A JAPANESE ROMANCE.

Otago Witness, Volume 06, Issue 2899, 6 October 1909, Page 90

A JAPANESE ROMANCE.

Bt Mrs Hugh Fbaser.

There was a H'tLa shop in the village whera all !roa:v:r of faacdi^l v.oodworii m-.:- e sold zo toi3 for-oigrj?rs Mho came by, or to tha .dealers \\uo ti-av-elkd through the toumry to s:ock tih«r bazaars in the gwat towns. Eaaa's biu?ket'3 of wistaria stem, gre\ -greca and mysti-o w-ith tk-a &il:nce o: t'vsiT b-irthplatc, pure and classical in ici.'Ji, always foirDd ready buyers, a^:d tbs kind won;an a.t the wood j-hop w ould 4-ay, a« s-'iie h;.nded over th-e i-ileb "oppc.s (round, ccarse coppers with a „...-:• bok to string them by) which 1 presented Kana's tiay gain^, " Oh, Hara San, bring a:« more of the wistaria bai>ket.«! That CTescen'.-shaped cr.e is always iikfd. and a? for t.h.e trourd with the han<£tv.cr vlr.c- — why. I eciud sell tsn of tho.-e fo» every ons you biin^! " '["h-coi Kara would smils her thanks and -.t. t t'ii to Kamoyo exactly 10 per cent, of ■ih... s-ne had received as a th«nk off ei ing fo-r lw?r trouble, and would .^ay, " Very v-il. Kamc;o San, I will see if I can nui-.j some more &oort. I am grateful, •i.d my poverty is enriched by all your "vindness ! " But as ?he wet'l away after 'aK'ci.ig th-e little por-ket of money inside . ' r >Di-h, sh>2 would say to htrsolf rather -adly. " Ka-moyo San «?IL< ; she dee-.* not .-;. ike the things. If the sun is .'•h'li.nc a-.d the b:r-d.s riji^io : I cc-n v. cave the' fnji hte:ns ard think of rc&£:y shapes for ti'^ni ; bat whon th-a oays are "h-crt ard ill' 1 rain copies do.vn the fuj-i is oo]q dnd and I want to work with I h j vKm piii» ne-r-dlccs or t-bc-e s-ti-oa-j biown f^'iis. I: is stranpa that Kamoyo San dc,?* no; uiu'T.-fand ! " i"'>r Kara w?s ::r arti^L in a hnnihle. 1 '.">t scions v. ay, an, I th.a aititt is Xi.tiirc"t L> r v.: O'i=-.-ip!,j. Ke nviy n.ake or break oil* r>r a-llegwinv-es, but Io her h.2 is ahvay; tit^ Hana had many t'lin-s to <'o bc-'c 1 .- '< r woodsy wpuvin o : t^'-er^ w? ; the liou^e ii ewcftp and the f-^od to .'•^a to: cloti-c- >o wa^h in ihe tur.:l>l : n'.!: bro k. a-*J i.< r pi])e aii.l tobacco box *.ij:!i its ■iM.v,ic ITujiyanw o" wist.". via -.u-h to .-^-t mi o -<Je>r «>'"r.r.?t t.he home-ccming. \'f n and t!.:n pllgAms or travcil o r.- v.oa'd a-k if t-hcy might r-t a while on th-f 'jolit-h-.i \r rand aii F^at. pr.id when they did. it v. >!.- iv-' ' •- b'Tore Hana out h-er .:a% . <ir»--eu like a lotus lesi, zrA Iver b-t-t l>iuv t?acups full of- frsi^rcnt topaz-tea for the I; r-efrcAhiriroiit ; also '<he Pf-cond b?st Tohac'-to box with pipe and all complete. So:r.e offered- money ar-d others thanks foi the hospitality, bnt the Mi-nnks were a.ll she- Tvould accept. Then when they ■went on their way she would wish them go~<l luck aod smile, aivd return to h-er t^^ks by the time, they stopped to look back at her from the last bend of the climbing road. Once a dainty lady» had come, in a beaiu-iful liasket-worfc palanquin, followed 1»t .1 train of servants. She was so pretty Mid smiling that Hana ha-d felt impelled ko make her a present of a hanjjins: basket ia the sbapo of a young moon, with a trail •f wild ivy drooping over its edge and •Bother twined in the delicate chain from which it was meant- to swing, and the lady b»i «td it was lovdy and fastened

