MY JAPANESE PRINCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5598, 26 May 1905, Page 2

MY JAPANESE PRINCE.

(Being some startling excepts from tho diary of Hilda Patience Armstrong, of Meriden, Connecticut, at present travelling in the Far East.) nr ARCHIBALD C’LAVERING GUKTER (Author of “Mr Barnes of New York,” “Air Potter of Texas,’ ’etc.) CHAPTER 111. (continued.) “But you must promise me,” I ejaculate, trying to cover embarrassment by flippancy, “not to gamble for any other geishas, or I shall have a lecture to read to you when I return from Manchuria.” “Oh,” be laughs, “quarrels only come with the absence of the red petticoat.” The colour of my countenance is now crimson. “The red petticoat” m Japan is doffed before marriage.

But Sendai, probably noticing my blushes, remarks lightly: “If I promise to ho a good boy in Tokyo, you must promise to write mo long gossipy letters from Manchuria.”

“Indeed I will,” I answer, “I know everyone in Port Arthur from Alexeieff, the Russian Viceroy, and Admiral Stark, tho commander of the fleet, to tho landlord of the dirty Hotel de France.”

“Thank you, I shall always bo interested in what you are doing,’’ he says gratefully and earnestly; adding: “Esteemed young lady, were I you, I would not permit too marked attentions from Baron Schoritch.”

‘Why, the Baron will not be in Manchuria.”

“Oh, I think he will,” observes the Prince, contemplatively knocking the ashes from his cigar, “quite" shortly after you arrive there. It is not often that I make remarks about men behind their backs, but the Baron’s profession is not as aristocratic as at present you think it, honoured Miss Armstrong.” “What do you mean?” I ask, opening my eyes. “Oh, well, to be very candid with you, I mean the Baron is an agent of the Czar to discover things which his embassy qvould consider beneath diplomatic attention. He is simply a paid spy of tho Russian government.” “Good heavens!” I falter as into my mind flies: “Oh, how jealous Sendai must bo to say such things of his rival!” .

“X can repeat this to my father?” I remark rather haughtily. “Why certainly; in fact, you had better give your father a hint; that is, if Papa wishes to get extremely good prices from the Russian Government on any more bridge contracts,” laughs tho engineer officer. Then he abruptly changes tho subject and says; _ “An important order from the Chief of Staff will not permit my going to-mor-row morning to Yokohama to see you on board, the Nagasaki Maru, but you will find, honoured young lady, that I am represented by a token.” Just then, Dad in his careless, interrupting way conies in and cries: “What is that I hear, my boy—that you won’t be able to .see us off at Yokohama?”

“No, honoured Mr Armstrong. Some news that has arrived this evening has given me immediate and imperative duties to perform, and consequently I am compelled to say sayonara this evening both to you and your fair daughter.” Sendai bows to the floor before me. Then looking into my eyes, a strange light enters his as ho says: “May we meet again?” “We will meet again!” I reply. “Papa early in the spring is bringing mo back to Tokyo on our way to .the United States. Besides—”

“I may come to Manchuria; who knows?” remarks the Prince contemplatively. "Oh, you think you will visit us in Manchuria?” I reply effusively. “Perhaps. Even a fortune teller cannot foretell his own fate,” observes the Captain. Then Papa shakes hands with him m American fashion and says: ‘Thank you for everything you have done for me in a business way and in a social way for my daughter,” and walks out. Sendai, looking at me, remarks sentimentally: “Please don’t forget my words in regard to the Baron, esteemed Miss Armstrong:” “I will remember,” I whisper. “There, good-bye now 1” He uses the English form of address. Apparently passion makes him ignore Japanese etiquette; he takes my hand, kisses it in the European way and whispers; “Don’t forget .your letters! Tell me everything that is going on about you. —write me the details of, life in Port Arthur!” Joowing once more, he passes from my, sight. I

There are tears in my eyes as X watch the poor fellow depart—a woman is always tender to a hopeless passion. Suddenly I wonder if Sendai thinks my promise to write to him means a J apanese engagement. The next morning we glide down to Yokohama on the train and go on board the Nagasaki Mara bound for (Jhemulpo and Niuchwang. From the latter port we will take train to Port Arthur and Dalny. Schevitch, Pinkie Caldwell and Charlie Brown have come on board to bid us good-bye, and the Baron whispers to me: “It is only an revoir. Mademoiselle Armstrong, i shall be in Manchuria within the month.” As I step into my cabin, I give an exclamation of delight; it has been made a floral bower by Prince Sendai. On its table is a case. I open it and find a wondrous piece of that magnificent cloisonne work that, made by the old artificers of Japan, is now almost priceless. With it is a note. “Esteemed Young Lady:— This bauble has been in the Sendai family for many hundred years. Keep it as a slight souvenir of some happy Tokyo days. Pardon the extreme effrontery of my venturing to address you. Rejoicing that your honoured health is not subject to sea-sickness, I remain your most humble, SENDAI.” As X return to the deck, impressed by the magnificence of the Prince’s gift, I remember the Prince’s warning. “Oh, he must consider my promised letters to him a Japanese engagement!” I think. “Yes, his warning of Baron Schevitch indicated that he thought he had the right to advise me.” Papa is waiting for me on the deck, a big cigar in his mouth. “These Havanas Sendai sent me are as bang up as his mathematics,says Dad.' “I suppose they are in return for the diamond ring I gave him. It was a sparkler!” As the vessel leaves tho harbour and turns its prow south-east towards the Inland Sea, I, pacing the deck with my father, remember that Sendai predicted tho Baron would come to Manchuria. Is Schevitch following me? But my reflections are broken in upon by Papa remarking in very ser-

