St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-09-27
THE LOVE OF A
GELSHA GIRL.
BY ONOTO wATANNA.


MATSU'S father had been an Ameri
~ can, her mother was Japanese
woman. She had never seen he1
father and her mother had died wher
she was a little bit of girl, so that
she had been brought up by he1
Japanese relatives, who secretly de.
spised and disliked her on he1
fathers account. He was said tc
have deserted her mother. .
Natsu was very beautiful. She
earned her living as a geisha girl in
one of the prominent tea houses OF
Nagasaki, and although her life was
essentially gay one, in view of her
profession, she had lived a strangely
lonely and isolated life.
Frank Garfield was the first friend
she had ever had, and he was only
sojourning in the country for a short
season. From the first day he had
visited the tea-house with a party
of tourists Natsu had attached her
self to him, and had thereafter sought
him out and followed him around
like pathetic and faithful little dog,
to the amusement of his friends and
stealthy delight of the young man
himself, who was keenly susceptible
to the girls extraordinary beauty.
In few weeks time he had lost his
head, if not his heart, to the little
girl.
"You are the prettiest thing I have
ever SEEM" he told her one day.
"More beauteefool than the Ameri-
cazan ladies?"
'Ever so much" he told her, ex-
trayagantly.
$50? Then perhaps you tekin' me
with you mex time you goin' bag cross
the west waters!"
what do you want to go for?"
She shrugged her little shoulders,
and moved restlessly at his feet.
ME my own self dom know. Cep'
fhad also I blongin' ad your red-head
country. Pray TEX me with you.
Whad you say?"
As he did not answer her, she con-
tinued, reproachfully, "Mebbe you
'shamed TEX me there?"
"I'm not-not bit," he answered
quickly, taking her two little hands
in his, and smoothing them lovingly.
''But-er-you know-that wouldn't
do at all, Natsu. You wouldn't IN
derstand the people in the slightest,
and you might be very unhappy"
Natsu did not answer him but the
dissatisfied look on her face deepen
ed. The dreamy, sleepy, happy days
of a Japanese summer passed in the
company of her lover banished the
shadow, however, and lit up the visit
full, questioning eyes to a joyous con-
tentment with her lot.
Then there came a day when Frank
climbed the hill with tagging steps.
II am going home" he told her,
with brief cruelty. The girls face
blanched pitiful white, and she be-
gan to SILVER.
"An' me?"
His courage broke down in the face
Of her grief.
II am coming back to you. am
coming back, sure, sure!" he lied to
her. He knew, even as he spoke,
that it was his intention never to see
her again, but he could not summon
the courage to tell her SO, and drive
away from the girls beseechsng face
all its trembling, questioning. hope
full light.
Before Frank Garfield had eailed
for Japan he had asked Grace Evans
to be his wife. She had told him very
gently that she was not prepared to
answer him then. Frank had started
out on a voyage round the world.
They had correspondent constantly
during the period Of his travels, and
now her answer had come to him.
It was such as would have thrilled
him with gladness in the old days,
for she had babe him come to her!
Yet when he read the letter slowly
he was conscious only of a pain that
Supplied him. 1t is true he had
looked forward to, and waited for,
this answer; yet now that it had come
he felt no delight. With hands thrust
deep into his pockets, the young man
paced the floor, thinking Of Grace
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 dear little thing,
but-Frank Garfield thrust her from
his memory, for after all she was
impossible for him-a Japanese girl!
What would his friends, his parents,
his society sisters say were he to re-
turn with Japanese bride? The
idea was preposterous. And so for
a. nrosonf ho Let fha memory of hin