it to the inner roof of her litter ; and she gave Hana in exchange a picture book Lhat she iisd been looking at as she jou-r-reyed, acd the book was now oas of H-Ina'fc greatest treasures. She kept it wrapped in a bib of purple crepe that { Kamoyo had given belr, and when her work, "was done she would spread it out on the mat acd tell herself stories aoont all the pictures. Some of thean were portraits of the Emperor and the Imperial Family — and the very first time she open&d it she saw the giver's own face looking at her from one of the pages. She j was so ttiiuE'&d to the world and its ways ; that this only struck her as a most de- , ligbtfal surprise ; but w:beii her grand- j father came home ar.d she showed him. *" her treasure he looked quite awe-struck, I and at last told her shs must have made , a mistake. She shook ho.- head trium- ' phantly. No, indeed, there was no mistake. The lady in the picture liaid her ' hair aiore gramdiiy dressed, and h-er robe ' was ntv the sam-e ; but that was her face j vinrl no other! It was rather a peculiar i face -.vt;.h iihe dark hai«r growir.g in five , deap \x>Lnts roun.^ the brow; th-a eyebrov.s ( were unusually arched and the mouth j yni.ling, and there was a quaint dimple ' at one ccwrar which t>he court photo- ; •.Tsipher had caught very well. Haoaa's j grandiatth-cir fetched his horn-rimmed ; glasses and hjgian to spell ouiL the letter- ! ing beneath : " H-r-r Imp&rkul Highness the j Princess Chive Takeihito, the cousin of ! the Emperor ! "' A few days aftsv the Pr.ince^-s had p--=i.;d that way another visitor- came to th« cottage on the hill. .This wa? a j a -crag -man whe-m Ham. had met two or ; three times, in Kamoyo's house, for he | v.as a conski of the kind shopkeeper, *nd onca Mfhen Plana h«.d som.s heavy bn.adles j to curry home Kas-tyo bad s:ijgest«.d that | li<e phoyld go with b&r and take the ! rice bag and the roll of matting, which j s^emsd beyond bar strength. Hana had ' laughed at the idea oi aaiyt'iiirg being beyond her strength, bat she was glad of the young com oaruo:: ship, and liima talked to pleasantly and toM h-er such funny Etoiies that siie hoiecl. quite innocentlj-, that hs would coon come again. He had been with her nearly a week, when Hana came down Iron the hills for ore of her periodical \ isits> to the v illa»e ; several pretty heads had been exercised about the handsome lad. and all manner of enands imented to bring their owners into the shop a doz-en times ? day. The country maidens have, niore liberty t'xan their sL-hei.s in the tov/ns, and Malsii. whose fathsr was the innkeeper, told her paients- frankly that, if she had her way. there was the husband for he:-! But Ijima wrns not da?zlfd by her preference or her prosoacthe fortune. Ke o'.d not wart to talk fo lUatsu or an} r other — th-?y were all silly creatures. And fien Hana. the maid'ot the woods, had come in, with he.- a^rr.b full of her nre;ty wares, the soft shadows 1 and sudden sunbeam*, of the forert still ' in ho/ eye, and tome of its music in hor j voice; her feet fell lio'hiiy a>s the leaf from the tree, and in her crown of shin- , ing hair a baby Din? pore had been ■ stuck fo:- a nin. Ke>- .blue and white i robe smelt of the mountain flowers, and j Ijima thoug'it he hr-d never s?cn any- 1 one so ueaut'ftil iii h't life. His big. > foolish heait (for no heait ib ot'irrv. ise at 20 !) jumped wildly and then Ftood , f>tii l. Hana had paused in the docrway, the sun behind hzv framing her in ?. golden haz?, and, indeed, the jjirl -,\ ss a picture of sweft nnd hanoy innotence. , She looked thyly at the you re; man, ' and then K^iunvo hnd hurMed fj.'.%ard to relieve '«c: of hor S.-^^pis. ard they all began to t--lk. aiid Ijima was soon hrns-jlf nsaln. Then had r-o;.!e the walk up th? hi'l s>)kl the slffht of Kar.a's ; forest home. O\<\ Sakubel had received , him kindly and thanktd him for helping ', tha child. For the next few days i jima's mc^ds j alternat-ed between dreams of ambition r.nd drpam: of l«ve. Whsn the sterner \ fit was on him he was silent and lather lordly with f,ood Aunt Ktiii-jvo. Kut ' in the soft sunset hour, when he wou'd eV'o'l cut. to sn.oke his )> pc by the rtrsam that emotlod itself into t-ho broad lalce. then a rem^mbrarce of Hana's fwoft face and 'au^hirg eyes would c on->e b?