The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-12-21
"1t is Haru." she murmured.

ure disguised in the folds of a mys-
terious silken headgear. 1t was O'Toya-
san. Her heart palpitated wildly
whenever a shadow fell cross her
path, or the voices of the night as
sumed unwonted sound. Not that she
feared man or beast! Far from it! It
was the terror of the demon foxes that
blanched her cheek; those gaunt spec
tiers that skulk in dark places and in
tercept their victims, that they may
take diabolical possession of them.
Everyone knows that the demon foxes
are almost omnipotent for evil. Yes,
and the witch-fires that lure one on to
destruction, and the tsubaki trees,
which walk about at night. She re-
called a fearful tale of an attack on
one of these goblin trees which
dripped blood as it's branches were
hewn off.
O'Toya-san's poor little heart al.
most burst with fear at the picture
conjured up, and she clutched desper-
ately at the prayer amulet in her
sleeve.
She believed that she would die ii
she saw any ghostly forms of the I'M
der world; yet she pushed on. for only
at the tori of the Temple shrine could
she pierce the veil of the future.
Breathless and trembling, she stood
at last before this graceful symbol,
of the Shinto religion, which stood
like a huge Chinese telegraph, itI
arms stretched h~eavenward. Along
the top of it's upper horizontal behm
could be distinguished little bullets OF
crumpled paper thrown there by( other
pilgrims, in their quest for prophetic
presages. Il
Quickly she drew out from the capa.
cious sleeve of her kimona some deli
cate sheets Of rice paper, which she
proceeded to chew into pulp. Then,
taking careful aim, she threw them one
by one, aiming for the top Of the hor-
izontal bar as her target. She had
seven chances Of fortune. The first
one missed. So did the second. The
third time the little round wad landed
safely, and O'Toya-san's heart gave a
bound. s%uccessful was the fourth
venture. She threw again and yet
again. Only one more throw re-
manned; there must be three success
full throws out of the seven. With a
prayer to Benten. the divinity Of low
ers, she threw her last paper bullet.
It stuck fast, and O'Toya-san's welded
bliss was assured.
She knew now that a successful mar.
riage and devoted husband awaited
her.. Then came the triumphant
though that she could never belong to
Goddess Benten knew of her one true
love and had smiled upon it. O'Toya-
sans journey home was made on
wings of hope. =
AS she neared her parents home, the
sound of the tinkling samisen, accom-
panying a love song in a mans voice,
greeted her ears. go forward,
straightforward, that way, to the
house that thou seest before thee. The
nearer thou goest thereto. the nearer
to her shalt thou be-"
at is Haru," she murmured ecstat-
ically, as she came upon him.
II thought that the song would
bring you, my beloved" he said, "but
I grew afraid when the moments
passed and still you came not. You
are to go with me, for I cannot give
you up to the Rice Merchant. We will
take the ship tomorrow morning to
the New Country over the Seas. Cath
er what things you require in a bum
die, and we will take them down to
the Nippon Ushen Kaisha, which sails
at daybreak. We will be rich in the
world. for I am told that artisans
are paid even as the ,retainers Of the
mobiles are in Japan; therefore. fear
nothing, my O'Toya-san."
Two figures stood upon the. middle
deck Of an outgoing steamer while the
day was young. Their faces we're
toward the rising sun IT had
risen in their hearts.
To- = h,,vr{nona hInu,lnu Of On mfina