ions tones and in rather low whisper so that we cannot he overheard; “My daughter, I’m almighty glad you didn’t fail in love with the Jap Prince,” “Why so, Papa?” “Because Amonjcan women had hotter marry their own countrymen, and ho’s tho kind of a chap who is very likely to be killed in the coming war. That engineer oliicer would put his head into an exploding Russian cannon if ho thought it would do the Mikado any good; though he’d be cool enough to calculate range equations under fire.” “Coming war? You think it is imminent ?” “I think it is certain, that the Japs will call the Muscovite bluff,” whispers Dad. “That’s tho reason I’m getting to Manchuria in such a hurry—so as to have my business shipshape when the storm bursts!” “Why, tho Japanese ■ will never dare to confront the mighty power of Russia !” “Haven’t you ever seen a bull terrier fly at a bull?” whispers Papa. “Besides, I think the Japs have a pretty fair chance of winning.” “Why so?” I whisper. “Well, they’ve got the Jews on their side, and the Jews are a power in this world. You just go into business and sea. The Mikado’ll get loans slick as grease when he wants them from the: Hebrew banters of tho whole world.”

CHAPTER IV.

THE CURIOUS ASPARAGUS TRENCH. “Dad, I am going to have a houseparty up at Polandien!” “Well, I’m darned!” ejaculates father, leaning down to mo to catch my words over the roar of shells falling into the fortifications and docks of Port Arthur. Then gazing at the throng of refugees 'that, are crowding into the train, he adds grimly; “Your invites will he accepted. Just at present, any spot ,on God’s earth is preferable to this one!” For the blow has come ! Tho litUe David, Japan, has struck the big Goliath, Russia, right in tho eye with his slingshot-—I mean his torpedoes. This torpedo business happened only a few evenings ago when I was at Madame Stark’s fete in celebration of her husband’s saint’s day. Stark commands the Russian fleet at Port Arthur ; consequently, many naval officers wex*e on shore that evening drinking tho health of their hospitable hostessWo heard the explosions during tho revelry and thought it was torpedo practice by the Russian boats. It was an'hour after that we learned three big war vessels had been torpedoed and put out of combat by the sudden assault of the-Japanese flotilla. Next morning I went up one of the big hills that overlook The Tiger’s Tail and saw tire Retvizan beached, the Palladia on shore and tho Czarevitch disabled in the inner harbour. , Words could not describe tho savage rage and yet extreme astonishment. of the Russian officers at this audacious and unexpected onslaught of what they think their pigmy foe. Most of them never expected Japan would dare. Though Papa has been looking forward to something of the kind for months, I am certain, by his rapid and energetic business preparations and the manner in which he has hurried the work of the Meriden Company on the bridges he has under contract in Manchuria and collected as much as he could get out of the .Russian Vioe-regal exchequer. Then came the bombardment, and Dad immediately announced to me that ho would take me up to our little godown, near Polandien. “There you will be safe, Hilda,” he said, “and, can get your duds together, remaining comfortably there while I close up my business in Manchuria as quickly as possible. This country will soon be over-run’ by contesting armies.”

Therefore on this bright February day, we, attended by Ah. Tow and San Shoo, carrying our portable' luggage, are getting hastily on hoard the tram which is standing in the little station on the water front of the town. Our passports have been carefully examined by the Russian officials and I watch with some interest the great care that is now taken in examining these documents that Our fellow-travellers are compelled to present before going on the train. Especially do the Czar’s policemen look with wary eye upon the papers of: the Chinese coolies and house servants, who are'as anxious as we are to escape from the Japanese bombardment. Even the description on Ah Tow’s passport, though he has been well-known in the place as father’s valet for several years—and Dad is quite persona grata with the Russian officials —is so carefully compared with Tow’s personal appearance, by two Tartar officials, that our Chinese servitor grows rather pallid under the inspection and examination. As they pronounce him all right, Ah Tow says more confidently 'to father: “Russian man tink Chinee man may be Japanee man. No can tell diffelence, sabe I Japanee- man put on tail and talkeo Chinee lingo, then all samee Chinee man.” And San Shoo whispers to me: “Missie, RussiaiTman belly scared of Japanee man now slinoe they blow_ ’em up.” “Stop your Chinese jabber!” commands Papa savagely to our attendants, “and hustle those things aboard the train.”

This is very shortly done and we -follow our impedimenta quite hurriedly, for a big shell from some Japanese war vessel has hurst in the Eastern basin not half a mile from us. We have hardly squeezed on hoard the crowded car before the engineer, who seems to he in a hurry, gives two sharp whistles from one of the American locomotives that Papa has furnished to the Manchurian railway, and our train, following the little river, climbs the steep gradient that leads us from the land-looked port iip to the higher hilly plateau of the peninsula. Here we turn to the north and dart off upon the long line of rails that lead to Niuchwang or to more distant Harbin and the Trans-Siberian railway that wonld take one to Russia itself. , As the noise of the bombardment diminishes gradually in the distance, the conversation in the first-class car in which we are seated commences to be more audible. This is a polyglot of half a, dozen different languages, from German, French, English. Russian and Tartar merchants, with a little 1 Mandarin Chinese thrown in from a Taotai of some North Manchurian town addressed to his accompanying secretaries, whoso excited jabber shows that they are. very anxious to leave the vicinity of shot and shell. An hour after we are at Dalny Junction. Here our already overcrowded train receives more passengers from the seaport that Russia intends to make the terminal of its Asiatic railroads. (To be continued.)