<_k to him, and the uinps. reach-.na; , down long green arms 10 the water. 'vo"!J see.v to si'ih h°:- riip^e Tt wafon'y p name, after all. but Ijima had ' h"avd h»r c^ll'-J by no other. Jt nieTit "blossom?." and nuitt ha\e be^-n made for her alone, to judg 0 by its fitness. ' "riven in the Hcht of tho'-o -''-c; t H;:na. Kg n:entai landscaDt- changed. The d;stiit horizon locked loss in\it:ng, nearer t v fatness iiiore sweet. Sd it was a foregone (rnclu'i on that Ijini:' i'lOtikl <!ii>i!) thp hll the i:ext n'^rnin" and knoc k timidly at the cot.l c rl to:-. Xo one -nit we: .»d hi>-i Ol'l S/ilmb-^l '.v?s oil at u.iik. ard Hana \-;"5 s'tti 1^ at ii)p foot o f li?! 1 fn\ou:ite t.eo, lojk.n^ u> .nU> the lr.. r 'hcs arti wond ?:■;.-'.• "wh,,t :f. f( It I\c i>t ha\e 1 w:"o> 'I'hen 'h' <> v. . , t':c •> 1 1 of a footstep. !'•■*.'! r-he t ampd t'. see iiima standing by =m!.' 1 is his i<^Ft clothes, ! tie sun shining down throrsh t''" r.ire branches on his kicd face and fuendly eves. Kp hs'l h's 'traw 'rtt :n: ntn t 3 hand, and with the other \ ,-- holding out a little Backet of sweft--, ti^d with red and white paner j-trinc. c to show j that it was a pr^rent. His her.it was i thumnirs; wildly. and re f elt terribly ! I shy. bnt Hana had no idsa of that. j She jumped up anickly and p^ade her best bow. her head going so low that 1 Ijima eou-ld Me the back of hT sincc-th sunburnt neck where the hair left it exposed. Then he bowed also, and found his tongue sufficiently to ask after her health and to beg her to accept , the quite unworthy super cakes as a ore&ent from his ount. This was a bold untruth, for he had robbed Kamoyo's store of the sweets and tied them up . himself. '

f "It will have to be the farm," said Ijima aloud, feeling that his mind had been made up for him without his own co-operation, and Hana turned and gave him a puzzled look. ■ " What did you say about a farm 1" she asked. " I did net understand." " Oh, nothing. I was thinking of 1 something else," he ancwered, getting rather red. " Forgive my rudeness, 0 Hana San ! And now I will go," he added, reaching out for his* hat, which he had thrown op the ground. So he went on, happy thoughts keeping pace with young feet, and aJI his ambitions to see the world forgotten. Hana's pretty face had done in a moment what the good uncle's years of lecturing had never accomulished. Kamoyo worked rapidlj-, and a great pile of the fragrant squares was on the counter at har elbow. She looked up at her neohew with a smile, but did not cease from her occuoation. He cam-e and sat down beride her. looking so important that 6he said, laughing : " What has happened. m\ boy ? You look as if someone had left you a fortune.' 1 " I wish they had !" he cried. " I have juft found out that I want one. Dear aunt.' I am so glad to find you alone. Listen — there is no one herfi is there ?" She shook her hear!, and he went on impetuously, " I must have 0 Hana San for mv wife! Wi)l you manage it for ma. dear, clever, kind Kamoyo San?" j And he looked at her very winningly. " But she has no money p.nd you have no money!" cried Kamoyo .in consteii nation. "My dear child, that will never ; do ! Oh. why would you mot go and | see Matsu's people, whsn £ asked 3-011 to ? (.There is the r.ight wife for you." The tears were in her eyes, for she i was much troubled. I " One cannot always be thinking of ; money," returned fjima imoatiently. " I !am sur-j my uncle will help me, and "' " Tliere is a letter from your uncle waiting for you," sad Kamovo snddenJv ; and sac rope to give