The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-06
Hes' Japanese
LOv0Ir..*.*A 70,
Onato " Watefman,
in Woman's
Home Companion.

pered. bending low over her.
She looked UP shyly and searched hls
face with her eyes.
ut all comes back now, Haru-san,"
lie went Oh softly. How sweet you
always were, and what promises we
made to each other"
Promises that we broke" she MUIR
INJURED. still sadly, for they had told
her Of his infatuation for the Ameri-
can girl. All morning she had been
trying to win him back to her. Per-
haps she had succeeded already.
"If the promises were broken, Haru-
san, may we not mend them? You
know what our parents desire, and I
am prepared to obey them in all
things"
Haru smiled joyously at him. After
all. Shimoda was only young man,
and Haru was very beautiful
1t was fifteen months later. Alicia
Allan was expecting a visitor. She
had filled all the tall vases with ex-
quisite American beauties and had
lighted long sticks of incense, whose
odor mingled with the fragrance OF the
roses. Flames leaped up from
cheerful fireplace and added to the
comfort of the room. The brightness
and warmth of the fire. the fragrance
Of the incense and Of the roses-these
Alicia knew would be grateful to the
visitor whom she was awaiting. and
who would soon be with her.
When Shimoda Orito bowed gravey
before her there was soft light In the
girls face that had not been there
when he had seen her last.
II am so CHAD to see you back" she
told him. holding out both hands to
him. which he took into his own.
AN am mos glad to see you. Miss
Allan"
They sat down on a small settee to-
gether. and the girl questioned him
about his travels. He told her Of
them. always avoiding one subject.
however, just as he had done in his
letters from Japan. This was Haru-
san.
After he had talked for quite a time.
and the constraint that at first seemed
to have been about him had worn
away, and he had drifted back into
the old-time feeling Of confidence and
sympathy, he in turn asked what she
had been doing since he had left her.
She turned her eyes into the glowing
CRATE fire and sketched briefly the
course of her life since he had gone
away.
A long silence followed her last sem
tence, during which he saw by her face
and nervously twitching hands that
there was something on, her mind Of
which she would speak to him. but
which. seemingly, she half feared to
put into words. He waited. motion
less. and at length she turned and
looked straight into lhs face with her
beautiful. fearless eyes.
DO you KNOW" she with. with a bit
Of maidenly confusion, II am going to
make a confession to you that may
sound strange" She paused, flushing
trifle, and for moment watched the
flames from the CRATE fire as they
sprang. wildly roaring, UP the chim-
ney. Then she continued:
After you left America-after You
left me" Again she hesitated. She
seemed to be choosing her words with
difficulty. I'VE often make mistakes.
you know: we do no tknow ourselves
always. Do you follow me?"
"No."
The flush on her face deepened.
You make it harder for me. Butt
back that which Is in me. must speak
now, even" She had thought it would
be an easy matter to tell him, and
that he would understand her, as he
always did so readily, but she was fall
tering painfully.
In the months that had gone the
girls heart had awakened. At first it
had seemed to her inconceivable that
oh c1>1 ,,,J To-,
ese; she had thought she was merely
interested in him. But hardly had she
sent him away before she realized that
she had made mistake: that she did
love him.
You see--I-.' she began again. pitt
fully, hoping that he would understand
and help her. But he sat there, calm
and still. watching with grave eyes that
seemed only a trif1e surprised at her
hesitancy.
Wont you repeat the question you
asked me before going away?" she said.
1t was out now, and the girl was
leaning forward. her face flushed and
warm. but very sweet and beautiful
with the great moist eyes. She was so
sure Of her place in his heart that be-
fore the man had time to answer she
her voice:
you must not think me--bold. 1t
would have been foolish to go through
life so. when a few words would have
made things all right. All! knew
as soon az you were gone. and You
do not know how I regretted-suffered.
But ! knew you would come back to
me. and that all would he WELL"
The man WnS chivaripp foco
looked cold and gray, even in the fie-
light. He rose to his feet with a
quick movement of pain. She, too. had
risen, and she was watching him with
those beautiful eyes, which still held
their trembling joy. How yielding and
inviting she looked with her hands out
stretched to him. He did not take
them in his. Instead he stepped back
a few PAGES from her.
1T is too late now"
TOO late" the girl echoed. She
went nearer to him. frightened, un-
comprehending gaze replacing the
former look of delight. II don't UNDER
stand"
Her voice was so pitiful that even
the japanese calm broke down before
it.
II do nod lig to tell you-to pain you,'
he said, The light had faded altogeth-
er from her face now, but the mute,
expectant pain seemed to demand some
further explanation. II raespec' you
with all my heart" he said. with an
effort "and-I will nod deceive YOU"
No" she broke in, you do not de-
ceive me. ! understand, You have
ceased to care for me-"
Mod that" he said. AT frs !
Thought I shall naeVer recover that you