord on his Ibreast. StIH with his little charge, Sekiguchl pressed the attack; and when the fiirrisoij surrendered, a strange sight greetW the enemy—the commanding officer at ihe head of his troops. t__ right hand tianging lifeless at his side; but iv his left a smiling infant lay as uafe as tn Its mother's cradle.

When he was mustered out a few months later. Captain Sekiguchl took the child from 'he stall surgeon and went to his home. On the way he pictured to himself how glad tSasa would be. Here was another to share their love; but to Seigo that love seemed to have grown, until now there surely ■musTA be enough for three. When the trajn estopped, the engine vainly tricxl to drown ,f hc "Banzals!" of the people.. Bnt in the crowd Selgo looked only for *>nc face;—and hers was uot there. With the child on his arm, and with a new star -listening on his breast, he hurried through tho crowd, and finally stopped at his own _o»v. Even here there waE no welcome. Was Sasa ill? Was she He burst through his shoji; still no one appeared. Then from an inner room came an old woman, who greeted him in pantomime.

"Sh!" she whispered, and placed a finecr to her lips. Then she beckoned him aside, and said softly, "My mistress is P sleep. She needs it; for your son has been sounding the battle cry of the Samurais since yesterday, when he came."