it to him. inwardly hoping that it'would lecall him to Miyanobhita. She knew "that th-s relatives would hold her rps-jonsible if he made a rash marriage, and what corld bt more rash than to fix upen peer tittle Hana, the portionless maid of the weeds? A nice child, Kamoyo told herself, and in other circumstances — well, one r.'ight have thought of it. Then she w?p rousfd" by an exclamation from her rephew. Tjhra li3d been reading the letter slowly and laboriously, but now it had fallen from his hands, and his face was pale. " What h^s happened ?" ouericd Kamoyo in alarm. " They have come to call out the levy of my years'" he gasped. "1 had forgotten — the corscriotion !" Then he hid his face in his hands for a moment ?nd was quite silent. " Porsv Ijima. poor lad !" the said, and came and stood bci.ide him />nd laid her hand en his shoulder pityingly. | " I shall have to go." he said in a moment, looking up at her vnth real ! gviet in his face, bra v,-'th fomctbMii; else there, too— at excretion of reeolvs ■ fiat was new to her. " P-»ria-\-, they 1 will let me off," he Enid. " 1 will try Ito seem blind, deaf, lame, everything i that c soldier should not be. But. if I it omes to «oing, Ha - ia n u.-t wron.'se 1 to wait f ~>r me. and I wiil come 'jack and niairv hsv when I haw revved my , time: 1 ■stvtar I wiil ' Yon >m'f-t keep her for cie, aunt : * o ether man shall go noa; her: rvoiiiise '" " Bu+ T t'Hve nothing to r\r> vith it'" .remonstrated Kamc ,>. " liftvc-o-j. yon ' h:ive mt spoken to he 1 ' r -and frit he: 1 , and now you 'A ill ha\c no tii.i°. It will be all you en c>o to i'ca< U Miyanos-i'ita by to-rcjorrow niorni;;^. It ;s - n long journey " : "Then I will ip?cli it in the p* e:*:ii;j." I be replied btubbc nly. l 'fr 1 will rcol go , till I ha\e sre'. 0 Hana San a^n'n." | Nothing t C'il'l ivpio i- p him Irom that. i H-e ca.;-e i.o a sr.cMen standstill vbrn he cvi^l't s'cjht, of toe cottage at %■=•*. ' There was (O'nethsr', rncsual ibont tae r,it) e ft of t'i3 pit' <>. The ftiern." were ■ 'Jiished fi6)d^. arc h° sa\ two ncfsants in their v.xr'tln? • '"t'i«< s-taiuli 1^ ir the ve.unclah ; ;'s he i- ■ •- rm.er t'i; j> ' tv. red \-> look at 'ii!«», ;•'.)'! '■•*• >f-<. that io:nr*~ th'ni; h.id lv *r.-> ..?- J . ') t'ie:i fj'cs wcip c,rave "mcl h i»TtKiif <". , "What, i- ''i-" ]i* <]'<-■? .i '\rir< i' 1^ qulckiv; "\. '*«> *• '. -. •'■ Vr.r,\ S"i'" The qur«t:cn undo tilt- : s' ;i' «» *'>en 'i j'V " [n thec." Sr.-i'l ov.e. to the :: v in?r 'oom. "v ii '.i a y r j .■.r'liiibc. Ke h-.i had a fa 1 "] " : "Let me r>s~.s '." 1 iin-n *\" 'n.nied ; ;::i 1 he rushed by thpm into t ! -e ">o :^». " K.;;ri. d^a'- J-Jdn I ,' \\? c p-'J. forget'an'; fcrii 1 -. for^attin" <"■ c; v t'ilr« but h's c.-, ■> i: (lesiif tj t uniort he. • "do rot wceo so li:tl-il\. H.iknbei ?-->n wr* ■•. j/oofl >,!?;'. nvd h's t'l. 1^ h.id CoTi f. y!i'i he- h.-s h?'J no «-'f!. :j! j->j -> <-i mill. SV-e. f'-rr, \nn a:-- !'.r,t h'io",^ 1 will ta'ie n.re of rKi»-d. r 'v,!l '" She diJ not anrv er. Vmt ''„■> s^rtrc-l oiiifi 1 !', arid f-ho Jfft l> n r i't^e r il-d h'iri.J m hio: •■ > h" tool; h^.i: t '-i i;:afp nvd ' wvnt en • '" '\V«>n't "on Git no rind lo ,\ r.t ;r.e. H:i~n.i S v .n n I oau 1 .'^nt '(''■ Kamovo. a^'l si»'; w il' ba ri+-re 6;;j::. ;\nfl there r.r» t 1 ' njxs- t"> do. You mu.-t not Lji\e way like tliis, yen v. ho are always so brave !"' "Forgive me." (-he said, "T ought nnt. fo make you sad for my s;rief. I nill ibe go.jd — he said I was. nlways." And the tears started afresh, but they were | quieter ones now. i Th»n he looked into her face and say that the wai calm enough to listen to | him, but he was silent for a moment yet. It was co hard not to tell her all that was in his heart, rot to sneak of the great love that he felt for her. 1 But tfv>t must not be now; the instinctive delicacy of his race ,ma<le him put his own feelings aside in his deeo respect for his little sweetheart's grief. She would want no lover to-day, only the kinflp*t of friends. I "O Hana Sajn," he besran. "I wish I i

