ITO AND MYSOTI.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 841, 17 January 1901, Page 3

ITO AND MYSOTI.

A JAPANESE LOVE-STOIiy,

Ito loved Mysoti and Mysoti loved [to; but Mysoti knew not that lto loved her, nor was Ito aware that Mysoli loved him. Mysoti was the only child of a rich mer chant named Uisuti, who was also a magistiate ; while Ito was only a woodcarver and the son of a poor man. Mysoti was small and dark and, possessed the loveliest pair of soft almond eyes that ever kindled the llame of love in a youth's heart; and everybody called her Pearly Ryes. Ito was dark also, but, unlike most of his race, he was tall and sinewy, and was very handsome. But, for all that Ito was a nobody, and who would think that he would dare to raise his eyes tc Mysoti, the rich magistrate's daughter ? But a lover soon discovers whether his love is reciprocated or not, and it gradually dawned upon Ito's mind that his love was returned. Mysoti had long known that, Ito loved and admired her, but. then she was a woman, while he was a man, and we all know that men are dull and stupid when they are in love. So, though a word had never passed between them, they had told their love in that silent language in which lovers can converse fur more eloquently than by words which come from the lips ; it is called the language of the eyes, as every lover knows, for it comes lo lovers more naturally than their mother tongue. Now, whenever Mysoti and Ito met, she would cast her eyes down to the ground, while a deep blush would sufluse her cheeks, making them look like a pair of the dark red burnett roses.which, of course, made her look prettier than ever, and played havoc with poor Ito's heart. Then she would shyly raise her eyes until they met those of Ito, when, instantly, they would be cast down again, and her loving little heart would go pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat, and beat faster all day in consequence. And Ito; he, reading the love in her tender glances, would be transported to the seventh heaven of delight, only to be plunged into the lowest depths of misery and despair when he realised how utterly above him was his love.

And so things went on for a long, long time, and he grew thin and careworn with many sleepless nights, and with blooding over his melancholy fate in the daytime. And little Pearly Eyes changed from the merry, artless, laughing girl that she was into a demure, saddened little woman. It puzzled her father vastly, who tried in vain to discover the reason of it. But such a thing as this men are slow at understanding, and, as her mother was no longer living, it remained a mystery to all but herself.

It was at the time of the bon festival that Ito first spoke to Mysoti. Slie Jiad come into the town witli her father, and they were walking down one of the principal streets, when Hisuti met some business friends. He stopped to speak to them while she walked slowly on admiring the illuminations. Not looking where she was going, she suddenly stumbled over a stone and fell to the ground. Ito chaneed to he near at the time, and immediately he sprang to her assistance. She thanked him very prettily, whereupon Ito, with a temerity which amazed even himself, in burning and half incoherent words, told her that hi; loved ht'r, .ind begged earnestly to sen her alone. Ouniii.-'d and bewildered Mile Wlli.-!:!;ll"i:

'"■■ ".'.., ,'.V■'.'•"''•w ni'ih'i at eight i will meet yon in the ~,. •; ' i"ii behind my father's h.ai-.-e." and, liliishh..; \ if /h'ii;lv. she turned wiuly from him and w.'.'.' '"'■

quickly uu lie- afreet to he. fiit.li >r, who, fortunately had not noticed her 'iceidcnl. The minutes seemed hours and the hours days toltount.il the evening of ie> morrow came ; but it came at last and found him anxiously pacing along the path by Hisuti's garden-gate. He had not waited long ere it was quietly opened and in the dusky twilight he espied the slender form and the coy face of Mysoti. With eager toctsteps he stepped inside, and, saying not a word, followed her. She led him to a small arboui wherein they both sat. Clasping her tiny bunds he gazed long and passionately into her face ; but she kept her eyes (ixed on the ground. Silent they sat for a long time drinking in the delicious joy of each other's presence. At last Ito broke the blissful silence, and softly said, " Mysoti, fair and pure as the chaste lotus, how I love you."

She blushed deeper than ever, hut re mained immersed in silence.

" I know it is presumption," Ho continued, " but since the day my eyes lirst beheld you you have been the life of my heart. Say you love me in return, light of my eyes." " How can I help loving you?" she replied, with maidenly shyness. And then Ito in burning and passionate words told his love and devotion, speaking with the earnestness and eloquence with which only lovers'tongues are endowed ; and Mysoti listened with the sweet content and delight of a maiden in whose heart love is young, and, amid the gorgeous azaleas and the sweet-scented daphnes, their young souls were bathed in the deliciousnci-s of first love. When, at last, they parted at the gate of the garden, Ito asked, '* When shall our next meeting be, sunof my life 'i " and she leplying, " A week hence, dear Ito," homeward he traced his lightsome way to dream of Mysoti, Paradise, and golden butterflies. And so the'time sped on arjd Ito once again grew haopy and his bright eyes lost their melancholy, and Mysoti became the blithe, merry-hearted maiden of yore. 0 ! the delight of those stolen meetings ! 0 ! the bliss of those mutual love-vows, breathed in the witching twilight hour. But happiness never remains unalloyed long, and the alloy in the happiness of Ito and Mysoti came at last in the shape of anoiher suitor to Myaoti's hand, and one which her father approved of. The new suitor was a wealthy, stupid, middle-aged man called Tainauki. He was the proprietor of a large tea-house, and frcm every worldly point of view was a most desirable husband for any girl. But though Mysoti's father gazed on things with worldly eyes, she did not; what girl ever does over whose heait love lilts cast its mystic clamour ? An' l so all the lovers' visionary schemes and glowing hopes were destroyed; and Mysoti again became depressed and her eyes harboured a sweet sorrow, and Ito grew wasted and thin. At length, things came to a climax. Hisuti persisted in his determination to marry his daughter to Tainauki, in suite of ail her tearful protestations; and

it was with heavy hcait im.i w <i'iig eyes that she communicated lie -.,,1 news to her lover. I'oor M\m>li. |...i lto. Ho tried in vain lo eomftut In r. but it wasa small measure of cuiim.lul h-ii he could give her. He was po >r nn i un known, and might as well hope to I-»■ ti• f abridge to the clouds as hope to many Mysoti, And in the little Mower-em-braced arbour the lovers wept over their cruel fate.

