where I conducted my visitor, might have added joy to its symbol of
peace on this perfect day of early spring. In each flower, in every leaf
a glad spirit seemed to dwell. The feathered tribe that made its home
among the branches madly rejoiced in a melody of song and twitterings. A
white mother pigeon sheltered her young in a gnarled old plum tree,
full-blossomed and crimson, while in a lofty pine old man crow scolded
all birdkind as he swayed on the topmost branch, a bit of ebony against
the matchless sky of blue.

There is only one effectual way of dealing with things one does not want
to do--make past history of them as fast as possible. Very soon after
entering the garden I asked Mr. Chalmers, who was mildly interested in
the beauties before him, to sit down with me. Without further dallying,
I went straight to the point of the interview. I told him I had heard
him make the appointment with Zura the night before and he seemed to
have forgotten to mention the matter to me, though I was close by. For a
time at least I was responsible for Zura, and I thought it best to call
his attention to a few facts which could not be overlooked.

"I wonder, Mr. Chalmers, if you realize that in this country it is
impossible for a boy and a girl to associate together alone. It is
barely permissible for you to see her in the company of others. Already
your attentions have caused Zura to be talked about and there is very
serious trouble with her grandfather. Further than that, the excursion
you are planning for to-night is not only improper in any country, but
it means actual disgrace here."

"It does? Well, I'll be hanged! Can't take a girl out and give her a
good time! I knew these Japs were fools, but their laws are plain rot."

"Possibly, from your standpoint, Mr. Chalmers; but you see these laws
and customs were in good working order in Japan long before Columbus had
a grandfather. They can't be changed on the spur of the moment."

"That's all right," he responded hotly. "What you can't change you can
sometimes break; I'm good at that kind of game."

Something in the boy's resentful face said that I was an impudent old
meddler, an officious interloper. It made my voice as sharp as pins.
"Very well, young man," I said, "there will be just one time in your
life's history when you have encountered both an old law and an old
woman that you will neither break nor change. Your attentions to Zura
Wingate have got to be stopped and