' could stay with you to — take care of you, but when Kamoyo San comes I must go quickly to Miyanoshita, so I cannot talk with you after this." I " You are going away," she said with a note of dismay in her voice which was i very sweet to him. Then she turned faerface away, but not before he had seen the new trouble in it. His presence had taken the edge off her deflation, and already sha had begun to cling to him. " Oh, I would never go if 1 could help lit ! >v he cried impetuously, " but they ' have sent for me. Forgive me for epeaking of my unworthy affairs in this sad moment. My heart is breaking for you—: for your honourable grandfather; but my day has come to serve in the army, and ! 1 must go back to Miyanoshita directly — to be a 6oldier." " Oh, no, no," she exclaimed, " do not ' fro, pray do not go ! Perhaps you will be id lied, "like Matsu's brother last year— in the war. I am afraid for you, liima San " , fche dii net try to hide her fears. F^en now, in tly? nvst !»uk of her grief, it , steme-d a tsrrible thing that her only '. friend shoald have to fees such dangers. "I have no choice," he. answered sadly; "if I do not obey I.S hall be put in prison. But there is no war now— and when I come back— w hen I come back— Kamoyo San will tell you the rest!" Then Kamoyo cams towa.rd them. She had walked fast up the hill and was out of breath ar.d terribly concerned, for she , was .one! of the little maid. Ijima went fo.-w?rd to meet hei, and to!d her br.efiy what had happened. '"You will take care of her. will you not?" be p'aclcd, "and by-ani-bye, please, please r°ll hor fiat 1 will ccme back and marry hi::, and she shall be happy a^ain— quite happy. DoMiot forget, dear Kamoyo rian, v,ha-.ever happens, ~1 will oome back for her some day. And all good fortuaa to you, health and gotd luck in your house 1 Gjod-b^e, good-bv-c;! iia sure to tell her!" * " . , Har.a was a^hanied of her unrestramed grief of t!:e day before. In tliis nour. wh.cn once* more the eun was arop\>in.r belnr.d the hills, a new peade came over h:a\ and .«he was very still. „ The cottage in its emplirc is p*en«€d already far too la.rge, but she felt her dear old t-.ra.rdratncr's p^-^senue in some stvanyt w.iy, ss she had not felt it when be wao hm.'- so cold and deaf ard stark with t'oldld hanJ<? and straight-drawn garments before her ej-£t-. "I have given you much trouble, Kamoyo San, v sho 'said suddenly, "and I thofk you for ai!l your D.itlence. I will try no more and I will do th.it work. You mwo re.v und t'ueji -o oack to your liou?eand vonr beautiful shop. I fear I have kept "'you io^ ion^>-, anJ the children will hiVe nrk-s-C'd you so much!" "It is r..:>t:; in 2; that I have dene for you, 0 Ha.ia S~ir., a. m-cra pine needle, o^er-ed with all good wiil, and^ my fister hais b:en talcing cars of tbc children. _ Bat I cannot 'ea-sa yen b-ere a'.cne to night j 1 you must coins oewn and .".ay with me!" • ' "Oh. no, inrifjd," ?aid tJe 2irl cu:e*ly. "you are too kind and go^d, but I wou'd richer stay be:-:. I am m: afraid at all, ar.d— ,md— oh. I canr.ot go so far away from him yel, ' she aid™, aai-d the teai^s came into 'her ey«is in bpi:-e of hensilt. "It Is quite impj.-i?ible. poor child," Kamoyo rcijaed ; '>n «re aycung girl, With no one to pioteefc }on " '•But there is nolhuia; i-o take," j-ro-te«fed Hana. '"No robSor.- wonld trouble ti' i:i.--«-!vs.'