Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-09-15

CumBtanceS with lmpunltyt or II ne hhou'u |
so elect, he might give her bill of divorce
ment and send her away.
As was crossing the street to return to |
my house, that / might find Shinski, and use |
ali my influence with him in Waka's favor, ] |
saw Ku standing just outside the gate, and |
said to him, "Ku, come into the house,
want YOU" Without answering q word he
commenced very rapid retrograde move
ment. and the last view that ever had OF
this Oriental free-lover was as he was run
ming at full speed toward his Kanegawa
home.
As soon as saw Shinski knew that he
comprehended the whole situation. His face
wore an expression that fairly chilled me.
said to him, ''Do not blame Waka she has
done no wrong" His reply came quickly
"If see Waka, must kill her." All reason
ing found to be entirely useless, and know
ing that Maka was perfectly safe in her self
imposed durance, thought it best to leave
him with his friend Skazo, hoping that when
the first feeling of bitter modification and
vindictiveness had had its course, better
feeling would succeed
Late on the afternoon Of the same day, dur
ing another interview with Waka, scene oc-
CURED such as no foreigner had ever before
witnessed in Japan. Skazo entered, and with
great ceremony approaching Waka, delivered
an ominous-looking envelope into her hands.
She hastily broke the seal and examined its
contents then, with wild cry of despair,
fell PROSTATE on the floor, and for time gave
way to unrestrained sobbing and grief. Ska
20 was evidently greatly moved, but had no
word of comfort for the poor girl. When she
could command her voice sufficiently for ex-
PLANTATION, she said to me:
81 am no more Shinskis wife. In Nippon,
when a husband sends letter like this to his
wife, it ends their marriage. He is no more
my husband; l am no more his wife"
fresh burst of grief again overpowered
the poor discarded wife. Note how this pecu-
liar rite exactly talies with the old Jewish
law, which permitted man to give bill OF
enforcement into his wife's hand and send her
away.
Now the matter had assumed a very serious
aspect as regarded our own comfort and con-
venence. Three of our most trusted and ex-
perienced servants could not be taken from
the household without throwing completely
out of gear all our housekeeping machinery.
Our interest, also, in the fortunes of this at
present unfortunate pair, who but a few hours
ago were eminenty contented and happy as
husband and wife, would not let us rest until
every possible expedient had been used to heal
this apparently hopeless breach of compact.
The next day was Sunday, but the usual
| church service was unattended by the family,
| who met in solemn conclaVe in the library,
the United States Minister and the United
| States Marshal OF the Consulate joining in
| the deliberations.
After our plan of action was matured, Shin
ski was sent for and soon appeared, with an
| expression of deepest sorrow on his counte-
nance. Mr.. B., the marshal, who understood
the Japanese language perfectly, used every
argument and every persuasion to make Shin
ski feel that he had no real cause for anger
towards Waka, showing him very clearly why
she had not dared to tell him of Kus propos-
ais to her, and that Ku was the one who had
done him wrong, not Waka.
| In the meantime Skazo had been sent To
bring WRka back to the house. For three
days and nights she had kept herself closely
secluded at Mrs. A. IS. As she stood at the Ii
brary door, looking in at Shinski through the
tears which were overhowing her usually mer.
ry eyes, and Mr.. b. seemed to have exhausted
all his arguments, walked up to Shinski,
placed one hand on his shoulder and, holding
out the other toward Waka, said to him:
"Shinski, you love Waka, and she has done
no wrong Look at her; speak to her."
The poor fellow could restrain his conflict
ing emotions no longer. Tears filed his eyes,
and excaiming, II cannot speak to Waka, y
he covered his face with his hands, and, bow
ing it to his knees, sobbed aloud then rushed
from the room, passing Waka, who still stood
in the doorway, without word or look AT
this her grief redoubled, for now she felt that
her last hope of reconciliation must die.
So far this tragic scene had consumed the
greater part of lovely Sabbath-day, and now
we could not let the matter rest here, since
the happiness of two lives and our own fam
ily comfort very much depended on the de
nouement of this tragedy. Immediately We
held another council-minister, consul, mar
shal. friends The great obstacle to over
| Ghipslriip prila and ba COuld M
way of reconciliation that would not be hu
initiating to him. The marshal, who well un
derstood the peculiar idiosynorasies of this
peculiar people, conceived plan which he
proposed to carry out without delay, in which
all concurred, aud hastily ordering his horse
he started for Kanegawa, four miles distant
On arriving there he sought out ku, and mad'
him give him written confession of his guilt
entirely acquitting Waka of any tolerance o
his plans then he proceeded to the house o
Sadagero, a carpenter who had built on con
tract most of the foreigners houses in Yoko
hama-a hrst-class builder and very intelli
gent man To him Mr.. b. unfolded his plan
and Sadagero accompanied him back to Yoko
hama. message was then sent to Wakt
from Sadagero, that he had come from Kane
gawa and wished to see her on very impor
tant business. She consented to see him, ant
after a short but very earnest conversation h
| formally huODIeu utE hb nls uhuR lNcis hAthh
= time Mr. B. had laid Ku's confession befor
Shinski, and wisely left him to peruse it alon
> and ponder it in silence.
I The evening was now far advanced, and a
things we're ready for ShinskTs appearance
Mr. b. went to him and informed him tina
Sadagero had a very important communica
ton TO make to him.
As he entered the room with the marshi
and became aware of Wakas presence, hi
l I l.. ,falr or anN.
a second thought told him that to do SO woul
= be an insult to Sadagero, so, bowing very low
l l he advanced toward Sadagero. After an e'
change of salutations and mutual expression
= of esteem, SadAgero said
u ''Shinski, l want to show you my daughter
IS have adopted Waka. She is my daughte
/ and now l offer you my daughter to be yoI
IT wife Will you take her p
Ina moment Shinski saw all diificulti'
20 swept from his path. In this way, and IN III
e way only, could he take Waka to be his wi
sr without any humiliation on his part and S
'e dagero had honored them both in the part
& had assumed toward them. A few has
preparations, and the marriage ceremony vi
er performed with all due solemnity, concludir
a. with the time -honored Oriental custom of Il
"a bride and groom drinking from the same CT
n and then dashing it to atoms, This was Il
al crowning act of that memorable Sabbath-da
~ for as il was concluded the street "hlchmh
o. passing at the moment, called out the mi
10 night hour, and new day, truly, for wa
as and Shinski, was ushered in
Is Itappeared quite evident afterward that I
OF matter was never again alluded to by Shns
as or his wife or any of the servants, and perfe
ISL kindness and trust frightened the twofo
st bond. Ku's punishment was suggested
'ie the consul, and carried into effect by an ed
no being issued from the custom-house, forb
. ding him to enter Yokohama for the space
ng four years. Martha O. II. Fisher in III
as peT's Bdzdr.
nd A Philadelphia artist who saw Arab in
ne exandria last winter draws this sketch of
,er personal appearance "a tall, heavy-fac
re- man, sullen, swarthy, with only pretty ol'