Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-06-26
A JAPANESE
LOVE STORY.

Yoshima Nicadoti, desiring wife,
employed a nabrodo, or matrimonial
agent, who introduced him to two
| young ladies-O Kilku San. the Hon.
| Miss Chrysanthemum. and o Gin San,
the Hon. Miss Silver. The former was
| poor, but beautiful; the latter very rich.
| Between these two Yoshima could not
| decide.
| 1.-THE Hon. Miss Silver comes from q
very fine family" urged the discreet
| nabrodo.
1.-THE eyes of the Hon. Miss Chrysan-
tbemum are like half opened lotus
buds" replied Yoshima significantly
for the twentieth time. MY good ma
brodo. it seems to me that shall never
be able to come to decision"
An uneasy look settled upon the face
| of the nabrodo, for he began to fear
that in desperation Yoshima might en-
| gage another agent, of whom there
were many in Kokoro.
"As you find the qualifications Of
each lady so evenly balanced" said he,
'why not allow q test of their DISPOSE
tons to determine your final choice?
Suppose you disguise yourself as ped
| der Of fish and at the house of each en-
deavor to dispose of your commodity.
At the one where you are most kindly
treated you would be sure to obtain the
best WIFE"
Surely l will adopt that plan," ac-
quiesced Yoshima, appearing well
pleased with the suggestion. 'sTomor-
row l will disguise myself as fish
peddler and try if by that means can
arrive at a decision"
A merry twinkle gathered at the cor
ners of the nabrodo's eyes as, fan in
hand, he then hurried to the house Of
Miss Silver's parents.
Il think everything can be arranged
satisfactorily now" said he. 'Tomor-
row Yoshima comes in the disguise of
fish peddler. Receive him with great
kindness, because upon your behavior
depends his decision in this delicate
matter"
At the house Of Miss Chrysanthe-
mum, however, the willy nabrodo made
very different suggestion.
''There is a fish peddler," said he
gravely, visiting this neighborhood
who is great thief. 1 should not be
surprised IL he called at your house
tomorrow morning. / advise you to
have no dealings with him, but to send
him quickly from the door. I came
hither on purpose to place you upon
your guard"
When, however, Yoshima came to
think the nabrodo's project over, while
in the main satisfactory, yet the idea
of peddllng fish did not coincide with
his artistic temperament. He reflected
that it would be far more in keeping
with his object If he should adopt the
disguise of vender of flowers.
So, without saying anything to the
nabrodo Of his change in this respect,
Yoshima next morning disguised him
self as flower seller and arrived at
the house of Miss Silvers parents, as
it happened. just at the moment when
a real fish peddler appeared on the
scene.
Then what was Yoshima's surprise
when his presence was completely
ignored and the common fish peddler
accorded a remarkably cordial wei.
come. While he was turned away
from the door with the curt Informal
ton that there were already plenty
more flowers In the garden, Miss Sill
ver's parents half emptied the fish
peddler's basket and begged him on
no account ever to pass by their dwell
ing.
Il do not think" reflected Yoshima
as, in company with the jubilant fish
peddler, he passed on to the house Of
Miss hrysanthemum-"l do not think
| should care to marry into a family
who accorded so much greater atten.
ton to fish peddler than to seller
of flowers. / am very glad the worthy
nabrodo suggested a plan by which l
could gain so clear an insight into the
disposition of the family"
Upon entering the garden surround
ing Miss Chrysanthemum's house it
was the turn of the fish peddler to ex-
perience establishment. From the first
he could not fail to notice that his
every action was regarded with intense
Suspicion unui upon enueavorlng TO
dispose of the remainder of the fish in
his basket he was charged with being
thief and politely requested to leave
the premises.
Yoshima then stepped forward and,
addressing Miss Chrysanthemum, said,
"Will the young lady purchase this
honorable cherry blossom that she will
find most appropriate for the beautiful
shirado vase standing in the niche of
her principal roomY
Miss Chrysanthemum gladly acceded
to the request, remarking upon the
beauty of that flower in particular and
of her love for all flowers. with which,
she further said, she could conceive no
greater happiness than to be sur
rounded.
But how do you know that we pos
a fr,n el,f y