> to nfi'jl our poor things, and tlicy would not have tht heart, I am nue !" '• It k not t'.ie things," ?awl Kamoyo i-:o>'. ly, "'.t i.> ion ycuiveif, Har.a San. You 'ire — well, too yciir.g and too pretty to !-e left alone. (W, hvt-i« 0110, there io no otlner way. Let u.i change your <lot.-.= and iv;ik.' a bundle o! your futon, 1 10 1: I fi-i*- I have no spare oue to lend -oil, ar.d we will shut up the lioufe and get down t) the .ill=iLe Defers? dark." Kamoyo prr- sed Huna's h-jnd kindly. '"Yi-a slial! co.n. 1 back th-e first thing in tV nio.-ring if 3011 like." she said. Xov, the ii','ht com*' early hi tba hills, ond by 4 o'clock it "ivns wMt^nin.-* the little orervi t'c;.* under t'>? eav£= winch were not 'o-ci-c'i by the wotden shuUcis. Hana -,it '.in ar'd !ook€i r mvA liea- in the un'"unirir u>>.<>. A great longing for her !ion-> • tair." ui-'/.i hrr, and she roee noise1, 1,-, d:*.-o c l hei'st-if, ard rolled her blue 'srdii.'n.' .nt) :i t'.dv bundle m ore corner. It vvo'il-d b_' return for hospitality to wak.2ll her kind hosts o? to ltave t.i &.• oue.i tot- Kanxiyo's stores to be •iflel, but fhe rhoujjiit die could s-lip out by the fj.-rthqjrtk'L* dco.- and c!o?e it ajain .'itncu-!- «n.->twr:.inj anyor*. Ih-e adr \ve« hot a;wl clo'e in the cicwilod house, and <~-he na^ loc-^iig fcr her heritage of the lnoi-ii.r'g's-- rrwliaiw. V-».rj g-'i'tly', carryirn; he" little clouts ir ' ht,r lunc', the i-fa ' cd the door, which o]^cnpd on a yard at ihi b^tk of the houre. She found the f.:--t-ii.n^ in the ci.nk. and in a moment .- <-2 was out in t!.e white freshness of the Ah., hoy.- she w?s to leave the i>o.i~e behind" .in'l to w'iuS the climbing ;j;th' On ic^ 'ovvci- windings the thought ■ i-v.c l,:.c!; to hp^ t!v_it Ijin^a had walked iV.v by lv r carnir^ her heavy iar.i'2- .'o kr: lly but a few days ago; ! ;: -vc-n p.otctt him, w'icrever he went, (i:cd !-,-r hcai-t, not krov. ing what lan- - ua^e it "-poke. Then t-he. looked before her and .--aw t:iat a few turns inoro would arm? her in .«igiit of the ein]Dty cottage «nnd tajt nev. . silent dwelling place under the pimvi where no minLatrations of hers would ever be ne.td:»d. And she turned ; very pale and sat down on a stone to recover her .■itren^r.h and to cease trembling before she encountered the sight. She went and stood there for a moment, and. kne«.lin,g down, touched her forehead on the ground in silent greeting. Then she ro<-e quirkh and st turned to the house, • for hear heait wh^ ru-i-uig an.d her fortitude &ca.t".>ely full you'll a.- yet. j "Grandfather, denr grandfather," she . cried, "I am all alone; there is no one ■to tell me wh.it +0 -io .Show me the safe { road ! ' ' i Was this the ani.v«.i? A .-»auttd of ttuav

feet coming down, the paas, litters and porters defiung out on the broadening path that led to her own door? Hana rose in perturbation, for they were pausing now ; then some order from one of the litters sent them directly/ towards her. Travellers, to-day of aii days! Th*n a pretty face was smiling at her, and Princess Chiye d.»cei»ded from her palanquin and beckoned to Hana to approach. Two ladies accompanied her, and one of them caino quickly forward aaad said, " The Miyaaama wishes to speak to you. Musuone, come ! " Hana obeyed, trembliag a little. It was all, co sudden, and her tiiougfitss bad been of far other things than princesses -and la-dies-in-waiting. She- came and bowed -her head to the grounds and waited for the great visitor to speak. "Is it well with you, Musiime?" a-sked the Princess,- "and have you any pretty baskets to call aie to-day V Hana looked up and answered, as politeness commanded. ■' It is well, Cocd'eacieission. My stupidity rejoices at your nobility's coming." The Prin^ass asked Hana to accompany btT to h-er palace. Haaa gladly accepted. When all was done she slipped away and knelt a moment by her grandfather's" grave. " You sent the Princess Ojii San,' she murmured, ''and I obey you in gobi-* vith her. Take cane ox m-e always.' Ihen she .looked, up into the great tres whose branches waved for up in the sunshine, and in bee misty pantheism reeon:meAided the dear grave to its cars. As s-ae oasis- towards the house, tsim and hopeful, Kamoyo's brown face i.