Page:Madame Butterfly; Purple eyes; A gentleman of Japan and a lady; Kito; Glory (1904).djvu/213

 cunning. He was very tired. Sometimes his eyes would close for a moment. But his lips kept up that iteration which is Japanese praying. And presently, as he prayed, dropping the words like a dreamer now, the Lord of Light himself appeared. His placid eyes were unveiled, and a smile which had the peace and sweetness of heaven in it (so that he understood what peace meant, for the first time) was on his face. And in his hands was a child, which he placed in Kito's arms, saying:

"Thine!"

Then he vanished, and Kito slept, till a soft touch fell upon his hollow cheek, and he opened his eyes to see the child of the vision. For that and this had all been one to him. He lay quite still while her tiny hands strayed adventurously over his features. Some one lighted a lantern down at the gate, and he saw the hands—like snowflakes. The palms were damp with the tears she had rubbed out of her eyes. Her hair was an exquisite yellow aureole in the dim light, and her baby face gleamed in the midst of it.

She was quite satisfied with her exploration of him. She sighed happily and patted