At last into Mysoti's eves flashed ft gleam of hope. " Listen, lto," she said, " You shall marry me yet; listen to the plan I have conceived. " And in tapid words she unfolded her scheme to her lover, lto lent his ears with the eagerness of despair, and a tiansiont bright' ncBB passed across his face. Cut. picsently, he moved his head dcspomlmcly, and when she had concluded, said, " It cannot be. Mysoti, the risk is too snat." But the determined little maiden pel* sisted. and, finally, her lover cave an unwilliu? consent to comply with her pioposal. When the time came that they had to part, Mysoti said. " Thieo devs heme, remember, and do not fail me :or it is our only hope " ; and Jto reluctantly promised to keep his word. i'oor Mysoti that night was obliged to bear with the odious altenl inns of Tamauki, who paid her laborious compliments and tried in his nnuioMly i\av to be agreeable, while her father loo'-cd on approvingly. Oh ! how she hated Tamauki; how fat and ugly and stupid he seemed when computed with I.or handsome Ho ; and try as she would she was unable to conceal her dislike.

" She is but a shy floweret yet," ha id Hisu'.i, " but she will love you belter when she knows you more."

"No doubt about, it," replied the placid Tamauki,evidently thinking that no girl in Japan could resist liim : and he sipped complacently the cup of sake' Mysoti I ad brought him. " You will not forget Oovoinor Minisaki's chrysanthemum fete thiee days hence. Mysoti will want some other escort than her father," said old lli.mili. smiling. Tamauki gazing at her said ho would not miss it for the world.

It was a bright, cloudless day when Hisuti, Mysoti, ami T.ummki dopaiteil lor Governor Murisaki's minnier residence, where the chrysanthemum letu was to be held. As they pursued their way Hisuti ana Tainauki husil.v t-lutiif«l together, addressing mi occasional leraark to Mytsoti, who walked on in a quiet, solemn mood. Now ami then shu turned her head as if looking lor someone, At length, in the distance, shu espied the well-known foi m of lto, and a look of determination Hashed into her eyes and she walked along with • firmer step. Leaving the town behind them tliev came to the Uower-friugcd river which flowed past Governor Murisaki's iesideuce, and followed tin? path along its banks. Hisuti and Taiuauki weie engaged in close conversation, when, suddenly, a startling scream pierced their ears, and turning round,they were bonified to tee the form of little Mysoti struggling in the water. Hisuti wiimg his hands iu a paroxysm of despair, while Tumauici stood gazing in speechless horror.

" Save my child ! save my child ! " cried the grief-stricken father, imploringly.

" I eannot." replied Tamauki.hnaiMly. While tin- old man was wildly lamenting and appealing for help, a Miangtt man rushed to the spot, and, without n moment'** hesitation, plunged into the watcr.llc quickly grasped the stniggling girl and, in a minute, he had brought her safely to land. It was Ito.

There was no chrysanthemum fete fur Hisuti and Mysoti that day. "'hey i<lurned home and Ito willi them, whilti Tamanki.annoyed at llisuti's rcpioael is for Ills cowardice, went his own wav, In fact, a coolness sprang up between Hie two in consequence, and when Mjm.l i, seizing her opportunity, told her lather how she detested Tmniinki ami deeh I with tears in her eyes that she eould never be happy us his wife, IJi-uli said very quietly that she cor Id have her own nay. Hut when she confessed 1..-1 love for th--brave Ito it was a very dilli-ient thing, llisuti's pride wild elai-s pleju■flee:- i\e'-e sln'.bi r'i things to oven nine: hut, eien'.u.cij Myota !■ "fnl eyes and ~,,--!an! I.eart-hiutc' aid tic .•■inein- !„.;,,,,:,-'< lie's i,fav, ( y sol', eon ! : heart., niililTtY. ."<'''" ~:l '<' :l '' >■:' ;i smile 0,1 !.,-; 10-.-l >i v ."'''' '■' '' ■' ■' ■'■ 'e eonsi-nled !■■ .s.'ii:r 1 n./j ,j» ,i ' ,; ,"' '"•'•• N) My-oli and ito rteie rna. I i.-IV.! Ji, proved to be a nine d.a'r, » in , : ut, Ito, having entered n/.n ,m ..!!i r.n ; i obtained bv his father-in-law'* i.-lm. n e, soon rose to be «n important pci-oi.,i;e, and was duly honoured ,ncl respcried. And now there is a little Ito wdio playi around old llisuti's knee and gladdens his heart with his merry little pranks. And Ito and Mysoti are as happy as the days are lone; and often when sitting alone in evemne twilight he says, " All life's iiappiiiew I owe to you, my beloved, for hud you not possessed thtt woman's wit to devise the plan to bill into the river, so that I could rescue you an i put to shame Tainauki, and the courage In entry it out, you would now have been his wife, and J should have, lost all the hope and joy of lile."-Uy W.M ItOIIKKT.SIIAW.