The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-08-20
"A JAPANESE '
LOVE STORY /.

l. ES4 yls el4L-------- Il ile{f i8sg9 Gss
Yoshima Nicadoti. desiring a wife,
employed nabrodo, or matrimonial
agent, who introduced him to two
young ladies-O Kilku San, the Hon.
Miss Chrysanthemum, and @ 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
very fine family" urged the discreet
nabrodo.
'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. 5a
Gas you find the qualifications Of
each lady so evenly balanced" said he,
why not allow a test of their disposi-
lions to determine your final choice7
Suppose you disguise yourself as ped
dler 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 will adopt that plan," ac-f
guessed Yoshima, appearing well
pleased with the suggestion. 'Tomor-
row l will disguise myself as a 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.
81 think everything can be arranged
satisfactorily now" said he. 'Tomor-.
row Yoshima comes in the disguise of4
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 Il fish peddler," said nd
grayely, visiting this neighborhood4
who is a great thief. l should not beS
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. 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 peddling 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 the3
| nabrodo of his change in this respecti
Yoshima next morning disguised him.
self as a flower seller and arrived at
the house of Miss Silver's parents, as
1t happened. just at the moment when
real fish peddler appeared on the
| scene.
Then what was Yoshimas 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 informa-
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 Chrysanthemum-"I 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. l am very glad the worthy
nabrodo suggested plan by which
could gain so clear an insight into the
disposition of the family"
| Upon entering the garden surround
Ing Miss Chrysanthemum's house 1t
was the turn Of the fish peddler to ex-
pere:ce establishment. From the first
he could not fail to notice that hisl
every action was regarded with intense
suspicion until upon endeavoring 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 Chry santhemum said,
will the young lady purchase this
honorable cherry blossom that she will
lind most appropriate for the beautiful
shirado vase standing in the niche of
her principal room?'
Miss Chrysanthemum gladly aeceded
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 not
greater happiness than to be sur
rounded. a 800
But how do you know that we pos
sess fine shirado vase in our principal
FOOL! she asked. WAS it that thief
of fish peddler who told you?".s
lYOSlima puzzled for tho momant fo