-et h«.r criming round a ccrn-:r under tre spreading eaves. Her ej-es were xrida wafca osl.ght and wonder a>s Hana \ j!d idstory. " An<J you mill do © the house, Ka.moyo San, and take my futons for the baby. 0 Sei iSaa say^l shall not iwed th«:n iv the palac&- And oh, pk-ase, come up son:-siiini c a and see to -ic,y {-randfa-ther a grave. Kj wisihes me to go, I think." " of~ course, of courts ! What goi'leit fortane you have, Han* San. That >>eaiiSiful rich Miyaeama will certainly be kinu to yoa. I wall take ca.-e oi every. .u-ig till you coma back." -. 0 Ssi San wa3 -^ecci-N ing >%y-v Yeur vi-sitors in h*r cwn pr-etty uom«, ojid Haaa had to wait until they \rt*re gme. She had just managed" to explain her Trisii when the returning carriages were heari. in the courtyard, and 0 c>ei San had tc hurry, away to receive the Princess an*, assist her to unrobe. She nodded her head, to Hana as sh-e ran off, and told her that she should certalnli- have the permission she desired, bet it was a surprise ;o Katt.-i to bo called s«dd>enly 'into :iik !-*iiucess's pi-essnce a -few minutes iattr. Sui-ely ther-e would n-ot yet -c ' <.sa time for her n:es.°age to be. d-elivered ! No, the Princess had taken matters irta her own hj-n-us. S.ac was rid:?.jit w;th pleasure. The Emperor hnd s rsc; vj^-ly s.igttifi«d his wlsli' that her husband, the Prince (whom Hana bad seen but tew tin-j&s, and then i?i fear and trembling), ehould make a jotrriiay to Europe to attend a royal jubilee, and liis wife was .to go with him! They would have w s:art in a few day*, and — oh, v«s, 0 Sei San was to oomia in attendance «>« > £el San bec-aire sp.oachl-e.-s with d«ii <rnt -it this news, and quite forgot her humble rival. Bnt the Printers i:-e>er forgot inoidA. "I will find you a.nother ptsitj, '.slusume," slie sa.id kindly to Hana, or ] er-ha-ps j'O'i wou^d like to oo '-onw f.t a while. You look pale, ard the city does not always suit you mountain children." Hana bowed "her head to the ground. " With your augnstnesc' permission," s>hff murmured, " I wili go home for a while to meditate oj your benefits and pray for your safe re.-ujn." At last the train set h?>r down at a wayside station, where she esgas&d a jinriksha coolie to carry hey cqai Ixy pr'^t.--io«tj ov«r the 10 mik-s that separated her from, the village by t-n-a i<ike. He was a j:atured, sturdy fellow, and taced alon^ the co-j.ntry road so fa*t that it still wanted an hour of siaisefc when t: c grey temp'e roof carnie in fight. She called a ka3t, and jumped nimbiv cut of tho little vehicle. "Here is jout moaey, Ivurumaya Sa-u," she said, "holding cut the fare; "now wili you please take those tnuigs to the ho«*a of K;in:o;, o Snn. «ho keeps the shop opposite the bath? And tell her th t t I, Ram, lu-v unworthy fric-jid. wi.l come &n foot a little later." It would never have struck her to doubt his honesty. '■ Rut thi--> is love ! " cried Hana with great hap-py teaTS in h-er eyes ; " who c-onid have loved ua «o?" Then Ijitna w;u- standing before her, holding out his hands ir a perfect rapture of greeting. ''Hana, my Hana," he cried, "is it you, and have you come at last ! " When hs c "light her in his arms and he>r .'head lested on her shoulder he ki>3w that she had coma indeed. — Wash- . iugton Star.