Page:Madame Butterfly; Purple eyes; A gentleman of Japan and a lady; Kito; Glory (1904).djvu/216

 understood this. There was not a soul in the grove. And the silence which always broods here at night had come down. He stood up with the baby close in his arms. He looked around a moment. No one was in sight—no one to ask a question. He laughed a great, harsh, unused laugh that startled himself as he heard it. He stopped. He had meant it only for joy. But it had been very long since he had laughed. He had forgotten how to laugh for joy. Tita was frightened at it also. But she understood his caresses and the warmth of his arms, and put her head back on his shoulder.

"Tita tire'. Tate Tita her's mama. Tate Ti-ta—" Her head fell limply upon his breast.

Kito fled noiselessly down the long path to his 'rikisha. The strength of his youth was in his legs once more, the hope of his youth in his heart. As he went, the warm young head burrowed deeper and deeper into his bosom. The ravishing curls swept his face. The tender little body grew limp upon his arm. He could feel the tiny heart beating just over his own. The perfumed breath fanned his cheek. The bare knees tempted him with their dimples, and he