The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-08-28

| Evans-thinking of Natsu!
He tried to assure himself that he
was mistaken in his feeling for Natsu.
She had merely helped him bear the
pain of the separation from the
other. She was a dear little thing,
but-Frank Garfield thrust her from
his memory, for after all she was
impossible for him-a Japanese girli
What would his friends, his parents,
his society sisters say were he to re-
turn with a japanese bride? The
| idea was preposterous. And so for
| the present he let the memory of his
old love absorb his heart, and push
slowly from it the dear delight OF
his present love.
When he had told her the parting
would not be forever she had been SD
sweet and acquiescent and trusting
that for a moment Frank forgot
everything but the girl herself, and
felt like throwing up all his plans,
staying in Japan, and-yes, evetl
| marrying Natsu. But these wild
ideas only remained with him while
he was in her presence, and once
alone he returned to all his firm resoE-
lutions of duty to Grace Evans.
But as the boat moved away, and
he saw the dim outline of the REL
ceding shore, he wondered if after ali
he could forget Natsu so easily.
As for Natsu-San? She found her
way back to the tea-garden, her face
hur, -, : = L
it. As she passed in at the gate thre4
geisha girls were playing on harps
and samisens. Natsu caught up Il
small drumstick, and beat four trd-
menduous blows on the drum. This
relieved her.
1t was two years later. Grace
Evans was very happy. She was wait
ing for Frank Garfield. When he had
returned to America the girl had
again put off their marriage, plead
ing that she was not yet prepared ito
rcnOunce her girlhood. Now she wals
ready. 1t would be only one month
before the wedding. The girls fair.
beautiful face was flushed and happN.
She had just returned from a trip t51
Europe.
She stood with her hands claspef
before her, looking out of the VIM
dow. Frank had come in very SOFTLY
upon her, she raised her calm eyes
with the little dream still in them ais
he took her hand in his.
"Oh, it is you." she said, emphasize
ing tenderly the last word. THEW
sat down together side by side, theit'
hands still clasped, the girls face
shining with its quiet pleasure, which
however was not reflected in the
mans. He was nervous and conf
strained.
at is quite near the time now,
little girl" he said tenderly.
Yes, dear"
you have made me wait LONG
time
Yes, I have" she was smiling DIT
him in her slow, calm way, but it is
all over now"
yes, all over" he breathed be
tween his set teeth. His words
sounded like a sigh.
"Why,' she pouted, you look quite
gloomy"
His face turned from hers now.
He got up restlessly and Walked
across the room. For moment lie
was silent, then he stole look dit
her sweet, dreamy face. She had
forgotten already what she had said.
and scarcely noticed his nervousness Is,
for she was so assured and happily.
Garfield almost groaned aloud as HE
looked at her. He knew the bitter,
agonizing truth, even though he hd
hidden it from her. He did not lowe
her after all. He had not yet foE-
gotten Natsu-San.
One night he had dreamt of Natsh-
San-dreamt she was standing By
his side; once more she was minis
tering to his wants; she was smoot b.
ing away all the lines of care from
his face that had come there sin Zee
he had left her, and he, Garfield, the
stole, as they called him, was laugh
ing aloud in boyish delight. All the
next day he thought of her, and eadh
day after that the memory had
grown, not diminished. Something's
he was filed with a wild, almost I'M
sane, longing to go to her, to see her
once more, if only for a moment, to
whisper sweet words of love with all
the abandon she had loved to hear in
the old days. But in the midst of
his longing Grace returned, and for
the time being his dclirious mind
came back to the ever-present duty
"a stern duty that he felt he owed
her.
| Now that his mind was consumed
with memories of Natsu-San he was
| Mortified to find that what he had
hitherto reverenced in Grace, that
strange atmosphere about her that
even held him at distance, was slovN-
ly being replaced by a feeling of re
pugnance, almost dislike. When the
girls long, cold, white hands rested
i'll his he felt strangely repealed, and
longed with longing that was al
most insanity for the clasp of warn
little fervid fingers that would clirt @
to his with a passion that would
thrill him.
Now a silence had been between